DESIGN HOTELS : Reports Preliminary Results for 2007

26.02.2008 | 08:24
Corporate news- Mitteilung verarbeitet und übermittelt durch Hugin.
Für den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent verantwortlich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------




Earnings before Interest and Taxes Improved by 71 Percent
Revenues Increased by 19 Percent

Berlin, February 26, 2008 - Design Hotels AG (Regulated Market,
Munich: LBA; ISIN: DE0005141006), integrated provider of marketing
and positioning services for individually managed hotels and small
hotel groups in the New Luxury Segment, reports the preliminary
results for the financial year ended 31st December 2007 as well as
the results for the 4th quarter 2007.

Financial Highlights for the Design Hotels Group:

Revenues for 2007 increased by approximately 19 percent to 7.88m Euro
(previous year: 6.60m Euro). In the 4th quarter revenues increased by
approx. 12 percent to 2.23m Euro (previous year: 1.99m Euro). Once
again all business fields contributed to the positive development.
With 4.21m Euro (+22 percent), booking commissions accounted for more
than half of total revenue; membership fees reached 1.85m Euro (+15
percent); Marketing Products and Consulting fees came in at 1.81m
Euro (+17 percent).

The gross profit margin improved to 71 percent compared to 69% in the
previous year. In the 4th quarter the gross profit margin amounted to
63 percent (previous year: 67%).

EBITDA reached approximately 1.28m Euro in 2007, showing an
improvement by 60 percent compared to the 0.80m Euro posted in 2006.
In the 2nd quarter of 2007, extraordinary income to the amount of
271,000 Euro was generated due to adjustments in liabilities. In the
4th quarter, extraordinary income to the amount of 99,300 Euro was
generated from sales tax refunds from a case pending since 1999. The
EBITDA margin including extraordinary items was to 16 percent for
2007 (previous year: 12 percent).

In the 4th quarter, EBITDA decreased by 13 percent to 284,000 Euro
(previous year: 323,000 Euro). In the 4th quarter 2006 extraordinary
income from valuation effects to the amount of 129,000 Euro was
generated. The EBITDA margin exclusive of extraordinary items income
was 13 percent (previous year: 16 percent).

EBIT reached approximately 1.13m Euro in 2007, which shows an
improvement of 71 percent compared to the 0.66m Euro of the previous
year. In the 4th quarter 2007, EBIT increased by 5 percent to 239,000
Euro (previous year: 227,000 Euro).

Net profit was 1.17m Euro compared to 3.00m Euro for 2006. When
adjusted for last year's activation of losses carried forward, Net
Profit increased by 67 percent compared to 0.70m Euro for 2006.

As of December 31, 2007, the company had liquidities in the form of
cash and short-term investments to the amount of 2.20m Euro, compared
to 1.39m Euro at the end of 2006. In 2007, the shareholders' equity
increased by 3.55m to 4.73m Euro.

At the end of the financial year, 174 hotels (previous year: 153)
with 13,256 rooms in 101 destinations and 43 countries were
affiliated with Design Hotels. In 2007, 420 hotels applied for
membership compared to 280 hotels in the previous year. On average
the group had 48 employees (previous year: 40).

Additional Notes:

Claus Sendlinger, CEO of Design Hotels AG, comments as follows: "For
the third year in a row, Design Hotels has shown a considerable
growth in revenues and an extraordinary high increase in earnings.
This growth was achieved purely through organic development of our
business. We believe that the company is on the right track and we
expect a further increase in revenues for 2008. In the 4th quarter
2007, we have started our investment in human capital to secure
future growth. In 2008, we will mainly invest in hotel development
consulting services. We are already working on a number of projects,
with further projects in the starting phase. We expect that these
investments will show a positive effect on the results as of 2009.

We believe that our success over the past three years has been a
combination of a favourable economic environment, our expertise in
identifying new trends in the tourism industry, and the adaptation of
our service portfolio to the needs of the market and our clients. We
will continue to focus on the expansion of the consulting services
and the development of new licence and commission models.
Furthermore, we will expand our member portfolio.

In 2008, we will also focus on strengthening the brand Design Hotels
by improving quality management at the member hotels and by launching
a loyalty program for the end customers."

The complete and audited annual accounts will be published in the
second half of April.

Contact:

Design Hotels AG
Claus Sendlinger (CEO)
Stralauer Allee 2c
10245 Berlin
Tel. +49 (0)30 420 940-30
Fax +49 (0)30 259 330-17
ir@designhotels.com

Schwarz Financial Communication
Frank Schwarz
Tel. +49 (0)611 17453 9811
Fax +49 (0)611 17453 9829
schwarz@schwarzfinancial.com

Design Hotels AG (formerly: lebensart global networks AG) is an
integrated provider of marketing and positioning services and acts as
a consultant for individually managed hotels and small hotel groups.
The service range of Design Hotels begins with the concept for a
hotel. Clients of Design Hotels AG can choose from a modular service
portfolio. With the brand Design Hotels(TM) the company currently
represents and markets a unique collection of over 170 individual
hotels in more than 40 countries. Through its marketing and
communication activities Design Hotels AG forms the connection
between the member hotel and a global clientele looking for
independent choice and individuality.

www.designhotels.com, ISIN: DE0005141006, Munich Stock Exchange
(Regulated Market)



--- Ende der Mitteilung ---

design hotels AG
Stralauer Allee 2c Berlin Deutschland

WKN: 514100;
ISIN: DE0005141006;
Notiert: Freiverkehr in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse, Freiverkehr in
Börse Berlin,
Freiverkehr in Hanseatische Wertpapierbörse zu Hamburg, Geregelter
Markt in Bayerische Börse München;
http://hugin.info/136390/R/1195048/242318.pdf


Copyright © Hugin AS 2008. All rights reserved.