Top News

💰 Exoticca secured an additional €25 million from BBVA Spark, completing a Series D funding round initiated in July 2024 with €60 million. The total funds raised amount to €85 million, to be used for expanding into the North American market, where it already makes over 75% of its revenue, and for integrating AI into its solutions to enhance connectivity and streamline online travel booking experiences.

🏢 MIPIM 2025 will take place in Cannes from March 11 to 14, with over 20,500 participants, one-third investors, 2,500 exhibiting companies, and 300 stands. The international event features participants from 90 countries and professionals managing over €4 trillion in assets. Hotel booking trends in the region are being observed as the event approaches.

🎭 Futuroscope launched its 38th season, marking the culmination of the "Vision 2025" program which saw over €300 million invested over five years. The park surpassed 2 million visitors in 2024 and introduced several award-winning attractions, such as "Chasseurs de Tornades" (2023's Best Attraction worldwide), two themed hotels (Station Cosmos, Ecolodge), and a new water park (Aquascope). "Mission Bermudes," an aquatic thrill ride, is set to open in June 2025, aligning with the park's 20th anniversary of the sensory journey "Les Yeux Grands Fermés.

🏨 The 30th Hospitality Operator Forum will take place on June 12 at the InterContinental Paris le Grand, focusing on industry adaptation and artificial intelligence integration. Federico González Tejera, CEO of Louvre Hotels Group with experience at NH Hotel Group and Radisson Hotel Group, is working on revitalizing the company. JOST, an innovative hotel brand, combines dynamic social spaces with flexible accommodations, featuring bars, restaurants, and event spaces, and is experiencing strong expansion.

💻 French President Emmanuel Macron announced a 109 billion euro investment plan for AI development on the eve of the IA Action Summit in Paris, February 10-11. Arno Pons, General Secretary of Digital New Deal think tank, highlights the significance, comparing it to a proportional 500 billion euro investment in the US based on population. Macron's strategy follows a 7-year effort to establish a favorable AI ecosystem in France, aiming to create a third digital way with India, emphasizing the importance of European alignment. The investment aims to foster an ecosystem where businesses can collaborate with startups and large groups in the AI economy, positioning Europe as a leader in trusted, transparent, and reliable AI for industrial critical systems, differentiating from the US consumer market approach.

🍳 Medirest and Unapei 92 hosted the inclusive culinary contest "Ensemble, plus inclusifs" on February 6 at the Lycée hôtelier in Meudon, Hauts-de-Seine. The event featured 10 mixed teams of high school students and individuals with disabilities, focused on an "anti-waste snack" theme, requiring one sweet recipe and a drink with an emphasis on anti-waste. Prior to the contest, two preparation sessions helped participants develop culinary skills and fostered inclusivity. Chefs from Medirest supported the competitors throughout, promoting healthy eating and inclusion through gastronomy.

🏢 Radisson Collection to expand by 2025 with new openings in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The brand will continue growth after three 2024 openings: Radisson Collection Hotel, Roma Antica in April 2024, Radisson Collection Hotel & Spa, Riverfront Srinagar in April 2024, and Radisson Collection Hotel, Cape Town in December 2024. In 2025, openings include Cour des Loges Lyon in Lyon, France (Spring 2025), Radisson Collection Hotel, Basilica Budapest in Budapest, Hungary (March 2025), and the renovated Radisson Collection, Berlin in Germany (April 2025).

🏨 In the hotel industry, the integration of new technologies marks a transformative time post-Covid years, with customer expectations shifting towards unique, memorable experiences with specific criteria and ethical consumption. Hoteliers now possess tools for this sector revolution. By 2025, a seamless, hyper-personalized experience is predicted to become the standard in hospitality, with AI transforming complex data into actionable insights, enabling near "magical" management.

🌾 The 61st Salon International de l'Agriculture scheduled from February 22 to March 2, 2025, celebrates "Agriculture, this French pride!" Expected attendees exceed 600,000; 1,000 exhibitors and around 4,000 animals will spread across 9 halls and 16 hectares. Between January 13 and February 10, hotel reservations in Paris's 13th, 14th, and 15th districts increased by an average of 15.16 percentage points.

🗿 Ask Mona, OpenAI, and the Château de Versailles partnered to provide interactive experiences with 20 statues and fountains using a QR code for real-time conversations starting spring 2025. The interface uses OpenAI's Realtime for instant voice interactions, with Ask Mona databases ensuring response reliability. This cultural experience, revealing historical anecdotes and secrets, runs until winter 2025.