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🍴 Chef Alexandre Willaume, known for Etika (64), has been the executive chef at Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel since mid-November. His career includes work at Le Chanoine Gourmand in Troyes, Plaza Athénée, and Bristol, with executive roles at Hôtel du Louvre, Pullman Roissy, and Grand Hôtel Thalasso & Spa in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, earning him the Maître Restaurateur title. His restaurant Etika opened in April 2023 but closed by early September 2024. At Pullman Paris, he offers a menu with a focus on marine products and vegetables, featuring French cod with black garlic aioli and wild sea bass this winter. Willaume rejoices over his impactful return to the Accor Group on social media.

💻 Alix Boulnois became Chief Business, Digital & Tech Officer at Accor in June 2024 after joining in February 2020. She created the Digital Factory and oversees a team of 4,500 across 38 countries. Under her leadership, Accor’s ALL loyalty program expanded beyond hospitality and emphasizes ESG initiatives rewarding eco-friendly choices. Boulnois focuses on integrating business, tech, and operations, and has modernized platforms including CRM and APIs, with a notable partnership with Amadeus for the CRS.

💻 In 2025, AI will evolve from tools to autonomous agents, as highlighted by a Capgemini survey of 1,500 executives, with 32% identifying AI agents as the top tech trend of that year. These specialized agents can independently plan and execute complex tasks, reducing operational costs and improving efficiency. Gen4Travel is developing a super-agent for the tourism industry, capable of adjusting travel plans in real time. IBM foresees challenges for super-agents, including multi-agent dependency and ethical considerations.

🍞 Orbisk, a Dutch scale-up tackling food waste with AI, raised over €8 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding led by new partner Regeneration.VC, with existing investor PeakBridge and others like Kost Capital, DOEN Participaties, Brabant Development Agency, and AgriFoodInvest from EIT Food. The funds will enhance AI technology, operational innovation, customer integrations, and expand the global team. Since 2019, Orbisk aims to build a more sustainable food system with its waste monitor "Orbi", assisting food service operators, including hotels.

🏦 Minor Hotels, a Thailand-based hotel group, will manage the tallest skyscraper in Brisbane's $3.6 billion Queens Wharf project starting early 2025. Queens Wharf Residences, a 64-story tower, is the fastest-selling development in Queensland. The management deal with Minor Hotels, which operates over 550 hotels globally including 11 in Brisbane, signifies a strategic step towards making Brisbane a top-tier destination for tourism, leisure, and entertainment. The almost completed Queens Wharf Residences is expected to welcome its first residents in early 2025.

📖 Booking's rating system will change on January 1, 2025, affecting hotels' online perceptions. Informed in December 2024, hoteliers learned that recent reviews would carry more weight, with the specifics of this new calculation being opaque. Thomas Yung of My Hotel Reputation highlighted concerns about increased mental strain for hoteliers and the lack of transparency from Booking, which has a significant impact on the hospitality industry. The new system may not reflect potential improvements like data analysis by customer nationality or loyalty program benefits.

🏡 Les Domaines de Fontenille, with 11 properties in France, Spain, and Italy, have strategic minority investments from LVMH and Anaïs Ventures. Founders Frédéric Biousse and Guillaume Foucher focus on heritage preservation and eco-responsibility. Recent expansions include Domaine de Primard near Paris and Fontenille Menorca in Minorca. Upcoming projects: a hotel in Perros-Guirec (2025), and a five-star hotel in Aix-en-Provence (2026). Achieved Société à Mission status in 2023, they plan further acquisitions and environmentally-conscious renovations.

🏖 B&B HOME to open a new establishment in Courchevel in 11 days, with a transformation planned for spring and official inauguration on July 24, 2025, coinciding with the Tour de France's arrival. Following a first opening in Saint-Ouen, multiple establishments will launch in Île-de-France by year's end. The brand emphasizes extended stays, sustainability, and local integration, with plans to expand via franchises. B&B HOME's commitment to social and environmental responsibility includes eco-friendly designs, local collaborations, and energy and water conservation efforts.

🙋 DuoDay 2024 facilitated inclusion for people with disabilities by letting them explore new professions. Christelle, despite a diverse career and health issues, joined RESO 29 in Brest for this event. She learned about RESO's unique employment system in hospitality, guided by Émilie, a staff manager at RESO. The day emphasized the ongoing need for workplace inclusion beyond just one day, promoting continuous awareness and integration efforts. RESO 44 in Nantes also participated, providing insight into digital communication roles to a participant looking to shift career paths.

🏠 On December 3, 2024, Unic Stay (AbracadaRoom) and Cabinet Alliances reported a 30% increase in unique accommodations compared to 2022. The French quirky lodging sector reached a business volume of €430 million in 2023, marking a 65% rise from 2021. Available unique overnight stays in France for 2023 tallied at 1.2 million, up 46% from 2021.