Kempinski leaving Bratislava in August

Kempinski is withdrawing from the Bratislava market after five years. Best Hotel Properties (BHP), the owner of Kempinski Hotel River Park in Bratislava, did not renew its contract with the luxury hotel brand. The management contract expires Aug. 1. BHP wants to operate its hotels through franchises. Kempinski, however, does not want a franchise agreement. The hotel will be rebranded Grand Hotel River Park The Luxury Collection Hotel, a brand owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts. BHP signed a franchise agreement with Starwood, which also operates the Sheraton hotel in Bratislava. Hospodarske noviny writes that Bratislava is too small of a market for Kempinski. Pavol Kašuba of Atlific consultancy told the daily that the fees for using the Kempinski brand are too high, and BHP cannot afford to pay them anymore. BHP put three hotels from its portfolio on the market: Kempinski in the High Tatras and in Moscow, as well as the Crown Plaza in Bratislava.