Divers

🏖️ New members have joined Preferred Hotels & Resorts, including AJWA Cappadocia in Turkey, Dusit Thani Bangkok in Thailand, Grand Hotel Courmayeur Mont Blanc in Italy, Mukul Resort in Nicaragua, Palafitos Overwater Bungalows in Mexico, and Sands Suites Resort & Spa in Mauritius. Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO, highlights the brand's commitment to unique experiences in extraordinary global destinations. The chain represents over 600 hotels, resorts, residences, and groups across 80 countries, offering distinctive experiences through curated collections and maintaining high-quality standards.

🍺 DEGRÉ ZÉRO, the 100% no/low alcohol beverage trade show, holds its second edition at Tripot Regnier in Paris (15th district) on February 9, 2025, from 11 am to 7 pm. This professional gathering features producers of non-alcoholic wines and spirits, beer, and other low-ABV fermented and macerated beverages. In 2025, DEGRÉ ZÉRO introduces alternative beverages, including non-alcoholic aperitifs and digestives. The event is exclusively open to professionals at 10-12 rue Mathurin Regnier, 75015 Paris.

📦 Elis, global leader in circular services, acquires 100% of Laundry Services B.V. near Utrecht, Netherlands, employing about 40 staff. The group mainly serves the Hospitality industry. Following the February 2024 acquisition of Moderna, this move strengthens Elis's Dutch market presence. In 2023, Laundry Services B.V. reported around €7 million in revenue. The acquisition will be consolidated in accounts from November 1, 2024. The current management team will stay to continue growth in the region.

🏡 Yannick Lamuraille, owner of the 4-star Hôtel Saint-Gelais in Angoulême, purchased the former offices of the Department at auction to create a second hotel. The protected and listed building, constructed in 1902, was designed by acclaimed architects Raymond Barbaud and Édouard Bauhain, known for classic-style structures with occasional Art Nouveau elements.

🗿 Erik Orsenna, an award-winning academician and Goncourt Prize recipient, reflects on the transient nature of islands. The Festival du livre insulaire, celebrating island literature, has been held annually for 26 years around Easter on Ouessant Island at the tip of Brittany. The 2024 edition focused on the theme "Island under the sea, myth and realities.

🎭 The new contemporary art museum, set to open in 2026, will be located near the Iguaçu Falls in Brazil, one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. The museum, designed by an award-winning Paraguayan architect, will showcase international art with a focus on Latin American works. French tourists rank as the fourth largest group of foreign visitors to Foz do Iguaçu. The museum will enhance the cultural appeal of the area, traditionally known for its landscapes and toucans.

🌿 Originating from South Asia, turmeric has over 4000 years of history and is revered for its health benefits and culinary use. The main bioactive component, curcumin, gives turmeric its yellow color and health virtues. Additionally, turmeric contains essential oils like turmerone, essential for its spicy aroma and anti-inflammatory properties. It's also rich in dietary fibers, vitamin C, E, potassium, iron, and magnesium. Turmeric is used in various forms, including powder, fresh root, and capsules—often paired with piperine for better absorption. It's acclaimed for its potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties, digestive health benefits, and potential in preventing diseases like arthritis, cardiovascular issues, and certain cancers. However, excessive consumption may cause digestive issues, allergic reactions, and increased bleeding risk. Always consult a health professional before taking turmeric supplements, especially if you have existing health conditions.

💱 In 2024, Pôle emploi will become France Travail. On October 24, 2024, France Travail launched France Travail Pro, enhancing services for TPE/PME. A new dedicated phone line for companies, 39 95, will operate from 7:30 to 20:00, Monday to Saturday, starting December 1, 2024. The service aims to double the number of visits to companies with 6,000 dedicated advisors. Employer pages on pro.francetravail.fr will be redesigned, and training schemes will merge, with 100% simplified payment for POEI in tutoring from November 2024.

🍳 The 2025 edition of the Trophée Œufs de France, themed "L’OMELETTE, Star de nos terroirs", is organized by CNPO and open to young chefs aged 16-24, including students, apprentices, and independent candidates. Registrations close on December 15, 2024, with recipe submissions due by March 3, 2025. Six finalists, selected by Chef Guy Legay, MOF and Jury President, will compete in Paris in spring 2025. For more info, visit: https://lesœufs.fr/jeunes-enseignants/trophee-cnpo-jeunes-cuisiniers/.

🏦 ARTEA Groupe, as the developer and co-investor for the conversion of "L'Hôtel des Postes," a national monument in Luxembourg, has delayed the hotel opening by one year due to the discovery of valuable architectural elements. Amid economic challenges and rising construction costs (Oct. 2, 2024, press release), the pause in renovation work could hint at significant archaeological findings. The project, under Romain Schmiz Architectes & Urbanistes and Jean-Philippe Nuel Studio, resides in a UNESCO protected area.