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🏨 Over half (52%) of travellers require the ability to cancel their hotel stay for free within 24 to 48 hours of arrival. Hotels must offer flexible pricing to meet the new traveller expectations post-pandemic. Flexible rates can improve conversion, increase direct bookings, and optimize RevPAR. Strategies include exclusive website offers, multiple cancellation options, and clear communication. AI can further enhance flexible pricing strategies, as seen with the Elysée Val d’Europe hotel tripling its direct bookings. Balancing flexibility and profitability is crucial to mitigate risks such as last-minute cancellations.

🏨 The 30th Hospitality Operator Forum is scheduled for June 12, 2025, at the InterContinental Paris - Le Grand. Alix Boulnois, General Manager Business, Digital & Tech at Accor, with a Master from HEC Paris and an MBA from Columbia Business School, started her career in 2008. Joined Amazon in 2012, contributed to launching "Prime Now", moved to Accor as SVP Digital & Innovation in February 2020, and took over the Digital Factory in May 2021. Since June 2024, oversees Business, Digital, and Tech at Accor, driving major transformation initiatives.

🏨 Hospitality ON lists new hotel openings and upcoming inaugurations worldwide, with a focus on group hotels, chains, and voluntary networks. The provided map highlights recent openings (yellow), announced future openings (blue), rebrands (green), and newly signed hotel projects (orange). The summary includes photos, location, and key details for a quick overview of the hospitality landscape over the past 10 days.

💎 Over 3,600 European hotel guests during Valentine's weekend selected champagne, wine, or prosecco as an extra, spending up to €500 per bottle. In France, these sales represented 20% of all hotel extras. More than 1,800 customers opted for late check-outs, among the most popular services in key European markets, according to RoomRaccoon data.

🍺 On February 15, ten students qualified for the finals of the 23rd Trophy of the Club of Directors of Restoration and Operation France. The contest will take place on March 27-28, 2025, at the Lycée Polyvalent d'Hôtellerie et de Tourisme de Gascogne in Talence. Candidates will assume the role of the Director of Operations for a 4-star, 40-room hotel open year-round.

🍴 Restaurants and fast-food concepts are competing in creativity to attract demanding customers seeking unique experiences. Fast-good, highlighting healthy, balanced meals with fresh, often locally-sourced ingredients, is a key trend. In 2024-2025, eco-friendly cutlery, made from recycled materials like stainless steel or biodegradable alternatives, is being emphasized. AI is entering kitchens, helping chefs create tailored recipes and menus. Fermentation, an ancient technique, is gaining popularity for its health benefits.

🏩 Founded in 2014, this French airline differentiates itself by offering 100% business class flights from Paris, Nice, and Milan to New York. Flights are operated using an Airbus A321neo with 76 lie-flat seats, two-by-two along the central aisle. Passengers enjoy rapid check-in at Paris-Orly with a dedicated counter and private lounge access, as well as similar amenities at Newark airport in New York. In-flight perks include free unlimited high-speed WiFi and gourmet meals by renowned chefs such as Frédéric Duca and Nolwenn Corre, complemented by a selection of organic wines. The airline also features special event flights with onboard tastings and chef meet-and-greets.

💰 Direct bookings remain the most profitable channel for hotels. Google plays a critical role in hotel advertising, affecting visibility in search results due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Hoteliers can optimize their pricing strategy to reduce distribution costs and maximize ROI in 2025 by adjusting to emerging trends and leveraging digital advertising channels, which are constantly evolving in terms of market share and effectiveness.

📸 Nearly 4 billion people daily engage with social media primarily through short videos. Authentic "reels" become a cost-effective marketing tool for hoteliers. TikTok claims a well-crafted virtual tour can boost reservation chances by 130%. Successful reels often evoke emotions, offer virtual tours with human presence, showcase lifestyle content, and provide behind-the-scenes insights, all within 60 seconds or less. However, using AI to enhance content risks being exposed, potentially damaging the brand's reputation.

🎭 OTAs in leisure industry expected to rise from 9% in 2019 to 18% in 2024. Arival's report, "The State of Visitor Attractions," highlights the ease of booking tickets for parks, zoos, aquariums, and more via OTAs. With leisure companies under-digitized, offline sales remain dominant despite OTA growth. A third of attractions lack a modern online ticketing system, which could lead to OTA dependency by 2025. Airbnb and Booking are taking initiatives to boost experiences and attractions.