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🏖️ On November 14, the CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur gathered over 400 tourism professionals at Château la Roque Foucade in Peypin. The region's tourism increased by 3% in 2023, with a 4% rise in international visitors. Seasonal adjustments over a decade show a 7% growth in annual visits, with a 13% increase in winter, and 10% in spring and autumn. Bookings for the end of the year and winter season in the Alps are up by 1%. 2024 is anticipated to set a new benchmark for the regional tourism industry.

💸 Kantar's yearly study reveals that "GenZ" travelers abandon bookings due to reservation system issues 70% of the time, while "baby-boomers" do so at 28%. Millenials (28-43 years) show less tolerance at 61%, compared to "GenX" (44-59 years) at 47%, and "Radio Babies" (79-96 years) at just 13%. Security concerns lead abandonment reasons (22%), followed by payment issues (19%), and slow loading times (16%). Booking a "standard" room is the initial choice for 46% of travelers, 33% consider an upgrade, 14% a "Deluxe" room, 4% an "Executive", and 3% a suite. Loyalty trends show an increase to 24% from 15% two years ago. Top extras include breakfast (47%), room descriptions and sizes (30%), preferred views (28%), and late checkouts or early check-ins (24%). However, 13% of travelers are against paying for extras. In terms of pricing, 65% accept peak period rate adjustments, with French travelers being more tolerant at 58%. Lastly, 37% of French travelers cite "value for money" as the main reason for hotel return visits.

📣 Trustpilot, founded in 2007, and Skeepers (formerly eKomi), since 2008, are leading customer review platforms enhancing e-reputation. Trustpilot boasts millions of global reviews, using automated and manual moderation. Skeepers focuses on authenticity with strict manual review checks. Both offer user-friendly interfaces, robust integrations with CRM and e-commerce platforms, and mobile optimization. Trustpilot provides a free plan for basic features, whereas Skeepers has a modular pricing structure without a free tier. Trustpilot's services are accessible through email, phone, and live chat, while Skeepers offers email and phone support with dedicated integration assistance. Trustpilot has an extensive knowledge base and active community forums, while Skeepers provides detailed guides and informative blogs.

🏨 Sébastien de Courtivron of Covivio, alongside Accor's Damien Perrot and others, discussed the renovation of an Accor hotel acquired in 2005. In 2022, Covivio reclaimed commerce rights from AccorInvest, transforming 1000m2 seminar space into 12 family rooms. Integrated with WiZiU platform, the hotel's average price increased from €94 in 2019 to an expected €137, targeting €150. Energy consumption was addressed by electrifying systems and installing heat pumps, minimizing waste during renovation.

🏨 Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA announced the opening of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ghent on the outskirts of Ghent, Belgium. The hotel offers 126 rooms, including suites with separate living areas and kitchenettes, a fitness center, underground parking with electric vehicle charging stations, and a meeting room for up to 10 people. This marks Aimbridge's 10th property in the Benelux region, replacing the former Holiday Inn Express Ghent. David Anderson, division president at Aimbridge EMEA, highlights the hotel as an ideal base for business and leisure travelers. Aimbridge EMEA manages a portfolio across over 20 countries and more than 80 global brands.

🏛 Jeudi 28 novembre, l'Apéro des hôteliers à Maison Albar - Le Victoria, Nice, offre un espace d'échange pour les professionnels du secteur. L'événement gratuit met en avant des panels et des discussions sur l'innovation. Partenaires comme 1Check, Mews, Duetto, et SiteMinder seront présents. Les participants découvriront des stratégies pour améliorer l'expérience client, augmenter les revenus et optimiser les opérations. Les inscriptions sont ouvertes pour garantir une place limitée.

🏨 Kyriad Prestige Compiègne reopened on November 12, 2024, after a year of renovations. The €5 million project, led by Groupe SOGEPAR with Agence MOHA and Leveque Architecture, is part of a broader initiative to modernize over 200 Kyriad hotels in France. Louvre Hotels Group aims to revamp 80% of its hotel park by 2028. The hotel now features 64 updated rooms, including standard, twin, superior, and junior suites, plus wellness facilities like a fitness room and sauna.

🏨 As of November 14, 2024, hotels and tourist service providers in Europe can offer better rates on their own sites or other platforms than those on Booking.com, following the Digital Markets Act (DMA) by the European Commission to curb dominant platforms' abuses and enhance competition. This affects Booking, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft by promoting fair competition, innovation, and consumer choices. Booking.com is complying, under close watch by the Commission, which may impose fines for non-compliance.

📊 Frasers Hospitality stabilized financially and focuses on development. Benjamin Kuah promoted to CFO in September 2024, previously finance head since January 2024. Kuah, 44, oversees finance, taxation, treasury, and compliance; ex-CFO at Paragon Reit, accounting graduate from Nanyang Technological University, certified accountant. Chang Tou Chen appointed non-executive, independent director and Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee member in October 2024; over 20 years in banking, ex-managing director at HSBC for Southeast Asia, held roles at Citigroup and Schroders, and was a director at Frasers Commercial Asset Management Ltd from 2017 to 2020.

📈 An Accor study reveals that professionals worldwide believe in-person meetings could boost business revenue by 36% and increase contract signings by 37%. Data from 9,000 global participants shows 85% feel prioritizing face-to-face interactions would significantly enhance their company's revenue, predicting an average rise of 36% by 2025. Despite the digital age, human connections in business settings are seen as key to efficiency and performance.