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☕ Brian Niccol was announced as the new CEO of Starbucks this week, replacing Laxman Narasimhan who immediately left his CEO and board duties. Niccol, with a compensation package of $113 million, plus remote work flexibility and company jet access, will start on September 9, 2024. Starbucks' stock soared by 25% upon the announcement. CFO Rachel Ruggeri will be interim CEO until Niccol's tenure begins. She has been with Starbucks for 23 years and CFO since 2021. Mellody Hobson will become the lead independent director.

🏨 In June, the iconic Hôtel de La Poste in Beaune (02) reopened after a 4-month renovation costing €2 million. Owned by Najeti Hôtels & Golf since 2005, the 17th-century former posthouse now boasts 36 rooms and suites. The façade's 2023 restoration marked the first phase, with interior design by Valérie Dhénin, embracing 1930s Art Deco elements like black and white checkerboard floors and walnut woodwork. The hotel prioritizes eco-design, reupholstering existing furniture and custom-making room features to fit the Art Deco theme.

🏛️ In the 1st arrondissement of Paris, the architect Henri Blondel, known for over 172 luxury retail designs, constructed the Hôtel Continental in a record 24 months, inaugurated in 1878 for the Exposition Universelle. This historical building, now The Westin Paris-Vendôme with 600 rooms and 300 bathrooms, is part of the Marriott group and features paintings by Désiré François Laugée and Alexis-Joseph Mazerolle.

🏠 Updated on August 15, 2024, the article describes the shift in tourism over the past 20 years towards well-being and 'Slow Tourism'. Hotel guests now prefer lounges, bars, and pools over room size and amenities. Hotels tailored for Slow Tourists are expected to generate more additional sales.

🎭 Cultural and tourist sites are increasingly offering immersive experiences to improve visitor engagement and create new mediation opportunities. The National Museum of Natural History hosts a VR immersive expedition from October 14, 2023, to June 16, 2024. Charlotte-Amélie Veaux, after a 2019 global immersive tour, selects her top 3 immersive experiences. AURA Invalides, a multi-million euro project, enhances visitor experiences at the Army Museum. At Museum Connections, a report on immersive technology's environmental impact is due February 28. The 77th Cannes Film Festival introduces an Immersive Competition, with 8 immersive works selected, aiming to establish Cannes as a global immersive creation hub through its Cannes Immersive program.

🏨 TravelPerk reports an average of 22 business travel days per year, with the average business trip lasting 3.8 days. Bleisure Travel is becoming prevalent, with 56% in the UK, 65% in Germany, and 62% in China transforming business trips into leisure stays. In 2021, 37% of North American business travelers extended their trips for leisure. Millennials are more inclined (86%) to add leisure time than Generation X (76%) and baby boomers (73%), with 57% choosing destinations appealing to family. Hotel offerings to Bleisure travelers require accommodation for additional people, family-friendly services, weekend activities, and efficient workspaces with Wi-Fi and ergonomic furniture.

📋 Craig Couper, Operations Director at Atlas Hotels UK, highlights tech's role in the hotel industry for operational excellence and customer experience. Atlas manages 58 unique hotels across various UK locations, adopting cloud-based systems for real-time data access and centralized control, aligning with brand standards like IHG and Hilton. In 2024, significant changes include a new beer supplier partnership and a POS system upgrade, aiming for 100% completion in 2025. Data-driven decision-making and trend adaptation are emphasized for business success, particularly in F&B operations, which have seen substantial growth in 2024.

🏖 Key factors in choosing tourist accommodations in France include budget, with platforms like Booking.com providing price comparison. Location is vital with preferences for beach, mountain, or city proximity, and accessibility to transportation. Diverse lodging types such as hotels, apartment rentals, and eco-labeled options cater to various tastes. Online presence, user reviews, and recommendations on platforms like Google or TripAdvisor hugely influence decisions. Comfort amenities like air conditioning, free wifi, and family-friendly facilities are also decisive.

🏕 Rémy Knafou highlights a shift toward self-regulation in tourism, with an emphasis on "soft mobility." The concept of "regenerative tourism" is gaining traction as tourists become more aware of their travel impacts. Pas-de-Calais Tourism explores biomimicry in tourism at an event. In March 2023, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) released a report on the tourism industry's GHG emissions tracking and challenges.

🏡 La famille Haeberlin, avec Xavier Muller-Haeberlin en tête, investit 21,5 millions d'euros pour transformer l'ancien Relais et Châteaux en un hôtel 5 étoiles de 33 chambres et suites, un spa, et un restaurant de 100 couverts prévu pour 2027. Les travaux débuteront en 2025, suite au dépôt de permis de construire. L’architecte AJeance et le designer Jouin-Manku sont chargés de la rénovation.