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📝 PMS is the foundational tool for operational client communications (reservations, confirmations, payments). Communication solutions allow for programmed messaging (SMS, email) and free up staff time by automating client contact. A CRM goes further by managing detailed client databases for personalized experiences and marketing strategies. It's advised to choose a CRM and communication solutions that are connected to your PMS, and while non-hotel-specific software exists, they may not integrate as seamlessly with hotel systems. Thaïs PMS offers client communication modules and connects with other communication solutions and CRMs like Experience or LoungeUp.

💸 Vincent Chabbert, a 33-year-old hotelier, began his career in 2008 and advanced to management positions in the hospitality industry, including ibis La Défense and Mercure de Cavaillon. By 2019, he was the Director of Operations at Valmavi France. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he founded Tut Tut, a collaborative last-mile delivery platform that quickly grew to over 220,000 couriers and 2,500 clients in retail, generating €10 million in revenue.

📱 Launched in October 2023, One Provence's AI guides tourists in Aix-Marseille-Provence using OneProvence.com; trained on 500 reliable sources, it offers personalized advice developed with Atrioom, Levupp, and FCB.ai. Anne Kerdi, a virtual influencer created by Adeliade, promotes eco-friendly tourism in Brittany through Instagram and Annekerdi.bzh. HeyDoubs by Doubs Tourisme and LIVDEO, with over 3,700 pages of content, supports visitors in 200+ languages and plans to add real-time events, weather, and geolocation. Genial Travel's MarIAnne for France.fr aids travelers during the Paris 2024 Olympics with 65+ itineraries, available in English and French, with 15 additional languages planned.

📈 Food Hotel Tech, a leading event for eco-friendly and technological innovations in the hospitality and catering sector, will be held on March 19-20, 2025, at Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles Hall 7.1. The event will feature over 200 exhibitors and 50 startups. Key trends include AI-driven waste reduction with a reliability rate of 94% by Fullsoon, dynamic pricing with Shiji Group and IDeaS, personalized customer experience with HiJiffy and LoungeUp, operational automation with Clock PMS+ and Mews Systems, and energy cost reduction with Voltalis, Passman (up to 30% energy savings), and Luniwave. Visit www.foodhoteltech.com for more details.

💎 European cities like Madrid, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Vienna are popular Valentine's Day destinations for couples. TUI Musement's top 10 list for Valentine's weekend 2025 (February 14-15) includes Turin, Berlin, Amsterdam, Milan, Rome, Barcelona, London, Reykjavik, Paris, and Venice. Data from the nights of February 14 and 15, 2025, analyzed to assess hotel performance during the romantic holiday.

🏨 Lean, a cloud-based PMS solution, launched in 2013, now a reference in the international market, powers B&B Hotels' 488 establishments in France. 1Check digitalizes housekeeping and maintenance operations, boosting team efficiency with a mobile app, reducing team displacements by 30%, and integrating with Lean PMS for real-time, simplified management, enhancing guest experience and internal communication.

🏕 Huttopia, represented by Founder-President Philippe Bossanne, joined the Alliance France Tourisme, a group of major French tourism enterprises dedicated to sustainable, authentic, and responsible tourism. The integration reflects Huttopia's key role in developing eco-friendly tourism aligned with the Alliance's values. Huttopia will contribute to discussions aimed at enhancing France's attractiveness while preserving the environment, sharing expertise and fostering innovation for respectful tourism across its over 140 destinations globally.

🏎 Virage 5, a company comprised of mainly local private investors, is launching a high-end hotel with 104 rooms and suites, a restaurant, and a panoramic terrace overlooking the Bugatti and 24 Hours of Le Mans circuits. Development led by ADIM Ouest, a subsidiary of VINCI Construction, with design by AW2 architecture firm, begins work in the second half of February. The hotel's grand opening is slated for spring 2027. Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, noted the hotel will enhance visitor and competitor amenities and expand seminar offerings. Jean-Charles Florac, President of Virage 5, highlighted the project's local and international perspective and the creation of 70 permanent jobs.

💰 Elie Maalouf of IHG Hotels & Resorts announced a strong financial performance for 2024, with a 15% increase in adjusted earnings per share. IHG opened 371 hotels, signed 714 new properties—34% rise in signed rooms—and acquired Ruby brand. Revenue hit $2.312 billion, up 7%, operating fees revenue at $1.774 billion, up 6%, and operating profit reached $1.124 billion, a 10% increase. The board proposed a 10% dividend hike and a $900 million buyback program.

💾 80% of hoteliers believe technology improves efficiency, yet only 40% see it as a competitive advantage. Despite 57% of hotels investing in at least three new technologies, many struggle to derive real value. The challenges include connectivity issues, the risk of reliance on a single provider, and increased costs – some up to 200% in a year. Effective tech ecosystems require prioritizing operational needs, ensuring tool interconnectivity, and testing before adopting. The process can take six to eight months, emphasizing the need for structured approaches and team training.