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📍 Lighthouse, a travel and hospitality industry intelligence platform, secured a $370 million investment led by investment firm KKR to enhance its tech offerings and international growth. The funding follows a previous $80 million round in 2021, with KKR investing through its Next Generation Technology III fund. With over 700 employees, Lighthouse aims to use AI for real-time insights to improve booking, operations, and customer experience for revenue managers and property owners.

🍴 Chef Thibault Nizard takes the helm at L'Auberge des Templiers's kitchen and restaurant on December 5, 2024. Born in Paris and raised in southern France, 32-year-old Nizard has already garnered accolades like the 2023 Gault et Millau Young Talent Trophy, the first prize at the World Championship of Lièvre à la Royale, and the Best Wine List in Paris by Lebey guide for his own establishment. L'Auberge des Templiers, a founding member of Relais & Châteaux, will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2025.

📊 The new "Panorama Statistique Emploi Formation" of the RCLS Branch, a comprehensive resource containing key data on the sector, is now available. It includes information on companies, employees, employment dynamics, and professional training trends and devices. Grégory HULIN, Director of Employment, Training & Working Conditions, encourages reading and sharing for enhancing understanding and valorization of the branch.

🏨 MKG Consulting forecasts conservative hotel performance in Northern and Western Europe for 2024-2025, influenced by recent trends in key markets like the UK and France. Southern Europe, particularly Spain, continues to perform well. The eventful year of 2024, especially with the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games in France, impacts annual growth perspectives. The year 2025 is expected to see significant disparities in performances across sub-markets and categories within the same market. Forecast details for various European countries and a focused analysis on Paris are available through Leslie Vial at MKG Consulting.

🏨 Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of IHCL, targets doubling consolidated revenue with a 20% return on employed capital by 2030, building on a portfolio beyond 700 hotels. IHCL surpassed forecasts, achieving 350 hotels with over 200 in operation and a strong pipeline. The company recorded 10 consecutive quarters of record financial performance. Backed by India’s long-term structural trends—over 6.5% GDP growth, government investments in infrastructure, hotel demand outstripping supply, and rising consumer purchasing power—the plan 'Accelerate 2030' aims for a consolidated turnover around €2 billion, leveraging India's domestic market and expanding brand offerings.

🏠 French Law No. 2024-1039 published on November 20 aims to regulate local tourism furnished rentals, with contributions from GHR and Deputy Annaïg Le Meur's proposal on April 28, 2023. Classified furnished rentals now have a 50% tax deduction on annual rental income up to €77,700, non-classified at 30% up to €15,000, effective from January 1, 2025. By 2025, rentals must have a minimum 'F' energy rating, 'E' by 2028, and between 'A' and 'D' by 2034. New rules require rental declaration with registration by May 20, 2026, and grant mayors power to set rental duration limits and quotas. Penalties include fines up to €10,000 for non-registration and €20,000 for false statements.

🌍 At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance unveiled Universal Sustainability Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) during the joint session of Tourism Ministers and COP Presidency. These KPIs set a framework for the hospitality industry to measure and report on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics, such as greenhouse gas emissions, water use, waste, and energy consumption. Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the Alliance, emphasized the commitment to sustainable practices and the importance of transparency and trust for consumers, in partnership with UN Tourism.

🛌 Accor partners with Handiwork for the Handiwork Découverte program, starting in 2024 across seven hotels in France. The initiative aims to train 28 disabled individuals, extending to Lyon and Bordeaux in 2025. Trainees will receive practical hospitality training and a qualification, with career opportunities within Accor. Anne-Sophie Beraud and Lionel Satouf highlighted the program's role in promoting diversity and inclusion in hospitality. Accor's commitment includes various initiatives like DuoDay and collaborations for digital career training.

🏦 Sommet Education collaborates with Mandarin Oriental to enhance student learning through real-world corporate exposure, provide employee development with custom training programs, and create hospitality career opportunities for high-potential individuals from underprivileged communities. The partnership leverages Sommet Education's global network including Les Roches, Glion, École Ducasse, Invictus Education in South Africa, and the Indian School of Hospitality. CEOs Laurent Kleitman (Mandarin Oriental) and Benoît-Étienne Domenget (Sommet Education) affirm their commitment to fostering future hospitality leaders.