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💰 Who? Cynthia Mérope and Alexis Daems from METRO France and Suntory Beverage & Food France (SBFF). What? Donated €144,807 to Secours populaire français. When? December 18, 2024. Where? Ceremony at SBFF headquarters, Neuilly sur Seine. Growth? Donation increased by over 20% compared to 2023. How? 5% of sales from Oasis (excluding large formats) during a promotional period donated to charity. Since 2021, METRO France, in partnership with SBFF, supports Secours populaire annually through this fundraising initiative.

📱 Paris will close its last public tourism office near the Eiffel Tower on January 13th, following a budget cut of 2 million euros over two years and shifting to digital forms of tourist information. This move is expected to eliminate an additional 9 jobs and may be emulated by other cities facing public funding crises. Digital platforms and a digital tourist concierge service will replace the physical office, along with partnerships with newsstands and post offices for tourist info points.

🏖 Nearly 90% of consumers read online reviews before booking, highlighting their impact on a business's reputation. Quick, personalized responses to positive reviews show appreciation and encourage repeat visits. Addressing negative reviews with calm professionalism and proposing solutions can turn a bad situation into a positive one. Regularly monitoring review platforms and maintaining response consistency are key to shaping future clients' perceptions, fostering trust, and enhancing online visibility.

💰 In Italy, key boxes for short-term rentals are banned due to security and identity verification reasons. Owners must now meet guests physically for key handover and submit traveler details to authorities within 24 hours. Other European countries, including France, may follow suit, potentially impacting Airbnb's business model. The European Commission has designated Booking as a "gatekeeper" under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) on November 14, imposing obligations like the prohibition of parity clauses in Europe. Google combats fake reviews by publicly flagging businesses and possibly banning their information for 30+ days. The leisure sector is set to further digitalize in 2025, with consumer expectations driving demand for real-time online booking systems, connected schedules, and strong online presence; only 21% of leisure professionals are considered properly digitalized by PhocusWright's report.

🚗 In France, toll barriers are being replaced by free-flow toll systems, eliminating the need to stop for payment. This system automates fee calculation via gantries with cameras that read license plates. Payments can be made online, at physical points of sale, or via telepayment badges. Users have 72 hours to pay before fines are issued, starting at €90 and increasing to €375 after two months. The A79, A13, A14, and A4's Boulay diffuser are current project areas. The free-flow tolling aims to reduce accidents, save up to 30 minutes on a 2.5-hour trip, and cut down on 9.5 million liters of annual fuel consumption on the A13 and A14, with a positive environmental impact. Data collected for payment are GDPR compliant and deleted after necessary retention periods.

🏠 Lionel Messi's real estate portfolio, Edificio Rostower, was introduced to the Bourse on the Spanish alternative market, Portfolio Stock Exchange, and is valued at 223 million euros. The fund includes properties in Spain, Andorra, London, and Paris, featuring 7 hotels under the MiM brand in collaboration with the Majestic group located in Ibiza, Barcelona, Cadiz, and Andorra, offices and shops in Barcelona, a duplex in London (445 sqm), and a family house in Paris (395 sqm with garden).

🚀 Google identifies 2025 as a pivotal year for technological trends in travel. AI will create bespoke experiences, with personalized itineraries and immersive visuals. Sustainable mobility prioritizes investments in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and electric transport. Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) will allow travelers to preview destinations. Blockchain technology will enhance booking security and simplify processes. Hyperlocal experiences will promote cultural immersion and support local economies. Workation destinations will feature coworking spaces and digital nomad visas to blend work and leisure.

🏦 Stephen Cassidy, Hilton's Senior Vice President and Managing Director for UK & Ireland, announced on December 31, 2024, that Esther Brittan, HR Operations Manager UK&I for Hilton, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2025 New Year Honours. She received the honor for her volunteer work, services to youth, and efforts in making the hospitality industry more accessible by reducing employment barriers and supporting inclusive programs such as WorkFit for individuals with Down syndrome.

📝 Tracking customer satisfaction is crucial for businesses, particularly SMEs. Verbatim analysis of customer comments, beyond numeric ratings, provides qualitative insights, revealing clients' feelings, expectations, and frustrations. Encouraging detailed feedback can be achieved through open-ended questions, accessible platforms, and prompt personalized responses. Analysing verbatims manually offers context, identifying strengths and weaknesses, while semantic analysis using NLP technology can quickly process large volumes of feedback, detecting themes, analyzing sentiment, and generating statistical reports. A hybrid approach, combining technology and human analysis, offers comprehensive understanding, enabling informed decision-making. Verbatim analysis translates customer feedback into actionable data, highlighting recurring topics and sentiments, essential for improving products, services, and overall customer experience. Guest Suite offers a complete client review management solution, identifying key themes, sentiment analysis, prioritization based on theme occurrence, and providing a comprehensive overview for business growth.

💰 Accor, leading the CAC 40 in 2024 with over 35% growth, raised its revenue per available room and EBITDA targets, after endorsements from UBS, Jefferies, and JP Morgan. Financial forecasts show 4-5% growth in revenue per available room and an EBITDA goal between €1.1 and €1.125 billion. The company reached 700 hotels in China by May 2024 and reported a pipeline of 231,000 rooms by the end of September. With a focus on luxury and lifestyle, Accor aims to continue network growth and allocate €3 billion to shareholders by 2027, despite European market exposure and Indian expansion challenges.