Top News

🛠 The final construction phase of a new 31,000 m² logistics platform with 1,200 m² of offices in Cholet's Cormier V park is nearing completion. Developed by BARJANE for METRO, the leading restaurant supplier, the facility is strategically located near the RD160, N 249, and A87 motorway connections and will be delivered by year-end. This marks BARJANE's second project in Cholet, following a recent logistic building for Thales.

🏨 The 94th Congress of ANETT is scheduled from June 25 to June 27, 2025, at Le Touquet - Paris-Plage, a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department (62). Further information is expected to be provided on the website www.communes-touristiques.net.

🍴 The 10th edition of RESTAU'CO is scheduled for June 11, 2025, in Paris. Celebrating over 50 years, the event represents 60% of direct management catering industry players. Previous edition boasted 210 booked stands, 160 exhibitors, and a start-up area with 12 newcomers. Visitor count reached 2,200, marking a 10% increase from the prior year. The event highlighted 6 entities through the Innovation Trophies for distinct market advancements.

🎰 French physical casinos and the Fédération Addiction triggered a government decision to scrap an amendment for legalizing online casinos in France from the 2025 budget proposal. The amendment, filed last Saturday, aimed to permit online casinos by ordinance—a unique ban in the EU, shared only with Cyprus, while proposing a tax framework. Casinos de France expressed approval in a Sunday statement.

🏖 Arival's study surveyed over 7,000 tour operators worldwide, including France and Belgium. 80% of the industry consists of SMEs with fewer than 10,000 clients annually. 40% of operators lack a modern booking system, potentially hindering growth. From 2010 to 2023, the average number of resellers dropped from 11 to 4, while OTA market share rose from 25% to 41%. Operators' revenues are expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels by 2024, despite uneven recovery and inflation impacting Europe's summer 2024. In 2025, 43% plan to raise prices, down from 53% the previous year.

🏨 H2C's annual report surveyed 3885 hotels revealing a market shift towards direct and mobile bookings. Direct online bookings in the hotel sector normalized post-pandemic, with a significant 29% share in 2022, decreasing to 19% in 2019 and slightly rising to 21% in 2023. Mobile traffic accounted for 36% of direct online revenues five years ago, reaching 42% in the previous year. Only 25% of tourism businesses have embraced digital transformation, and a mere 12% consider themselves at the forefront of digital technologies. Despite this, 60% of tourism operators plan digital projects in 2025, the year when online bookings in Europe surpassed offline, with 60% for leisure and 40% for business travel.

🔔 Inno'Tourism, France's leading show on hotel innovation, features Patrick d’Altelis discussing "livie", a chatbot transforming customer service. The episode reveals anecdotes, integration of Google Maps with AI predictive technology, and a new game-changing feature. It aims to help hoteliers outperform competitors, enhance customer loyalty, and step into the AI era. Viewers are encouraged to subscribe and contact Patrick for a personalized demo at 06 08 33 16 93 or p.guillaume@altelis.com. Interview by Tony Loeb, sponsored content.

🏂 Ski vacations are costly due to increasing prices for accommodation, lift passes, and ski gear. Mid-mountain resorts offer lower rates than large Alpine domains and are family-friendly. G2A Consulting noted a rise in January (+4%) and March (+2%) booking intentions for winter 2025, compared to 2023, outside school holidays. Choices range from apartments to 5-star hotels, with amenities like pools and wellness areas. With climate change affecting snowfall, resorts diversify activities beyond skiing to optimize year-round occupancy and appeal to summer tourists. Sustainable practices and labels like Flocon Vert and Nordic France are influencing French tourists' decisions.

🏠 Edgar Suites announces a new high-end aparthotel opening on December 1st in Cannes, close to the Croisette and the Palais des Festivals. The former Hôtel de France on Rue d'Antibes will be transformed into 10 fully-equipped apartments ranging from 40 to 90 m², spread over six floors, equivalent to 34 hotel rooms. The residence will feature a duplex Penthouse with sauna, jacuzzi, and a 150 m² rooftop offering panoramic city and sea views. Facilities include 5-star hotel amenities like premium bedding and a 24/7 digital reception.

🏨 Arnaud Maisonobe's group Macé purchased land from the state where Boucan-Canot hotel is located, securing its future after 40 years of management. The coastal hotel's emphyteutic lease was nearing its end, prompting the sale of approximately 8,500 m². The financial details of the transaction are confidential.