Top News

📍 Wemap and SNCF Gares et Connexions are introducing a Visual Positioning System (VPS) for indoor geolocation in over 100 French train stations. The VPS, distinct from GPS, utilizes phone cameras to pinpoint user location and will be available in the Ma Gare SNCF app. Currently in trial at 10 stations, including Stade de France St Denis and Paris Bercy, the system requires no maintenance costs and aims to enhance user navigation and data sovereignty. Full deployment is expected by the end of 2024.

🏨 Novaxia NEO, a SCPI, generated a 7.61% yield with a long-term lease of over 15 years, signed with a leading hotel player. Aiming for a 5th consecutive year of over 6% distribution rate since its inception in 2019, it ranks among the top-performing SCPIs. The Amedia Hotel, built in 1997 and recently renovated, spans 5,762 m² with 103 rooms, and it's located in a dynamic hotel market.

🥗 Returning as the Snack Show, the iconic quick-service food exhibition is set for April 2-3, 2025, at Paris Porte de Versailles. With a fresh visual identity, it will occupy the larger pavilion 7.2. The Snack Show area will showcase food, beverages, equipment, and packaging solutions, while the Parizza zone will focus on Italian restaurant offerings. A new Smart Lab zone will feature technological innovations for fast-food services, and a novel interactive conference platform, the Smart Zone, will complement the Zapping du Snacking. The event will host contests, including the 19th French Pizza Championship, the 3rd French Pasta Championship, and the 10th Coupe de France de Burger by Socopa.

🛠 Carb0n and the Groupement des Hôteliers Restaurateurs de France (GHR) announce a strategic partnership during the Equip’Hotel trade show, aiming to guide 15,000 member hotels and restaurants towards sustainable energy transition. This collaboration provides GHR members with preferential pricing and access to Carb0n's expertise in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, addressing regulatory demands, rising energy costs, and the need to cut CO₂ emissions.

📌 Sénat voted on new rental laws; effective January 1. Abattement fiscal reduced from 50% to 30% starting January 1, 2025, for furnished tourist rentals; revenue cap lowered from €77,700 to €15,000. Classed meublés de tourisme now have a 50% abattement with a €77,000 ceiling, down from €188,700. Assembly may further reduce abattement to 30% during the budget project discussions. A national registry for meublés will be created; owners must declare properties, providing documentation including environmental compliance. Sanctions for non-compliance can reach up to €50,000.

🍴 Chefs of the Teritoria community support Restaurants du Cœur from November 13 to December 10, organizing 5 volunteer dinners in Cannes, Paris, Terrasson-Lavilledieu, Beaune, and Le Havre. All proceeds will go to the charity. Since 2014, the initiative has raised €996,144, funding as many meals for people in need. Patrice Douret, president of Restaurants du Cœur, acknowledges the chefs' generosity.

🏨 The Billboard Effect, initially identified in the early 2000s, is a phenomenon where OTA (Online Travel Agency) visibility boosts direct hotel bookings. A 2009 Cornell University study reported a 9% to 26% increase in direct bookings due to the effect, with a 2011 follow-up revealing about 75% of customers visited an OTA before booking directly on a hotel's site. Despite market changes and the Digital Markets Act, a 2017 update by Chris Anderson indicated the effect still exists, albeit with a more convoluted consumer journey. Hoteliers can optimize this effect by carefully selecting OTAs, integrating direct booking systems like WuBook's Zak without brokerage fees, managing inventory with Zak's Channel Manager, and improving SEO and user experience. Strategies also include exclusive offers for direct bookings and monitoring sales conditions across channels. Understanding the Billboard Effect enables hotels to reduce brokerage costs, increase OTA investment potential, and facilitate customer loyalty.

📊 Data mining, a transformative method for industries, is integral to HiJiffy's AI, Aplysia. The data analysis process involves identifying a business question, collecting data, preparing it, analyzing for insights, and presenting findings. In hospitality, this can improve operations, satisfaction, and revenue. Key metrics include CSAT, Automation Rate, and CTR. HiJiffy utilizes data from user and agent interactions and offers reports for internal performance, client activity, and team evaluations. The iterative process demands continuous monitoring, with Customer Success Alerts for proactive improvements, and feedback insights to enhance guest experiences.

🏕 In France, hotel chains and groups accounted for 59% of the outdoor hotel sector's (camping) revenue in 2019, rising from 35% in 2010, while independent operators now generate 41%. During the summer of 2023, there were 141.7 million overnight stays in the sector, outpacing traditional hotel accommodations. France boasts 685,400 camping pitches, exceeding the 655,900 hotel rooms available. 40% of camping spots are now considered upscale.

📝 Over 90% of consumers read online reviews before purchasing. 92% of consumers read online reviews, and 78% have changed a purchase decision based on them. A study by IFOP and Guest Suite highlighted the importance of managing online reviews. Guest Suite offers automated review management, collecting and centralizing feedback from platforms like Google My Business and social media. Positive reviews can influence the Google Local Pack, which displays the top three local businesses in search results. Negative reviews, if managed well, can improve a company's e-reputation. Guest Suite helps over 10,000 sales outlets in France to manage their reviews, with clients gaining 150% more reviews after one year, and 90% of reviews collected via Guest Suite being positive.