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🏅 France to host Winter Olympics in the French Alps from February 1-17, 2030, with Paralympics from March 1-10, 2030. This follows Paris hosting in 2023. France was the sole candidate since November and must provide financial guarantees by October 1. Events will take place across Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Briançon, and Nice, utilizing existing venues like La Plagne's bobsleigh track, Courchevel's ski jump, and Méribel's Roc de Fer ski course. Ice sports, excluding speed skating, will be in Nice; speed skating may be outside France. Five Olympic villages are planned to house athletes within 30 minutes of venues.

🍴 Cristina Chomet-Tejeda and Pierre Chomet met in London in 2013. They opened Ambos in Paris' VIe arrondissement in December 2022, funded by the Gault&Millau Young Talents endowment, and recently launched Tina, a tapas bar. Cristina's background includes experiences with chefs like Joël Robuchon and Alain Ducasse, while Pierre trained in Dinard, worked with Éric Frechon in Bristol, Arnaud Donckele, and participated in Top Chef 2021. Ambos serves 60 covers per day with an average ticket of 100 €.

🏅 During the first week of the Olympic Games, Paris saw a 16% increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2023, including a 17.3% increase among French nationals and 14.8% for foreigners, totaling 650,000 additional tourists. Notable spikes in visitors were observed near Club France in the XIXe arrondissement (+35.4% on July 28), Porte de Versailles (+167% on July 28), and Stade de France (+45% on July 27 and +14% on July 28). Hotel occupancy rates are expected to hit nearly 90% for the upcoming weekend, especially near Olympic sites. The average city-wide hotel price is 218% of last week's rate (down from €258 on July 24). Reservations for the Paralympic Games period (August 28 - September 8) are up 5-10% from 2023.

🏡 The Domaine de Liziec, an MGallery Collection hotel by Accor, owned by Philippe and Laurent Davalo, opens in October in Vannes, Morbihan. The 16th-century estate spans 6 hectares and will feature 71 rooms including 12 suites. Chef Olivier Samson heads two restaurants and a bar on-site, with a history of 13 years at the Michelin-starred La Gourmandière in Vannes. It also includes two meeting rooms, a 500 m2 event space, and a 300 m2 spa with a 10-meter pool.

🚪 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts introduces anti-jet lag technology through a partnership, offering personalized plans via the Timeshifter app, based on scientific advances in circadian rhythm. The app accounts for clients' chronobiology, sleep patterns, itineraries, and personal preferences, using an algorithm also applied by astronauts and Formula 1 drivers. Additionally, nutrient-rich dishes designed to combat energy slumps and boost vitality are added to menus globally.

🛡 On July 24, GHR discussed anti-human trafficking with Lénaïg LE BAIL and Emilie Bousquier of OCRTEH. Data revealed: 84% of sexual exploitation occurs in housing (apartments/hotels), 1053 victims identified in 2023, 53% French (45% minors), 47% foreigners (62% from Latin America/Caribbean, 13% China, 11% Central/Eastern Europe, 3% Sub-Saharan Africa). OCRTEH offers guidelines for hoteliers to detect and report suspected exploitation. Contact OCRTEH at: dnpj-ocrteh-etat-major@interieur.gouv.fr.

🏡 L’UMIH and Action Logement Groupe signed an agreement on July 16 to create housing suited to their employees' needs. The partnership focuses on promoting Visale guarantee, providing affordable housing, and assisting seasonal workers with housing. Since 2016, Visale has helped 1.2 million people access private housing, proving crucial for 77% in finding housing near work. From June 4, 2024, seasonal workers are eligible, aligning with the 2023-2027 five-year agreement with the state. This initiative targets the development of housing, particularly for seasonal workers, by analyzing project feasibility and leveraging respective expertise for comprehensive solutions.

🌊 Crystal Lagoons® marked 2024 as a record year in Egypt with 42 projects in various stages. In six months, three new deals were signed, boosting their presence as a leading market in MENA. Latest project, Caesar Bay, in Ras el Hekma, features two lagoons and 439 luxury residential units, developed with Sodic. Other projects include Azha North Lagoon with Madaar Development and Q North with Q Developments. Egypt's real estate now favours crystal lagoons with partners like Hassan Allam Properties and Tatweer Misr.

🏨 En France, depuis la loi Macron de 2015 et à partir du 1er juillet, Booking permet une disparité tarifaire en Europe, libérant les hôteliers de la parité des prix avec d'autres OTAs. Selon HOTREC, 43% des hôteliers européens maintiennent les mêmes tarifs sur leur site et sur les OTAs, 27% le font occasionnellement, et 16% le font souvent ou toute l'année. Booking détient 71% des réservations d'hôtels européens. Les hôtels qui manipulent les inventaires sur Booking pourraient subir des sanctions algorithmiques, avec une chute dans les résultats de recherche et une remontée coûteuse.

🍴 La Réserve Paris, a 5-star hotel with the Palace label, earned a third Michelin star for its restaurant Le Gabriel, led by Chef Jérôme Banctel. Situated near the Champs-Élysées, it caters to a high-profile clientele and is part of the Leading Hotels of The World. Banctel's Breton-inspired menu features bold dishes and reflects his meticulous approach. The hotel won 1st Prize at the Hotel & Lodge Awards 2024 in the Chef category.