La Tribune de lHotellerie

💳 Philippe Roy, founder of Red-Yucca.com, highlighted the significant, often underestimated cost of payments in the hotel industry. He pointed out that hotels partially fund the perks of credit cards, such as cashback and loyalty programs, from their own pockets. Roy also mentioned the payment market's oligopoly, with limited negotiation power for hotels, citing a recent U.S. government lawsuit against Visa for anti-competitive practices. Additionally, he discussed the major transformation of payment technologies like QR codes and mobile wallets, which are reshaping international traveler expectations.

🏨 The 142-room voco Zeal Exeter Science Park offers neutral tones, contemporary elements, a mini gym, gardens, a versatile meeting space, and 12 electric vehicle charging stations. Its restaurant, ISCA, emphasizes local ingredients, collaborating with regional farms and producers. Built with sustainable materials, such as Ecocrete (up to 85% less CO2 compared to CEM1 cement), the hotel aligns with voco's commitment to sustainable innovation. Joanna Kurowska, IHG's VP and General Manager for the UK and Ireland, highlights the hotel's addition to their sustainable offerings in the UK.

🏁 Simon-Kucher, a growth strategy consulting firm, analyzed data from 2,800 hotels in 24 Formula 1 host cities, revealing significant tourism impacts during race weekends. Two months before the F1 season, 32% of hotels in host cities are fully booked, emphasizing the need for early reservations. Canada tops the list with rates over €1,750 per night, followed by Abu Dhabi at €694, with the USA and Belgium close behind at €682 and €633 respectively. Prices in Australia, Azerbaijan, Miami, and Spain range between €400 and €500.