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🏠 To increase the visibility of vacation rentals or B&Bs, it’s important to build a solid communication strategy. Experienced in the field for 15 years, the author offers 7 proven tips: reflect on unique selling points, target customers, and competitors; understand the unique web marketing ecosystem with dedicated channels like Airbnb and Booking; optimize Google Business Profile, SEO, and create engaging content; develop a clear, ergonomic website with a simple booking engine, SEO, quality photos, engaging descriptions, and ensure the best direct prices; utilize online travel agencies (OTAs), specialized directories, and metasearch engines like Trivago wisely, as each has costs and rules; effectively use social media by showcasing stories and local partnerships, limiting commercial posts to 20%; value customer reviews as 95% of travelers check reviews before booking, highlight positive feedback, and respond professionally to all reviews; network locally with tourism offices and community; experiment with online advertising, newsletters, AI tools like ChatGPT, and stay informed about industry solutions. The author concludes with an offer of a web marketing course based on 15 years of experience.

📌 SETT, historically known as the Salon des Équipements et Techniques du Tourisme, rebrands as the Salon Européen des Tendances Touristiques to reflect its innovative vision and European focus. The new name and identity are effective immediately across all communication platforms. The tourism industry's flagship event, SETT, will take place from November 4-6, 2025, welcoming French and European professionals. Already attracting over 10% international visitors, the event aims to expand its reach to strategic markets like Germany, the Netherlands, and Northern Europe, building on the momentum from a 2024 roundtable event, "Travailler ensemble au niveau européen.

🏘️ Domaine Le Mouflon d’Or, with 24 rooms, suites, and villas, will open on May 27, 2025, in Zonza, Alta Rocca. The Canarelli-Bornéa family, led by Lise Canarelli and Anthony Bornéa, is reviving this historic estate. Their son François adds artistic flair with performances, while Lino trains in hospitality to continue the family legacy. The renovated patrician house combines traditional charm with modern comfort in a natural setting.

💸 TravelPerk, a European unicorn, has raised $200 million and acquired Swiss expense management firm Yokoy. With a new valuation of $2.7 billion, the company aims to expand in the US market and launch a Travel and Expense (T&E) platform. This follows a June acquisition of American TMC Amtrav. TravelPerk reported a 50% revenue increase over two years, reaching $200 million in 2024, and achieved EBITDA breakeven by the end of that year.

???? 🤖 The Elysée aims to create an AI foundation in France and raise €2.5 billion for it, with €500 million expected in the current year. The foundation's purpose is to provide a trustworthy framework for gathering data for public interest AI projects. Anne Bouverot, the President’s special envoy for AI, shared this information. France, hosting the global AI summit on February 10-11, seeks to position itself as a major AI power following the appointment of Clara Chappaz as Secretary of State for AI and Digital Affairs in September.

🏃 During the komoot Partner Awards 2024, 16 campaigns were honored for their creativity and effectiveness, including Ardèche's cycling routes with a 5.8% Click-Through Rate (CTR) and Québec's national parks campaign boasting a 47% Interaction Rate. S-Bahn Berlin achieved a 7.9% CTR, while DB Bike Rental's campaign reached an impressive 103% Interaction Rate. Outdoor campaigns by Bionicdry and Adidas Five Ten also stood out, with Bionicdry's hiking routes hitting a 2.4% CTR and Adidas Five Ten's MTB trails in Switzerland securing a 62% Interaction Rate. The Global Choice award went to Visit Essen for its mix of industrial heritage and modern hiking trails.

🏕 In 2025, Booking.com awarded a record 1.71 million travel partners across 212 countries with the Traveller Review Award for outstanding hospitality. Italy topped the list with 207,652 awards, followed by France with 155,141, and Spain with 147,603. France climbed to second place, overtaking Spain since 2024. Apartments received the most awards globally, over 847,000, while capsule hotels saw a significant increase in popularity. The awards are based on over 360 million verified customer reviews, with a 16% increase in recipients from the previous year, including 1,711,539 accommodations, 1,329 car rental companies, and 124 taxi firms.

📖 The École de Paris des Métiers de la Table (EPMT) will hold an Open House on Saturday, February 1st, 2025, from 9am to 5pm, at 17 rue Jacques Ibert, Paris 17th. This event offers free and paid apprenticeship training from CAP to Bac+5, including the new 2025 License Pro Management de Projets Événementiels. The "Étoiles & Terroirs" project allows select apprentices regional mobility with a partner CFA. Visitors can also see culinary demos, meet educational teams, apply and interview on site, with continuous training for employees and those changing careers. Pre-registration online is available at: epmt.fr/32263-portes-ouvertes.html.

📖 Thomas, an enthusiast for contract analysis, compares his skills with ChatGPT's ability to assess the B00king.com agreement. ChatGPT, within 10 seconds, identifies critical points like parity clauses, commission and fees, overbooking management, intellectual property rights, ranking and marketing, dispute resolution, termination and data management. Thomas highlights the importance of understanding contracts to protect one's establishment, emphasizing that while ChatGPT is impressive, it does not replace professional legal advice.

🏖️ HUTTOPIA, a French camping-nature pioneer with over 140 campsites in 8 countries, acquired a 34% stake in ELEGANCIA, handing over management of its café-hotel division HOSCAR. ELEGANCIA, with 20+ years in hotel project management, is known for unconventional hospitality approaches. This strategic partnership aims to reinforce both companies' expertise in the hospitality sector and accelerate regional development. HUTTOPIA's vision began 25 years ago, foreseeing urban vacationers' need to reconnect with nature, and HOSCAR was launched 10 years ago to create community-centric Café-Hotels.