Fusion & Acquisition

🏖 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.

🏨 In Germany, a hotel operated under the established ibis Budget brand, part of the Accor group, was acquired to enhance the Core investment strategy of a SCPI. The hotel, with 150 rooms, is centrally located in Munich's congress center, which receives over 2 million visitors annually. Built in 2007 and renovated in 2019, the property caters to domestic guests from November to March and international visitors from April to October. The hotel has a remaining lease term of 8 years with Accor Invest. This marks the 7th acquisition in Germany, aligning with a strategy focusing on quality assets, operators, and long-duration leases in prime locations, contributing to Europe's nearly 50% share of global tourism. Legal and tax advisory for the transaction was provided by LPA-GGV.

🏠 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.

💰 Schulte Hospitality Group, managing over 200 units, partners with Las Vegas-based 34th Floor Hospitality, founded by Frenchman Olivier Zardoni, making it a 100% subsidiary and a significant hospitality management player. The partnership aims to enhance dining offerings by leveraging the expertise of 34th Floor associates, Olivier Zardoni and Alex Taylor, for creating successful restaurants and memorable culinary experiences. Darryl Schulte, CEO of Schulte Hospitality Group, anticipates this will transform hotel restaurants into must-visit destinations.

🍻 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.

🏨 Maison Barbillon, acquired in 2019 with 2 stars, underwent a full transformation for repositioning as a 3-star boutique hotel. Renovations occurred in 2020, close to Grenoble's TGV station. Opened in January 2021, the 48-room hotel has seen continuous revenue growth, with EXTENDAM achieving a 15% Equity IRR from the sale. In July 2021, EXTENDAM invested in a 98-room hotel, now boasting the "By Georgette" concept with revamped common areas and a new restaurant in 2022. Located amid 120+ companies and 8,000 employees, the hotel aligns with local market demand and anticipates development, promising EXTENDAM a 14% IRR. Previously, in 2018, EXTENDAM partnered with DG Invest to construct a 68-room ibis Budget.

🏖️ 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.