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📣 Italy is enacting a new law to combat fake online reviews, affecting 6-30% of tourist sector revenue. Visitors must provide ID and proof of visit within 15 days to post reviews. Paid or sponsored reviews are banned, and businesses can request removal of false or outdated (>2 years) reviews. Transparency is mandated by platforms like Tripadvisor with oversight by Italy's antitrust authority. Supporters include Fipe-Confcommercio and Codacons, with privacy and participation concerns raised by others. If passed, this could lead to broader European regulations on online reviews and advertising practices.

🏥 Al Qimmah Hospitality and Amwaj Real Estate Company, subsidiaries of BinDawood Trading, partner with Marriott International to open the world's largest Courtyard by Marriott in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, by 2026. Courtyard by Marriott Makkah Al Naseem will have 2,179 rooms across seven towers, featuring a restaurant for over 1,800 guests and a 'Grab n’ Go' market. This aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 to attract 30 million religious tourists. In December 2024, Marriott agreed to open three hotels in Madinah, adding over 1,200 rooms.

🚉 SNCF Voyageurs pilots a new system on TGV INOUI trains using the France Identité app, eliminating the need to present physical train tickets or ID during checks. Trials began on January 20; the app consolidates both checks into a QR Code. Initially in beta, it will become available to all app users later, revealing only the passenger's name, first name, and birth date to the conductor.

🏖 France's tourism set a record in 2024, with 100 million international visitors (+2 million) and €71 billion in international revenue (+12%). Ski resorts saw an 85% occupancy rate and a 5.5% increase in visitors compared to 2023. Q1 2025 shows a +10% rise in international flight arrivals and a +7-point increase in Paris hotel occupancy for January. Highlighted events included the Olympics, the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, and the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris, contributing to a travel balance of payments surplus of over €15 billion.

🍴 Denis Courtiade, recognized as the world's best maître d’hôtel, has been the director at the restaurant in Plaza Athénée for 25 years. He started as an apprentice at 16 and became a director at Louis XV in Monaco by 25. Courtiade co-founded the association "Au Service des Talents De Demain" and created the Trophée Maître d’Hôtel competition. He authored two books, "Pour Vous Servir" and "L’Hospitalité, le Mentorat," and emphasizes the importance of transmission, human valorization, and a positive work environment. His management style focuses on understanding team needs, autonomy, trust, and a tailored approach to each individual. Courtiade's mentoring involves sharing his experience and knowledge to help others grow.

🏛 Paris' 9th arrondissement is home to top "hôtels en day use" offering unique experiences. Notable among them, Hôtel Châteaudun Opéra and Hôtel Astra Opéra are praised for their immediate proximity to transport, elegant design, and excellent services, with easy access to shopping centers. Hôtel Scribe Paris Opéra combines historical elegance with a central location near cultural sites. Hôtel Excelsior Batignolles boasts classic charm and tranquility, while Hôtel Banke offers contemporary luxury with a central location, ensuring that each establishment meets diverse needs with impeccable service.

💰 Amadeus invested in hivr.ai, a German startup founded in 2020, to reinvent the hotel industry with AI. Hivr.ai automates sales processes for meetings and groups across fragmented channels, aiming to reduce response times from 48-96 hours and increase conversion rates from 10-20%. The collaboration includes integrating hivr.ai with Amadeus's Delphi and MeetingBroker, offering hotels new distribution channels and AI-driven automation. Financial terms remain confidential; hivr.ai has teams in Switzerland, the UK, and Romania.

🏖️ Ons Gherib plays a key role in implementing Belmond's renovation plan for its hotels, trains, lodges, and boats. With experience in luxury design and architecture, including at Chanel, Montblanc, and Saint Laurent as Global Director, he started on January 22, 2025, reporting to CEO Dan Ruff at Belmond, and is on the executive committee. His focus is on excellence, efficiency, and partnerships with world-renowned designers and architects to create unique travel experiences.

📊 Similarweb's 2025 Digital 100 ranks the fastest-growing online brands in France across 10 categories, spotlighting ChatGPT, Temu, Reddit, La Chaîne Météo, and Mappy. The annual ranking celebrates digital growth, naming a top website, app, and multiplatform winner. Similarweb's report, announced by CEO Or Offer, is used to benchmark online performance. The French ranking lists 10 winners in 5 categories and has editions for the US, UK, Germany, Japan, Australia, India, and Brazil.

🌏 Six Senses hotels achieved the highest level of certification from Control Union, a GSTC-accredited body, reflecting their commitment to sustainable development. The certification involved a thorough audit of their sustainability planning, reduction of negative environmental impacts, cultural heritage enhancement, and socioeconomic benefits for local communities. Jeff Smith, VP of Sustainability at Six Senses, highlighted the certification as a mark of trust and credibility in sustainability.