Juridique et Administratif

🏆 Business owners have until February 18 to apply for #TrophéesNum2024, competing for €35,000 total prize money, with each of the 5 winners receiving €7,000. The awards promote SMEs in digital growth, rebound, employment & inclusion, notoriety, and successful deployment of a .fr website. Apply by downloading the contest rules and submission form.

🔒 Between May 24-25, several hoteliers reported phishing attacks on Booking.com's extranet. The scam involves impersonating hoteliers on Booking.com to solicit prepaid bookings via WhatsApp. To prevent this, use strong passwords following ANSSI guidelines and unique passwords for each session. If victimized, file a complaint within 72 hours, report to CNIL if personal data is compromised, notify affected persons, and change Booking.com passwords. Detailed procedures are available at https://www.ghr.fr/europe-numerique/informatique/cybersecurite/piratage-informatique-donnees-volees-que-faire.

🏨 The Union des Métiers et des Industries de l'Hôtellerie (UMIH) finally presented its case against Airbnb Ireland, after over six years, for unfair competition initiated in 2018. UMIH, represented by Maître Bellaïche from the law firm Goldwin, accuses Airbnb of distorting competition by not adhering to regulations: not providing registration numbers, exceeding the 120-day legal limit for primary residences, and incorrectly collecting and declaring tourist tax, along with allowing illegal content on its platform.

🌍 Thomas Cook, liquidated in 2019, was reborn in 2020 by Fosun Tourism Group as an online travel agency. On September 5, 2024, eSky Group acquired Thomas Cook from Fosun. The British travel brand was initially bought by Fosun for £11 million. eSky, covering over 50 countries with brands eSky and eDestinos, serves 150+ million customers, offering 550 airlines and 1.3 million hotels globally. In 2023, eSky's profits rose 42% to over €19 million, almost tripling its 2019 level.

🕵 Belgian group CFE faces corruption allegations regarding the construction of the Grand Hôtel N’Djamena, Chad, inaugurated in 2017 under Radisson Blu. The Chadian government owes over 60 million euros to CFE, with judicial inquiries underway. A joint investigation team has been set up by both countries under Eurojust. Belgian and French judiciaries are probing into several charges including foreign public agent corruption, influence peddling, forgery, money laundering, and criminal conspiracy, related to withdrawals of up to 12 million euros from CFE's account in Chad.

📊 The FEEF congratulates new Prime Minister Michel Barnier, highlighting the need for commercial relations simplification reform to achieve food and industrial sovereignty. The reform should prioritize SMEs and ETIs growth, as 22,000 French companies suffer from unsuitable legal frameworks in commercial negotiations. A forthcoming Banque de France study for the FEEF reveals worsening economic situations for distribution suppliers, with deficit companies rising from 19% in 2018 to 30% in 2022. The FEEF advocates for a specific simplification and protection regime for SME-ETI industrialists, similar to European law practices.

🏥 Hotel and restaurant professionals reacted to former Tourism Minister Olivia Grégoire's statement critiquing France's accessibility for the disabled in local public establishments. Catherine Quérard, President of GHR, argued the claim misrepresented the industry, which adheres to the 2005 disability law mandating new establishments be accessible, with existing ones given time to comply, although some face technical or architectural challenges.

🍴 A supermarket chain announced they accept meal vouchers for non-immediately consumable goods, albeit as a temporary derogation valid until December 31, 2024. The GHR underlined this temporary measure, introduced in October 2022, addressed food price hikes amid inflation dipping below 2%. Catherine Quérard, GHR's President, insists meal vouchers should primarily enable employees without company canteens to dine. The GHR warns misuse may lead to social and tax charges, echoing the Court of Auditors' concerns.

💸 Key facts on fraud involving replacement income: Illegal work includes 6 offenses under labor law—concealed work, employment of foreign workers without work permits, trafficking, illicit labor lending, irregular multiple jobs, and replacement income fraud. The latter, a felony, involves knowingly receiving or attempting to receive undue replacement income via illegal means. Sanctions include criminal and administrative penalties, repayment of misappropriated funds, and potentially, for scamming a public entity, up to 7 years' imprisonment and a €750,000 fine.