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📍 Thomas Hageman, executive at Meininger Hotels since 2018, oversees development in Europe. Meininger, a hybrid hostel concept leader, is fully owned by Holidaybreak Ltd, under the solid American investment fund Ares Management, shedding former ties with India's Cox & Kings. Focusing on commercial leases, typically 20-year terms, Meininger does not own properties and currently eschews management or franchise contracts, favoring partnerships for new builds or conversions.

🏦 Soho House, a luxury hospitality membership club network with 44 properties and 9 coworking spaces worldwide, received a purchase offer valuing it at $1.75 billion. After the takeover announcement at $9 per share, Soho House's stock price soared 43% in a single session, closing above $7 on the New York Stock Exchange. Founded in 1995 in London by Nick Jones, the brand caters to a trendy artistic and wealthy urbanite community. Locations include New York, Mexico, Paris, Sao Paulo, Stockholm, Hong Kong, and Tel Aviv.

🏨 At the Hospitality Asset Forum, Adrien Lanotte led a roundtable where hotel operators and investors discussed investment strategies. Jean-Marc Pahlon from Extendam emphasized an unchanged 15-year investment strategy, focusing on acquiring hotel properties across Europe, averaging two per month (about 30-35 hotels/year). By 2025, they anticipate more acquisitions outside France. Ideal assets include existing hotels with 100-250 rooms and a balanced mix of business and leisure guests. Value creation includes operational optimization and ownership of property walls to avoid landlord-tenant conflicts, maintaining stable performance amidst inflation and rising interest rates. They are also adapting to new hotel formats to meet evolving needs.

🏩 On December 9, the UMIH's Vice-President Eric Abihssira and the President of the Fondation Infa, Christian Laine, signed a convention to strengthen collaboration in the hotel and restaurant industry. Goals include enhancing job appeal, developing innovative training programs, facilitating integration of youth and job seekers, and promoting continuous learning, addressing unprecedented recruitment challenges. This national agreement marks a significant step in a collaborative effort to offer concrete, sustainable solutions and support the sector's evolving needs.