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💻 Mak Abdelkafi, Senior Sales Director at Mews, with over two decades of experience, witnessed major revolutions in hotel technology, from Excel spreadsheets to AI-powered integrated systems. Internet launch in the 90s initiated online bookings. A pivotal change occurred in 2010 with the advent of Property Management Systems (PMS) and the rise of social media and big data. In 2020, AI became a significant disruptor, gaining more influence in 2023-2024. Abdelkafi emphasizes the challenge for hoteliers to differentiate their offerings, particularly through customer experience enhanced by digitalization and AI.

🏨 Hospitality ON accepting ideas until May 12 for Hospitality Operator Forum competition, Hospitality Operator Fiction, challenging the next generation of hotel industry leaders to reimagine practices to accelerate UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Event supporters include Solenne Ojea-Devys (CEO of OKKO Hotels) and Johanna Wagner (entrepreneur and founder of Agence HoPe). Winning teams will present at the Forum in Paris on June 12, showcasing innovative visions to industry executives.

📈 Headbox, a platform using AI for organizing professional meetings and events, completed a fundraising round of €3.4 million led by Salica Investments, with Deepbridge Capital and Egora Ventures participating. Founded in 2015 by Andrew Needham and based in London, Headbox aims to expand internationally. Following success in the US market with 10 initial clients and $25 million in revenue generated, the funds will also support the growth of their Australian subsidiary. In January 2024, French MICE company Naboo raised €20 million to fuel its growth.

🏨 In 2024, NUMA Group reported a record growth year with revenue doubling to €80 million and EBITDA reaching €50 million. The company served over 1 million overnight stays, solidifying its role in modern hotel industry transformation through AI-driven innovation. Operating in 15 countries and 36 major European cities, NUMA expanded via acquisitions, partnerships, and new market entries. Key milestones included entering the UK with NUMA Bloom in London's Bloomsbury area and acquiring Native Places, adding over 800 units across major UK cities. NUMA also grew in Southern Europe and debuted in the Nordic region with a property in Copenhagen developed with Invesco Real Estate.

🎭 Universal announces the opening of its first theme park in Europe, set for 2031 in Bedford, UK. A multi-billion-pound investment is expected to create a premier leisure complex with immersive lands, innovative attractions, a 500-room hotel, and an entertainment, shopping, and dining center. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer anticipates a £50 billion boost to the economy by 2055, with 8.5 million visitors in its first year, potentially surpassing Disneyland Paris's 2023 visitor count of 10.4 million. The project is set to create 28,000 jobs, with 20,000 during the construction phase.

🏨 Accor and InterGlobe have bolstered their partnership to create India's most dynamically growing hospitality company, combining their unique advantages for an unmatched network and brand portfolio across market segments. Accor boasts 71 hotels in India with 40 in development, spanning economy, lifestyle, and luxury. InterGlobe, a leading Indian conglomerate, contributes vast expertise from sectors including aviation (IndiGo with over 400 aircraft and 118 million passengers), hotels, logistics, and AI technology. India, with a 1.4 billion population, is projected to become the world's fifth-largest tourism market by 2027.

🏨 Celebrating the first anniversary of the "Shiji Insights" podcast, key hospitality trends include AI-driven personalization, operational excellence, and frictionless payment solutions. Technology integration, particularly Property Management System (PMS), proves critical in enhancing guest satisfaction. Digital processes streamline hotel operations, with more time for customer-focused tasks. Innovative payment systems like biometrics and blockchain improve efficiency. Sustainability and inclusive innovation also emerge as vital, attracting environmentally-conscious travelers and providing operational savings.

📢 Celebrating the first anniversary of the "Shiji Insights" podcast, the series covered how innovative technology like AI transforms customer experiences, enhances operational efficiency, and offers personalized services. Key insights include the importance of PMS integration, the role of digital processes in improving service consistency, the potential of AI in optimizing revenue management, and the need for simplified, frictionless payment systems. Sustainability and inclusive innovations also emerged as significant themes, emphasizing the need for unified communication channels to avoid fragmented messaging and inefficiencies.

🌊 In 2024, Atmosphere Core expanded rapidly, launching its ninth establishment, RAAYA by Atmosphere, which was rebranded and entered the market in just three months. Stéphane Laguette highlighted the group's adaptability and market anticipation. The company grew in Europe and Asia, entering new markets like Spain. Committed to sustainability, all resorts are Green Globe certified, with many achieving Gold Member status, and over 8,900 solar panels were installed for green tourism.

🏖 The CEVEO village in Luz-Saint-Sauveur, inaugurated in 1977 and located 900 meters from the village center, completed renovations after several years, while staying operational. The renovation, costing €5 million, includes an overhaul of 150 rooms, 146 regular and 4 for disabled guests, and modernized common areas with a balneotherapy space. Funding included a €250,000 loan and €200,000 grant from the Occitanie region. The complex has a full pension capacity for 300 guests.