Accor has completed another stage in its digital revolution with the transformation of its collaborative systems by launching a Web 2.0 internal communication platform that combines a new generation intranet site - AccorLive, and a corporate social network - AccorLounge, for its 170,000 employees worldwide.
With its first stateside property, the award-winning Dutch hotel group citizenM brings its unique brand of smart, design-savvy hospitality to the heart of New York City. To the city that never sleeps, citizenM New York is here to help! The 230-room property, in the heart of midtown Manhattan, opened its doors in May. The hotel upends all the Times Square tourist-trap clichés with its stylish fusion of high design, cutting-edge technology and unequalled comfort.
Jean Stéphane HALLARD IMHI 1998 has been appointed Financial Director for the Peninsula Hotel Paris. Prior to that Jean-Stéphane was Financial Director at Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile (ex Concorde Lafayette)
In the constant competition between tourist destinations, Paris enjoys a considerable advantage that is also dangerous: that of being at the top of the list of musts for travelers venturing outside their country for the first time. Regular tourism growth worldwide thus feeds the arrivals statistics for the French capital, while simultaneously hiding weaknesses that threaten its future. TYPO3SEARCH_begin CONTENT ELEMENT, uid:75207/text [begin] Text: [begin]
European restaurant reservation service LaFourchette — the so-called OpenTable of France — has entered into agreement to be acquired by NASDAQ-listed travel site TripAdvisor, with whom it already had a partnership. Terms of the deal are not being disclosed. However, sources tell TechCrunch that the price is actually ~$140 million (€100 million) in an all cash deal. The company had previously raised around $15 million in VC.
The airport's latest on-time arrival is pentahotels' first touch-down in France. The 180-room property, like all pentahotels, is designed with cool urban vibe and casual comfort, where weary travellers can exhale, chill and get an injection of energy and style.
After an uncertain beginning to the year, March amplified the drop in French hotel industry activity. The first trimester 2014 thus finished on a worrying note: rooms revenue in general dropped by 1% to 5% depending on the category. Occupancy continued to drop, while the 3 point rise in VAT could not be passed on to professionals.
It's an old proverb… No man is prophet in his own land. French politicians expound about France's good performances on the global tourism scene, but refrain from giving the country the means to develop further and to renew a supply that continues to shrink as the years go by.
The month of February saw mixed results. At the national level, occupancy and average rates dropped slightly, without, however, entirely collapsing. The Luxury segment was the only one to stay on course, posting positive results. Paris - usually spared from downturns - did not manage to escape during February. Conversely, other destinations benefited from bright spells, giving rise to contrasted results.
Hotel innovation has been at the core of discussions at the Global Lodging Forum, particularly during the first panel on Tuesday, March 18, entitled "What is the role of innovation in brand differentiation?". Opinions from Bernard BASTIDE Marketing Manager Building Automation System, Legrand, Christoph HOFFMANN, President & CEO, 25Hours Hotel Germany, Geoffray MAUGIN, VP Marketing & Digital, Sofitel Worldwide, Marco FANTON, Global Social Media Director, Melia Hotels International, Olivier HARNISCH, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Carlson Rezidor/Rezidor Hotel Group, Serge TRIGANO, Co-Founder, Mama Shelter.
For the second year in a row, Ibis was rewarded for the dynamic growth of its hotel infrastructure in Europe at the 18th Global Lodging Forum where it received the Development Trophy. At the gala evening event of the Global Lodging Forum, organized in the rooms of the Bristol Hotel in Paris, the Accor Group, through its "megabrand" Ibis was distinguished once again for the breadth of its development in Europe.
Avec 25 années d'expérience dans le management hôtelier, Christophe Mercier prend la direction de l'hôtel W Paris Opéra. Il a ainsi pour ambition de renforcer le positionnement 5 étoiles de l'établissement, avec notamment l'inauguration d'une nouvelle salle de réunion, le redéploiement des suites, ou encore l'ouverture d'un nouveau restaurant. Christophe Mercier a intégré le groupe Starwood Hotels & Resorts en 1991 en tant que responsable commercial des conférences et banquets au Prince de Galles. Sa carrière s'est par la suite tournée vers l'international dans des destinations comme San Francisco, Hawaï ou Venise. Avant de devenir directeur général du W Paris Opéra, Christophe Mercier était Resident Manager de l’hôtel Danieli de Venise.
January was not a good month for the French hotel industry, as RevPAR declined. Although business did not fall dramatically, RevPAR stagnated at best, and dropped by almost 5% at worst. Never a good month for French hotels, occupancy and average rates are often low in January – a situation not helped by the current economic climate. All the same, this is the third year in a row that January's performances have dropped in comparison to the previous year (1). In short, the decline in January 2014 – although moderate – only serves to prolong a difficult situation. Rather worryingly, Parisian hotels also posted a drop in RevPAR. Although the Luxury segment managed to increase rooms revenue by +2.7%, this remained an exception.
Pricing is naturally a major concern for hotel customers, and thus hotel professionals. But concretely speaking, what strategies are being implemented? Hospitality On addresses French hoteliers’ current practices in France.
Old England did a successful publicity stunt. London is strutting about on the radio waves and in the gazettes boasting first place as world tourism capital with 16 million international visitors, ahead of Paris, Bangkok and New York. TYPO3SEARCH_begin CONTENT ELEMENT, uid:72857/text [begin] Text: [begin]
Karl Lagerfeld has been commissioned to design two suites for Hôtel de Crillon, which is currently closed until 2015 for a complete restoration. Lagerfeld will bring his discerning eye, his expert knowledge of the finest craftsmanship and his philosophy of reviving history with an edge to this Parisian landmark, which was originally built in 1758.
Hilton Worldwide has reached an agreement which will see it rebrand the historic Concorde Opéra hotel under its Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand in late 2014.
Paris—December 19, 2013—FastBooking, the world's leading provider of digital marketing and technology solutions to increase hotel direct online reservations, announces the signing of a long-term contract to provide Pershing Hall hotel with GDS services to optimize high-end corporate accounts and top-tier leisure business.
A typical grassroots industry, greeting customers 24/ 7 in its establishments, the hotel industry has felt the need to gradually centralize support functions as hotel networks expand. While it is desirable to take advantage of economies of scale and to have a global vision to develop national and international strategies, there is a risk of falling out of touch with local market realities and disempowering hotel management. TYPO3SEARCH_begin CONTENT ELEMENT, uid:71895/text [begin] Header: [begin] Header: [end] Text: [begin]
Shangri-La Hotel, Paris announces the arrival of Stefan W. Bollhalder as general manager. With 35 years devoted to hospitality, Mr. Bollhalder's career illustrates a life of service in the luxury industry.