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🎭 Cruncho, a Franco-Swedish company founded in 2015, enhances institutional agendas by considering location, preferences, and weather. No global open database for events exists, as Mapstr's CEO Sébastien Caron noted in 2023. Cruncho's "event manager" multiplies a destination's events by 4 within 6 months post-launch. It aggregates data from Ticketmaster, Eventbrite, Facebook Events, and local APIs. The firm won Atout France's AMI for the customer journey, developing an agenda for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, referencing 110,000 points via ADN Tourisme's API. Cruncho plans to add a ticketing feature soon.

🏡 2nd prize in the Hotel & Lodge Awards 2024, Design category awarded to La Fantaisie, a 5-star hotel designed by Martin Brudnizki. Open last summer, the hotel features a colorful palette and hidden garden extending Golden Poppy, a restaurant by three Michelin-starred French chef, Dominique Crenn. The Paris location boasts 63 rooms, 10 suites with balconies, and a large bathroom with three pools. Article featured in issue 134 of Hotel & Lodge.

📱 Between January and March 2024, international tourism saw a 20% increase, with over 285 million travelers compared to the previous year. The airline industry expects a record-breaking year in 2024. On Awin's platform, between January and February 2024, hotel commissions and fixed fees rose by 19%, attractions by 24%, and travel agencies by 35%. Influencer-related sales for accommodations stayed relatively stable, rising from 1% to 2% between January 2023 and 2024, while experience-related sales jumped from 1% to over 6% in the same period. TikTok's #travel hashtag boasts over 47 million posts. 75% of marketers now dedicate budgets to influencer marketing, with 90% considering it very effective.

💸 Mandarin Oriental has published its 2023 Sustainability Report, detailing the latest sustainability initiatives, practices, and outcomes, now available on its website. The Group has significantly improved its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies over the past year, committing to a sustainable future. Group Chief Executive Laurent Kleitman highlights advancements in energy efficiency, elimination of single-use plastics, and responsible sourcing as reflections of their commitment to luxury hospitality standards and sustainable impact.

🍴 Mougins will host Dinner in the Sky® for the first time from September 13-22, 2024, during the 15th edition of the international Gastronomy festival "Les Etoiles de Mougins" (September 14 & 15). This unique dining experience occurs 50 meters above ground, with a 360° view of Mougins and the Bay of Cannes. A flying table seats about twenty guests, with meals prepared by top chefs in the center kitchen space.

🏨 Destination by Hyatt hotel, part of the Macenas project, requires over €40 million investment, aims to boost year-round local employment in the province, expected to create approx. 110 jobs. Construction starts late this year with completion targeted for 2026. Álvaro de la Haza highlights the hotel's potential to disrupt regional seasonality with amenities for both holiday and business tourism.

📝 "Septembristes," composed primarily of retirees, childless couples, and freelancers, emerged as travel trendsetters in September 2024. Preferring bed and breakfasts and boutique hotels, they opt for private tours or thematic stays focusing on gastronomy and wine. With flexible dates, they avoid peak season crowds, enjoy quieter destinations, and take advantage of better rates. Planning in advance with an eye for last-minute deals, their average vacation lasts one to two weeks, prioritizing quality accommodation, dining, and cultural excursions.

🍴 Laurent Plantier, head of FrenchFood Capital, leads the 2024 Restauration Awards Committee for the Leaders Club. By mid-September, 70 innovative dining concepts will be assessed, narrowing down to approximately 10 nominees in QUICK SERVICE, CASUAL DINING, and FINE DINING categories. Restaurateurs have until August 31 to apply. The Committee comprises industry leaders from companies like Columbus Café, IT Italian Trattoria, and Coca-cola. FrenchFood Capital, with €400M in assets, has invested in over 30 food sector companies.

🏦 Groupe Logis Hôtels sets a new booking record with 6 consecutive years of growth, increasing revenue by 10%. Website logishotels.com grows by 10%, while specialized distributors like Booking and Expedia grow by only 2%. Notably, international clientele increased by 10%, accounting for 45% of seasonal bookings, influenced by the Olympic Games. Areas near Paris, such as Nord (+109%), Marne (+79%), Côte Fleurie (+52%), Oise (+39%), and Indre (+34%), saw significant boosts. Other growth factors include a modest price increase of 4% from 2023, a loyalty program with a 15% revenue hike and 5.5% cashback, and strong branding campaigns. The group expects a +12% growth in September, with a significant 27% increase in business clientele, as confirmed by the General Director, Karim Soleilhavoup.

🏅 Paris hosted the Paralympics concluding on September 8 after the Olympics. Hospitality and restaurant sectors (CHR) presented a mixed picture, according to Pascal Mousset and Frank Delvau. From July 1-18, business slowed as locals left and telework increased. Restaurants and bars in Paris reported a 20-70% loss in revenue before the opening ceremony on July 26. Zones with security measures saw up to an 80% decline. Traditional dining venues lost regular clientele, with museums and taxis also experiencing a 30% and 40% drop, respectively, while national restaurant chains saw a 12% decrease. However, high-end hotels had 85-90% occupancy from July 26 to August 11, with rates doubling, but occupancy fell to 40-50% post-Games. Hospitality projected at 65% occupancy during the Games, but the overall year was not positive for hoteliers. Surveys by GHR and Umih are underway for a definite economic impact assessment.