Fusion & Acquisition

📢 Choco acquires Goot, enhancing its digital solutions for food supply chains with AI tools for wholesalers. Goot, a pioneer in BtoB e-commerce for the food and beverage distribution industry, boasts nearly a decade of innovation. With over 200 clients, including key independent distributors and 30,000 daily users from bakeries and restaurants, Goot processes transactions exceeding €500 million annually in food, beverage, and milling sectors.

🏖 Airbnb's "Expériences" tab offers immersive activities hosted by locals worldwide. Unlike typical tours, it emphasizes originality and authenticity, featuring cooking local specialties, exploring hidden neighborhoods, and ocean-view yoga sessions.

🏠 Central Phuket celebrates its 6th anniversary by investing 1 billion THB to expand its Floresta luxury zone, aiming to strengthen Phuket's status as a global luxury destination. Tourist revenue is expected to reach 500 billion THB in 2024, a 28% increase from 2023, with average spending of 34,336 THB per visitor. Floresta's area grows from 180,000 to 200,000 square meters, increasing luxury brands from 16 to 25, including the largest Louis Vuitton store extension in southern Thailand.

🏦 Rosewood Amsterdam opens reservations for stays starting June 1, 2025, located in Amsterdam's canal district, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The hotel features 134 rooms and suites, including five signature suites, three restaurants, an internal distillery, Asaya® spa, fitness center, and indoor pool. Studio Piet Boon designed the hotel, blending historical elements with a contemporary touch. It offers a 223-square-meter event space, canal views, and a private Salon Boat. Rosewood Hotels to expand in Europe with upcoming openings in Greece, Italy, and the UK by 2026.

🍻 In January 2024, French restaurant alcohol sales dropped 22% compared to other months due to "Dry January", with cocktails suffering a 28% decrease, beers 26%, and liqueurs 22%. Lightspeed Commerce Inc. analyzed over 1,700 of its client locations in France, tallying more than 2,238 alcohol beverage sales. The study indicates a trend of reduced alcohol consumption for improved sleep, saving money, or health.

🏦 HBX Group, a Spanish travel technology firm owning brands like Hotelbeds, plans an IPO worth approximately €1 billion ($1.04 billion) in the coming weeks, as per sources. Shareholders, including private equity firms Cinven and EQT, along with Canadian pension fund CPP Investments, consider listing on the Madrid Stock Exchange. Following a preparation period exceeding a year, HBX may file for the IPO as soon as next week. This IPO would be Europe's first in 2025 after a modest recovery in issuances the previous year. In 2024, European companies raised $19.3 billion in IPOs, up 18% from 2023, despite fewer issuances, according to LSEG data.

🏖️ Elux Groupe, a luxury custom travel company, acquires La Route des Voyages, enhancing its customer experience and expanding offerings to meet the demands of discerning travelers. With 30+ years in travel, La Route des Voyages brings 5 new agencies across France (Bordeaux, Lyon, Toulouse, Annecy, Angers), a Swiss subsidiary (Geneva), and valuable expertise. Both brands will maintain their identities, aiming to create more exclusive travel packages together.

📈 In 2024, the author of Hospitality Insiders experienced professional success with a 50% revenue growth and got married in September. Despite high activity, they took 41 vacation days and maintained regular sports activities. However, they aim to reduce their travel days (83 in total) in 2025, targeting a maximum of 5 travel days per month, with a focus on clients in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Delegation to experts proved successful, and the author plans to continue this and possibly get coaching. Emphasis will be on developing online training and customized offers for a limited clientele, prioritizing effective time management for work-life balance.

🛈 En Espagne, la Semaine Sainte a vu des performances mitigées dans l'hôtellerie, affectées par la tempête Nelson. Des annulations de réservations et une baisse des réservations de dernière minute ont été constatées, à cause des conditions météorologiques défavorables. Des baisses de fréquentation par rapport à l'année précédente ont été enregistrées, bien que certaines destinations aient maintenu leurs prévisions. La pluie a notamment provoqué l'annulation des processions du Vendredi Saint à Séville.

🏕 Marriott acquires Postcard Cabins, a U.S. outdoor lodging company with 1,200 premium bungalow/cabin rentals across 29 destinations. This strategic purchase aims to boost Marriott's presence in the luxury outdoor hospitality market. Both Postcard Cabins and Trailborn offerings will be integrated into Marriott Bonvoy's platform by 2025, reflecting a shift towards immersive, nature-focused travel experiences. Marriott's expansion caters to the rising demand for sustainable accommodations with easy access to nature.