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🏠 Jean-Pierre Bansard, businessman and senator for French citizens abroad, passed away at 84 on August 16. He led the Consistoire central israélite de France (1992-1994) and founded ASFE in 2009. Bansard established Groupe Cible in 1962, owning the 5-star InterContinental Champs-Élysées, 4-star Hôtel Camille Paris Gare de Lyon, 4-star Hôtel Le Marcel, 3-star La Tour de Nesle, and Hôtel Le Relais de Poste in Arles.

🎫 On August 11, during the Paris Olympics closing ceremony, German company Volocopter's eVTOL flew over the gardens of Château de Versailles. The flight aimed to demonstrate the agility of the electric aircraft, which could serve emergency services by quickly reaching accident sites. The Volocity flying taxi, designed by Volocopter, can reach speeds of 80 km/h, is powered by 18 electric motors, and has 9 rechargeable batteries. A new experiment is planned with Paris' AP-HP to test medical use cases. Volocopter is working towards pre-certification flights to gain authorities' approval to transport passengers, with hopes to start commercial eVTOL flights by the year's end.

🍴 Cécilia Spurio and Eugenio Anfuso, a couple in both life and the kitchen, opened Amâlia in Paris, France, in 2024. Spurio, born in 1989 in Italy, pursued pastry after studying law, working with chefs like Enrico Bartolini and Guy Savoy before becoming Amâlia's co-owner and pastry chef in 2024. Anfuso, born in 1993, also Italian, trained in starred kitchens including L'Ambroisie with Bernard Pacaud, and became co-owner and chef of Amâlia in 2024. The couple aims to blend French and Italian culinary traditions, avoiding clichés for a modern and original cuisine, highlighted by their signature gnocchi dish.

🍷 Frédéric Goubet's Bag-in-box (BIB) is cost-effective, has a lower carbon footprint than glass bottles, and keeps natural wine fresh for two weeks post-opening. Denis Pommeray utilizes BIBs for storage and serving ease at Domaine de Rozan. Matza bistro in Marseille, by Mathieu Zard, offers wines from Château Pompette's reusable 25-liter kegs with only the aluminum pouch recycled. La Robe du vin, by Brigitte Desprès, has twelve wine can references, less energy-consuming and infinitely recyclable. Thomas Lemasle's Oé company sees 51% water savings, 76% energy, and 79% CO2 reduction with reused bottles. Johan Afriat's Hoba foodcourt in Paris stocks 80% consigned wines, tackling increased glass costs due to the Ukraine crisis.

☕ 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.