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🏖 The 5th edition of the Challenge TravelCamp Sud is underway, supported by the Région Sud and partners to enhance innovation in tourism and events, focusing on digital and environmental transformation. Project leaders and innovators have until November 30, 2024, to apply at www.travelcampsud.fr. Themes include sustainability, digitalization, data, customer experience, and inclusion.

🌊 On September 28, 2024, the Futuroscope launched its new indoor water park, l’Aquascope, near its amusement park. The project, part of a €304 million investment plan backed by Banque des Territoires, SEM patrimoniale de la Vienne, and Compagnie des Alpes, took two years and cost €57 million. Since opening on July 15, the park, with over 6,000 m² of themed space, aims to attract 500,000 annual visitors. Two-thirds of Aquascope's visitors extended their stay to visit the amusement park.

🏠 The Dolce by Wyndham Versailles Domaine du Montcel in Île-de-France officially opened on September 26 after a soft opening on July 12. The event, attended by 350 local personalities, politicians, investors, and contributors to the 5-year renovation, celebrated the Domaine's historical eras. The hotel, targeting individual and group clients, aims for operational speed with about 130 full-time employees. Owners François Georges (Group ACAPACE President) and Jean-François Blas (SOFIVAL CEO) expressed pride in their partnership with Wyndham.

🚲 Launching in 2024, the Interreg VI Slowtourisme en GR project, led by Meuse Attractivité, targets enhancing transborder cycling tourism in Ardenne (Belgium) and Meuse (France) with a €7.18 million budget, funded by FEDER and national co-financing from the Wallonia region. Spanning four years until 2028, it unites 14 financial operators and 8 methodological partners to create a coherent and appealing cross-border cycling destination.

📱 Immersive experiences market valued at $100 billion in 2023, expected to grow annually by 24.6% from 2024 to 2030. In France, such experiences are attracting new audiences to cultural and heritage sites. Stéphane Roisin, General Manager France of Moment Factory (23 years in operation), discusses the rapid development of immersive experiences in France. AURA at Les Invalides draws a third of its visitors from the under-25 age group, a demographic previously disengaged from the monument. Moment Factory's Notre-Dame Basilica show in Montreal continues to attract visitors even after 7 years. Future immersive experiences will feature real-time adaptability to visitor behavior and AI integration. Moment Factory's upcoming projects include Paris's Geode and immersive experiences in Asian and Middle Eastern airports, as well as at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

🏥 Stéphane Botz of KPMG France reported a record-breaking €63.5 billion in international tourist receipts for France in 2023, up 12% from 2022. The French hotel market remains strong, with over 80 new projects including 9,000 rooms by 2027, with one-third under renovation, targeting cities like Lille, Bordeaux, and the Côte d'Azur. Despite a slight 2.2% decrease in hotel nights in the first half of 2024 compared to 2023, international nights increased by 0.3%, with a 16% surge during the Olympics.

❄ Anne Marty was elected as the president of Domaines Skiables de France (DSF) on October 2, 2024, during the annual DSF congress in Reims. She is the first woman and representative from the Pyrenean massif to assume this role, succeeding Alex Maulin. Marty, who has been the deputy managing director of ALTISERVICE since 2019, is recognized for her expertise and commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility. Supported by Alexandre Merlin as Deputy President and Yves Dimier as Vice-President, Marty will serve a three-year term promoting a collective vision for French mountain areas, with a focus on CSR initiatives.

💸 MyBeezBox highlights the 5 key mistakes to avoid in your gift shop to optimize sales: (1) Poorly organized categories, (2) Low-quality photos, (3) Restrictive gift voucher customization, (4) Neglected description of offers, and (5) Excessive restrictions on voucher use. Recommendations include clear classification, high-quality images, customizable options, detailed writing, and flexible terms to cater to a wider audience and improve user experience.

🍴 Jean-François Rouquette, chef since 2006, partners with artist/architect Hugo Toro to revamp the starred restaurant Pur’ at Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme. The renovation reflects Rouquette's vision of a creative and innovative table, with meticulous attention to detail by Toro, who designed a contemporary inn with a decor inspired by 1930s craftsmen, featuring materials like oak, marble, bronze, and stone, and a signature 8-meter-long fireplace, promoting interaction between the chef and guests.

📊 Tested4You, founded in 2019, created 100,000 short videos across 100 countries to share consumer experiences. Transitioning from B2C to B2B, it secured €500,000 from 20 tourism and digital executives six months ago. The company focuses on authenticated video customer reviews to counteract one in three online reviews being fake, using geolocation and human verification. A new feature, set for CES 2025 unveiling, encourages hotel guests to share experiences via QR codes or NFC. The platform aims to become a leader in authenticated video reviews, leveraging AI for personalized product suggestions.