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🏨 UBER is set to acquire EXPEDIA on October 17, 2024, as announced by the Financial Times—a significant event for the tourism industry. This move could notably impact France's "cafés-hôtels-restaurants" sector. Known primarily in the professional sphere, EXPEDIA is the second-largest Online Travel Agency (OTA) after Booking.com. UBER, initially a ride-hailing app, expanded to include Uber Eats and Uber Rent.

🏨 Hyatt Hotels Corporation, at ILTM Cannes, revealed an expansion plan with over 50 luxury and lifestyle hotels set to open globally by 2026. The European luxury hotel market is expected to grow over 50% by 2028. Hyatt has doubled its luxury room count since 2017 and 70% of its current rooms are in the luxury and upscale segment, with 28 new high-end hotels and resorts added in the last three years.

🏨 Mandarin Oriental plans to add two legendary European hotels to its portfolio by early 2025: Hôtel Lutetia in Paris and Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam. The Hôtel Lutetia will be renamed Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, Paris upon transaction finalization. The Conservatorium Hotel is set to be renamed Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium, Amsterdam in January 2026, without closing for an enhancement. This expansion is a key part of Mandarin Oriental's growth strategy under Laurent Kleitman, aiming to enrich customer experience and brand's international growth.

🏡 IHG launched Vignette Collection in Vietnam with Moire Hoi An, located along Hoai river, offering 128 rooms and suites viewing the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An old town. Vignette Collection achieved half of its 10-year goal with 19 hotels open and 34 in development since its inception 3 years ago, aiming for 100 properties. IHG also plans to introduce Voco to Bandung, Indonesia, with Voco Bandung Setiabudi opening in 2025, featuring 162 rooms.

🏨 Increasing numbers of hotels are adopting thematic approaches, integrating animations to enrich the customer experience beyond just decor. This strategy, when aligned with the hotel's concept and history, has led to significant revenue growth and enhanced customer satisfaction. For an in-depth understanding, see the complete file in "Industrie Hôtelière" magazine's December issue (No. 766).

📅 Fin d'année 2024: vérification du dispositif des jours fériés garantis par les entreprises. Établissements permanents exigent 1 an, saisonniers 9 mois d’ancienneté. 6 jours fériés garantis, 4 non garantis, plus le 1er mai obligatoire pour tous. Salariés à temps partiel ont des droits prorata temporis. Les jours non pris doivent être compensés ou payés dans les 6 mois suivants, sinon rémunération obligatoire après cette période, avec une prescription de 3 ans pour les demandes de rappel de salaire.

🏕 "16th Travel d’Or™ awards open for applications, set for April 3, 2025, at Palais Brongniart, Paris. Eventiz organizes the event, celebrating tourism sector influencers with 12 categories, acknowledging reputation, creativity, innovation, and sustainable tourism commitments. Application deadline: January 15. Pre-selected 350 companies compete, with new evaluation methodologies including specialized institute surveys. Non-participants and new applicants have different instructions for participation.

🏛 Notre-Dame de Paris reopens on December 8 after a five-year restoration, featuring a ceremony with heads of state and an inaugural concert. Pope Francis visits Ajaccio on December 15, both events expected to boost local tourism and hotel industry, with trends in reservation to be analyzed for these significant weekends.

🏛 Notre-Dame de Paris reopens on December 8, 2024, after five years of extensive renovations. An online reservation system is established for visits starting from December 9, with the "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris" app available in French, English, and Spanish. It allows booking slots, offers guided tours in audio and text format, and provides cathedral updates. Visitors can book from 30-minute to one-hour slots, and up to 3,000 people can be accommodated simultaneously. Initially, opening hours are from 3:30 PM to 10 PM (Dec 9-13) and 3:30 PM to 8 PM (Dec 14-15), and then normal hours resume from 7:45 AM to 7 PM starting December 16.

🏨 Billy Skelli-Cohen named CEO of rapidly growing European boutique hotel group Beaumier, effective January 1, 2025. Skelli-Cohen, with background in luxury hospitality and international development, previously led Zien Group and founded Lore Group. Beaumier, transformed in 2021, emphasizes authenticity and sustainability, operates 11 hotels in France, Spain, and Switzerland, and is expanding with a new opening in Wengen, Switzerland.