Top News

🏖️ In November 2023, Europe's travel industry saw a 1.4-point increase in Tour Operator (TO) activity and a 1.6% rise in average prices. The high-end segment, particularly favored by American tourists, outperformed other segments, signaling a preference for luxury travel experiences.

🏨 MEININGER Hotels expands its French presence, announcing a new property in Strasbourg slated for a 2027 opening after demolishing the Europcar building. This fifth French location joins Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Marseille sites. Near La Petite France and UNESCO heritage center, the hotel will offer 114 rooms with a total of 349 beds. Strasbourg, the seventh-largest city in France, annually attracts over four million visitors.

🏦 Soho House, a luxury hospitality membership club network with 44 properties and 9 coworking spaces worldwide, received a purchase offer valuing it at $1.75 billion. After the takeover announcement at $9 per share, Soho House's stock price soared 43% in a single session, closing above $7 on the New York Stock Exchange. Founded in 1995 in London by Nick Jones, the brand caters to a trendy artistic and wealthy urbanite community. Locations include New York, Mexico, Paris, Sao Paulo, Stockholm, Hong Kong, and Tel Aviv.

🏨 Korner, launched in October 2024, raised 45 million euros in late 2022 and acquired 9 establishments, including 7 businesses and 2 properties, with purchase prices between 3.3 and 7 million euros and an average renovation cost of 26,000 euros per room. In its first year, despite partial room availability due to renovations, Korner achieved an 11 million euro turnover and an exceptional occupancy rate above 95%, exceeding the 79% average of 3-star hotels in Paris.

🏨 Covivio, through its subsidiary Covivio Hotels, acquired the Iberostar Las Dalias 4-star hotel walls in Tenerife for €81 million from a company controlled by Starwood Capital. The hotel is located in Adeje, a major tourist destination in Spain, where Tenerife recorded about 70 million overnight stays in 2023, accounting for 20% of Spain's total. This purchase signifies a strategic development move for Covivio in the Southern European hotel market.

🏦 October comparison to the previous year's Rugby World Cup period showed a decline. However, November 2024 saw a positive outcome with stable Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) near €70, bolstered by high-end hotels' performance. Despite this, the market is largely static with low occupancy rates across most categories, except for the slight exception of luxury hotels. Economic challenges, such as difficulties in forming a government and passing a budget, contribute to the subdued market sentiment. MKG Consulting specializes in press, sector studies, events, and training, based in Paris.

🌱 B&B HOTELS, supported by the UN, has its carbon emission reduction goals validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. Aiming to align with the Paris Climate Accord, the group commits to a greener future. Presently, B&B HOTELS has 102 job openings in France.

🏨 Lindner Hotels, an established German hotel chain founded in 1973 in Düsseldorf, is undergoing insolvency proceedings. Martin Rinck, initially set to become CEO on October 1, will now advise the board. The company's restructuring includes renegotiating contracts, streamlining operations, and seeking new investors. Despite the insolvency affecting the parent company, subsidiaries like Lindner Lifestyle Hotels remain operational, with all Lindner Hotels staying open. Partnerships with Hyatt since 2022 under the "JdV by Hyatt" brand aid its continued appeal to investors. Restructuring is managed by KebekusPartner.

📲 In 2024, the Guest App surpassed 1.5 million users. A notable story involves a midnight surprise room-service for a birthday facilitated by the app. The Bowo blog offered insights into hotel trends, with the article on "Hotel amenities" being highly read and shared. Key events included Food Hotel Tech, EquipHotel, intimate gatherings at the Ritz, and Apéros des Hôteliers with partner Mews, focusing on the future of hospitality.

🏫 Thaïs, a French company with headquarters in France, completed a total overhaul of their Property Management System (PMS) in 2024, enhancing its intuitiveness, ergonomics, and mobile compatibility. By 2025, the PMS is rebuilt on current technologies, promising faster and better evolution. Thaïs PMS now serves 800 hotels, with significant client additions at events like EquipHotel. The company values partnership, notably with Logis Hotels and Contact Hotels, and embraces connectivity with tools like Zenchef and GetWelcom. The team at Thaïs PMS expanded in 2024, emphasizing a strong work culture. Looking forward to 2025, Thaïs PMS appreciates its clients and partners, with some becoming friends.