Résumé a year later: Début successfully mastered

Oberursel, June, 2010 – Karl Schattmaier, CEO of SENTIDO Hotels & Resorts sees his company one year after the introduction of market launch: “welcomed both by the customers and the travel planners, as well as by the franchisee hotel owners.” Despite a difficult year in 2009, for the tourism industry as well, the international hotel brand was “fortunately able to become well established on the marketplace.” The international hotel chain started up with 16 hotels and resorts on the Mediterranean and in Africa as well as two Nile cruise ships. “That was an important factor for our great success,” said Schattmaier. “Right from the get-go, we placed a very high value on an intensive customer analysis, on the introduction of the ‘concept of the senses’ as a customer-oriented system, as well as on a serious and well-functioning franchise system. Great interest on the part of potential hotel owners, who wanted a partnership with an attractive brand and a strong concern like Thomas Cook in the background, proves this.” Pointing to double-digit growth rates in 2009, Schattmaier continued, SENTIDO has “successfully mastered its début.” According to the latest survey of German travel bureaus there is a familiarity rate of 98 per cent there.

Opening up new Target Areas: Distant Destinations Planned

Since its founding in 2009, SENTIDO Hotels & Resorts has grown to a total of 24 hotels and resorts as well as two Nile cruise ships, among them properties in Spain, Egypt, Tunisia and Greece newly added in 2010. Further new openings in Turkey, Greece and Spain are planned for this year as well. The Hotel Directory, first published in February of 2010, offers an overview of the SENTIDO Hotels & Resorts. “Over the long run, we would also like to be present in distant destinations such as Thailand, the Maldives and the Caribbean,” announced Schattmaier. The United Arab Emirates are also under consideration in the planning. Among the criteria for the selection of target areas is an optimum flight connection and the presence of the Thomas Cook Group on-site. “Germany is further on our wish list, especially the North Sea and Baltic coasts.” The profile of the SENTIDO Hotels & Resorts are properties with a manageable size of 150 to 350 rooms. The hotel brand appeals primarily to discerning singles, couples and small families between 35 and 60-years old. “Our hotels are perfectly aligned to meet their demands. Beyond this, as an international brand we have acquired excellent experience with our European guest mix from the Benelux countries, Germany, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Austria, Poland, Scandinavia, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.”

The SENTIDO Hotels & Resorts can be booked on the Internet portal www.sentidohotels.com or from travel providers Thomas Cook Reisen and Neckermann Reisen.