Top News

🏨 Dallas leads U.S. hotel construction with 204 projects and 23,669 rooms. Atlanta (168 projects, 19,431 rooms) and Nashville (130 projects, 17,029 rooms) trail behind. New York tops in current constructions; however, Dallas also anticipates 78 new projects in the next 12 months. In preliminary planning, Dallas shines with 95 projects (11,346 rooms), followed by Atlanta and Nashville. The South and Southwest see notable hotel sector growth. Significant renovation and conversion activity amount to 1,997 projects by Q4 2024, with Washington DC leading (34 projects), then Chicago and Charlotte. The year witnessed 583 hotel openings, with New York and Dallas having the most inaugurations.

🏥 Hotel & Restaurant Meetings will take place in Cannes, France, from March 18 to 20, 2025. The business event, created by Weyou Group in 2009, has organized over 265,000 successful appointments between top decision-makers and exhibitors. Weyou Group is expanding the concept to Marbella, Spain, focusing on 4 and 5-star hotel solutions, services, and interior/exterior design. The success is attributed to its unique concept in Europe, digital platform, matchmaking algorithm, "Analytics" app, and event application developed by Weyou since 2009.

🏂 Orisha Commerce published the 5th edition of its survey with OpinionWay, revealing 27% of French people plan a mountain trip this winter. Preference for Christmas vacations rose to 38% (+11 points from 2023), while winter holiday bookings slightly decreased (-4 points). Ski touring (+4 points) and snowshoeing (+3 points) gained popularity. Sustainable practices are more valued, with 80% of vacationers prioritizing eco-friendly resorts (+3 points).

🍝 FOODORAMA, set for March 16-17, 2025, in Paris' 11th arrondissement, is a notable event for food entrepreneurs organized by Service Compris. It features roundtables, pitch contests, and expert speed-dating. Over 40 exhibitors and 1,000 industry professionals, including restaurateurs and investors, are expected to attend. Topics covered will include recruitment, profitability, eco-responsibility, funding, and digital strategy.

🏨 Ginto Hotels doubles its size in 2024 by acquiring four new establishments in top French destinations. The group added Hotel Saint-Louis in Marseille (January 2024), Pilgrim in Paris (July 2024), and two more hotels, Aria and Vendôme, in the heart of Nice. These expansions bring Ginto's portfolio to 294 keys across eight locations, with the workforce growing to nearly 100 employees by 2025. Hotel Aria, a 30-key boutique hotel, dates back to 1890. Hotel Vendôme features 56 rooms, maintaining its neoclassical architectural style. Founded in 2016, Ginto Hotels operates eight properties in Paris, Bordeaux, Biarritz, Marseille, and now Nice, focusing on unique, upscale hospitality experiences.

🏨 December 2024: European hotel sector sees performance indicators rise with average occupancy rates up by 1.6 points, driven by high-end hospitality, countering weaker lower segments. This reflects Europe's attractiveness to international visitors during year-end.

🏦 SiteMinder's report on French hotel stays in 2024 shows more even distribution throughout the year, despite Paris Olympics drawing millions of international visitors in summer. Based on over 125 million online bookings, the data reveals increased off-season occupancy: March (7.82%), May (9.02%), October (8.73%), and December (7.59%), compared to respective 2023 figures (7.23%, 8.79%, 8.63%, 7.39%). However, July's occupancy decreased to 10.25% from 9.8% in 2023, while August remained stable year-on-year.

💸 In 2024, business travel hit a record $1480 billion, with an average spend of $834 per person. By 2025, the market is expected to grow further, potentially reaching $2000 billion by 2028. The US leads this growth, influenced by Trump's pro-business government. Digital platforms and AI are transforming travel management, and 64% of business travelers reported increased spending. Booking For Business saw a 65% rise in bookings, reaching 2.5 million overnight stays and a 10% client increase in 2024. The "bleisure" trend is rising, with 46% of GBTA members' employees mixing business and leisure travel. 🌐

📣 Italy is enacting a new law to combat fake online reviews, affecting 6-30% of tourist sector revenue. Visitors must provide ID and proof of visit within 15 days to post reviews. Paid or sponsored reviews are banned, and businesses can request removal of false or outdated (>2 years) reviews. Transparency is mandated by platforms like Tripadvisor with oversight by Italy's antitrust authority. Supporters include Fipe-Confcommercio and Codacons, with privacy and participation concerns raised by others. If passed, this could lead to broader European regulations on online reviews and advertising practices.

🏥 Al Qimmah Hospitality and Amwaj Real Estate Company, subsidiaries of BinDawood Trading, partner with Marriott International to open the world's largest Courtyard by Marriott in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, by 2026. Courtyard by Marriott Makkah Al Naseem will have 2,179 rooms across seven towers, featuring a restaurant for over 1,800 guests and a 'Grab n’ Go' market. This aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 to attract 30 million religious tourists. In December 2024, Marriott agreed to open three hotels in Madinah, adding over 1,200 rooms.