Violence on October 17: Tourism and Hospitality Professionals Demand Action


Violences du 17 octobre : les professionnels du tourisme et de la restauration réclament des mesures - photo prise en 2023 à Paris  - Depositphotos.com Auteur Ale_Mi

Attitude Hotels


ADN Tourisme, l’ANETT, la Confédération des Acteurs du Tourisme (CAT) et INNTO France condemn the looting and the destruction that affected several French cities.

They cite in particular the fire at the Lyon tourist information office, the damage to shops, and the attacks on public buildings.

In their joint statement, the organizations warn about the economic consequences of these violences and their repercussions on France’s image abroad.

« Premier destination touristique mondiale, la France ne peut accepter que la répétition d’images de violences et de pillages compromette la confiance de ses visiteurs et son rayonnement international. »

They call on the President of the Republic and the Government to take « without delay, all necessary measures to put an end to these violences, guarantee the safety of people and property and durably restore republican order. » The statement continues: « Beyond material damages, these events directly threaten the tourism economy. »

« Attacking a place dedicated to welcoming visitors, to the discovery of our territories and to our heritage, is a blow to the very values of hospitality, openness and sharing that underpin the tourism vocation of our country. »

The organizations add: « It is unacceptable that in France, independent professionals and often family-owned businesses can see in a few hours the efforts of a lifetime and their working tools destroyed. »


UMIH and GHR Call for Support for Victims

On the hospitality sector side, UMIH also condemns the vandalism and recalls that the right to work, to undertake and to welcome customers in safety must be protected just as much as the right to demonstrate.

The organization calls the affected professionals to contact their UMIH departmental offices in order to inventory the damages and facilitate the compensation procedures. Its confederal president, Franck Chaumes, believes that establishments cannot be, “protest after protest, those footing the bill for the violence.”

The GHR also expresses its solidarity with the victims and asks the Government to specify the emergency aid planned, notably for cash flow, compensation and the maintenance of employment. It stresses that the facilities forced to close continue to bear charges despite the stoppage of their revenue.

ER Hospitality: Renovations and Upgrades in Mauritius


Thierry Montocchio sur le stand de ER Hospitality à l'IFTM - Photo : PB

PONANT


Thierry Montocchio, CEO of ER Hospitality, surveys with calm confidence his order books for the next six months.

“ We are ahead of the same period of the previous year, he says. Nevertheless, reservations from France (the island of Mauritius’s leading hotel market) remain stable ”

In this relatively serene outlook, a few clouds do appear: the probable rise in airfares due to the latest developments of the Middle East war; and also the growing interest in the informal sector since, now, for a hotel stay, four out of ten holidaymakers prefer Airbnb, rental villas, and other options…

“ The informal sector is not always very transparent. There are minimum standards and rules nonetheless. Authorities should ensure they are better enforced. It is a matter of the destination’s reputation ”, suggests Thierry Montocchio, who is also president of the Association des Hôteliers et Restaurateurs de l’Île Maurice (AHRIM).

Despite these drawbacks, ER Hospitality’s commitment to creating an ecosystem of authentic, sustainable experiences anchored in Mauritian soil remains intact.

ER Hospitality was, as a reminder, born in 2025 from the strategic merger of the hotel and leisure hubs of the ENL and Rogers groups.

This major player in the Mauritian hotel and leisure sector operates eight hotels across upscale and mid-range segments under three brands: Heritage Resorts (luxury hospitality), Veranda Resorts, and Kaz’alala (charming hospitality).


New Developments at Veranda Resorts


Le Veranda Pointe aux Biches vient d'être rénové - Photo : Veranda Resorts

Its hotel renovations are proceeding as planned.

After a three-month closure to carry out a “ true and beautiful renovation, ” the boutique-hotel Veranda Pointe aux Biches**** reopened on September 1.

“ This might be the most popular Veranda, suggests Thierry Montocchio. It has a soul. It’s no coincidence it has enjoyed such enduring success. ”

Indeed, this establishment, which embraces a “barefoot” concept, offers a relaxed and intimate atmosphere inspired by Mauritian living, elevated by a tropical design and natural materials. It also features distinct areas, with one wing dedicated to families and another reserved for adults with a private pool and beach.

Two restaurants, two bars, a seaside spa (Seven Colours) and two outdoor pools round out its offering.

For its part, Veranda Tamarin is “increasingly popular,” asserts Thierry Montocchio. This boutique-hotel with a bohemian and Creole style, facing the iconic Tamarin Bay, is starting to attract its clientele: active people seeking distinctive places, adventurers needing comfort and the desire to explore the south and west of Mauritius, and to mingle with Mauritians since it sits on a public beach.

Another Veranda brand update: the Veranda Palmar Beach boutique-hotel (77 rooms) has changed its name and is now called Veranda Belle Mare, which makes sense since it sits on the island’s east coast facing the beautiful Belle Mare lagoon.

This will allow it to better capitalize on the positive image of the splendid beaches and the lagoon, ideal for water activities.


New Developments also at Domaine de Bel Ombre


Une fois encore, le golf La Réserve vient d'être distingué - Photo : ER Hospitality

Moreover, at Domaine de Bel Ombre, the Kaz’alala Hosted B&B are closed since late June to give way to a new chapter in their story. The reopening is planned for September 2027.

“ We will probably reopen under another name, with 45 keys. It will be a continuation of the gardens of Bel Ombre, ” promises Thierry Montocchio.

Another point of satisfaction for ER Hospitality’s CEO: the championship course La Réserve Golf Links, named in 2024 as the “Best New Golf in the World” during the World Golf Awards, has just secured the 28th global rank in Golfweek’s Best Top 100 International Courses 2026, ranking the best courses outside the United States.

It is also number 1 in Africa and in the Indian Ocean. In Thierry Montocchio’s view, this is “ an important recognition ” because golf remains a major strategic pillar for ER Hospitality.

While continuing to invest in golf (and wellness as well), Heritage Resorts & Golf will again host, from October 5 to 10, at Domaine de Bel Ombre, the “ Week of Gastronomy ”.

Focused on plant-based cuisine, it will be led by two international chefs: the French Thomas Benady, chef at L’Auberge Sauvage in Normandy, and Georgios Spandos, of Mediterranean origin who usually serves at Epoca on Réunion Island. As for the year-end celebrations, they will, as usual, feature “ special programs. ”


An Enhanced Commitment to the Environment

In parallel, the group continues to intensify its actions to minimize the environmental impact of its activities, particularly through its eco-responsible program Now for Tomorrow which promotes greener practices across its hotels, helps save what can be saved in the sea, and works to raise awareness of these issues through educational activities.

In this context, ER Hospitality is a partner of Odysseo, the largest Oceanarium in the Mascarene archipelago and the first of its kind on Mauritius.

Located on Port-Louis’s seafront, Odysseo offers a permanent immersive exhibition journey that explains the fragility of the marine biodiversity of the Indian Ocean.

Furthermore, for fifteen months (since October 14, 2026), it is the first to host ARCHIPEL MAURITIA, an artistic experience blending fiction and reality that reveals the diversity of Mauritius’s ecosystems and cultures, the richness of its history and geology.


PAULA BOYER Published by Paula Boyer LuxuryTravelMaG Journalist – TourMaG.com
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Samar Slim: From Hospitality to Tourism Recruitment


Depuis janvier 2026, Samar Slim dirige le pôle Hospitality & Travel pour la France et l’Europe au sein du cabinet Morgan Philips Executive Search.  @morgan philipps

CroisiEurope


Hospitality drew Samar Slim first out of passion. Before dedicating herself to executive recruitment, she built a first stretch of her career in the service and travel world, with several international experiences. Notably, she participated in the pre-opening and opening of the Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche, in the United Arab Emirates, before spending two years in India.

« For me, the world of service and hospitality represented the Holy Grail », she says. This affinity guided her studies at the Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland, then at ESSEC, where she completed the IMHI Master, specializing in hospitality management.

In 2016, she made a professional shift by joining the recruitment sector. « I wanted to combine my service-oriented skills with topics I cared about: talent, career development and networking, while keeping a link to the hospitality and travel sector », she explains.

For eight years, she broadened her scope across many sectors, not limiting herself to tourism. This experience gave her a broader view of the job market before returning to her initial areas of predilection.

« Over the last three or four years, I have tried to combine the best of both worlds of my career : my experience in hospitality and travel, coupled with my recruitment background », she summarizes.

In January, she joined Morgan Philips Executive Search. Within this international firm, she represents the Hospitality & Travel division for France and Europe. Her activity focuses mainly on leadership profiles, but also on hard-to-find experts.


Executive roles that are tough to fill

On the tourism market, Samar Slim notes needs around sales forces and managers of travel agencies. In hospitality, establish-general managers are also among the sought-after profiles. Needs extend to the restaurant sector, especially in small groups subjected to high standards.

For her, these difficulties are partly explained by upheavals following the health crisis. Some roles require substantial commitment, involve long hours, and offer few opportunities for remote work.

« These are sectors that have experienced a lot of turbulence after Covid », she notes. In addition, finding candidates willing to engage in these roles is challenging. Companies try to compensate by raising salaries or offering benefits, but, according to the consultant, these measures do not always attract enough candidates.

In the face of these tensions, Samar Slim advocates a forward-looking approach. « What I propose to my clients is to stay in constant contact with a pool of talent that can be mobilized according to needs », she explains.

The objective is to maintain up-to-date market knowledge: which profiles are available, who could evolve, under what conditions and when. This approach requires ongoing outreach and tracking of candidates, even when there is no immediate recruitment.

« The secret is to develop a talent pool wide enough and to be able to activate it at the right moment », she sums up.


Opening recruitment to other sectors

To broaden recruitment, Samar Slim advises companies not to limit themselves to candidates from tourism or hospitality. « We will look for transferable skills, especially in sectors where service roles have similarities », she explains. These profiles may, however, require additional training to adapt to their new role.

Another challenge: recruitment processes, sometimes too long. « For fear of a bad hire, companies implement processes that can discourage candidates », she notes.

To avoid these blockages, she advises companies to revisit their criteria when the search does not yield results. « If, for a position, we have already met 300 people without finding the right profile, perhaps we should accept compromises », she estimates.

The role of a recruitment firm is not limited to finding a candidate. It also involves helping companies simplify their processes and make the right decisions. « Our added value is not only about finding the rare gems, but also about guiding and advising companies on their recruitment processes, which can be long and discouraging for candidates. »


Recruitment, a profession increasingly oriented toward consulting

Beyond headhunting, Samar Slim observes a shift in the job market toward greater flexibility. The use of freelancers, consultants and interim managers constitutes, she says, a response to the episodic needs of companies.

« A lot of people are turning to consulting, freelancing, temporary work or transition management », she notes. For workers, these formats can be more precarious, but they provide a temporary solution. For companies, they offer more flexibility, especially when ensuring business continuity while waiting to recruit a leader. « Companies need more flexibility », she adds.

This evolution is also transforming the role of specialist firms. For Samar Slim, their future lies in a broader support for companies on their talent challenges: recruitment, skills assessment, coaching, training or succession planning.

« I see my profession evolving toward consulting, she asserts. It is essential to be very inventive and creative in proposals. » This is the approach she intends to develop in her new role: to support leaders in their thoughts on talent, career progression and the future needs of their organizations.


Caroline Lelievre Publié par Caroline Lelievre Journaliste – TourMaG.com
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Constance Hospitality Appoints Anne Daviaud-Grandjean as Head of France & Benelux


Le C Rodrigues se reconnaît de loin grâce à ses toits rouges (©Constance Hotels)

CroisiEurope


Constance Hospitality renforce sa présence sur les marchés français et du Benelux. Le groupe hôtelier mauricien annonce la nomination d’Anne Daviaud-Grandjean au poste de Responsable du Bureau de Représentation France & Benelux, avec une prise de fonction au 1er juillet 2026.

Elle sera chargée d’accompagner le développement commercial des marques Constance Hotels & Resorts et C Resorts, ainsi que les relations stratégiques du groupe sur ces marchés.

Présent depuis plus de 30 ans dans l’océan Indien, le groupe hôtelier opère des établissements à Maurice, aux Seychelles, aux Maldives, à Rodrigues et à Madagascar.


Anne Daviaud-Grandjean’s Career Path

A graduate of Audencia Business School in International Management, Anne Daviaud-Grandjean spent the bulk of her career at Kuoni France, where she advanced for 13 years.

There, she notably held the roles of Head of Revenue Management and Director of Beach Operations. Her tenure allowed her to develop particular expertise in Indian Ocean destinations, the Middle East and Greece, as well as a deep understanding of the expectations of premium clientele and of specialized distribution networks.

Since 2021, she has also been leading her own representation and consulting firm, Blue Pineapple Tourism, which supports international hotel groups and tourist destinations in their commercial development and marketing on Francophone markets.

Fortunes: Wealthy Families Investing in Hospitality and Tourism


Fortunes : ces familles qui investissent dans l’hôtellerie et le tourisme - Depositphotos.com Auteur aeydenphumi

MSC Croisières


This summer, the Challenges magazine published its ranking of France’s 500 largest professional fortunes

 

This list helps to identify several profiles who are particularly present in hospitality and related activities.

 

Hospitality and tourism are not necessarily the main business of France’s fortunes, but many of them own groups or assets in these sectors.


The Duval family posts an estimated fortune of 2 billion euros

At 62nd place, the Duval family shows an estimated fortune of 2 billion euros, unchanged from 2025.

 

They own the Duval Group, presented in the ranking as a group active in holding, real estate, services and hospitality.

 

The Challenges commentary notes that Éric Duval and his children, Pauline and Louis-Victor, are building a group whose turnover reaches 1 billion euros, with a particular focus on real estate, tourism, leisure and microfinance in Africa.

 

At 85th place, Patrice Pichet and his family are credited with a fortune of 1.6 billion euros, stable compared to 2025.

 

The Pichet Group operates in real estate, wines and hospitality.

 

According to the table, Patrice Pichet, supported by his four sons, leads a group reporting 1.8 billion euros in turnover, with activities in property development, a property holding company, a vineyard – Les Carmes de Haut-Brion – and hospitality.


The Altitude Group is presented as active in telecoms, real estate and hospitality

Also ranked 85th, Jean-Paul Rivière and his family have a fortune estimated at 1.6 billion euros, down from 1.7 billion in 2025.

 

The Altitude Group is described as active in telecoms, real estate and hospitality.

 

The table indicates that the Norman founder and his family notably own the group’s fiber-optics infrastructure operator, run by his daughter, as well as activities in real estate and senior residences.

 

Frédéric Jousset, ranked 140th with a fortune estimated at 1.05 billion euros, holds notably a stake in Karavel, a major player in travel.

 

Further down the list, Jean-Louis Costes appears at 271st place, with a fortune estimated at 540 million euros, unchanged from 2025.

 

His group, Saint Honoré, is described in the sectors of real estate and hospitality.

 

The ranking’s commentary recalls that he developed, with his brother, a network of Parisian brasseries and owns the Hôtel Costes, a five-star establishment on Rue Saint-Honoré, featuring a spa.


The Gad-Roblin family: 525 million euros

Jacques Gad, Françoise Roblin and their family sit at 272nd place, with a fortune of 525 million euros, stable over one year.

 

Their group, Cofigad, operates in hospitality. The family owns a hotel group of around thirty establishments under an Accor franchise, representing 2,600 rooms, primarily in Paris but also in Switzerland.

 

At 257th place, Pierre and Marie-Laure Esnée have a fortune estimated at 560 million euros, versus 580 million in 2025.

 

Their company, You Famille Hôtelière, operates in hospitality.

 

The table notes that these former agro-food industrialists, from Frial, have transformed over more than fifteen years into this hotel-management group of 100 hotels, as well as into wine with Château Garraud.

 

Also ranked 257th, Anne Jousse and her family show a fortune of 560 million euros, up from 440 million in 2025.

 

Her group, B Signature Hotels & Resorts, appears under the “Insurance” category, but the commentary highlights its hotel activity: she is developing a collection of seven luxury hotels in Paris, Saint-Barthélemy and Brittany, in addition to the family insurance brokerage group.


Other fortunes linked to hospitality

The ranking reveals several other fortunes connected, directly or indirectly, to hospitality and tourism.

 

At 282nd place, Célia Chambon and her family hold 500 million euros. The Socri-IFC Group is described as active in real estate and hospitality. The table notes that Célia Chambon controls this commercial real estate and hospitality group, while her brother is developing luxury real estate promotion.

 

At 261st place, Jean-François Gobertier shows a fortune of 500 million euros, down from 525 million in 2025. His group, GDP Vendôme, operates in real estate and hospitality. The table mentions a group comprising health assets and service residences.

 

Finally, at 462nd place, Alain Thiénot shows a fortune of 280 million euros, down from 290 million in 2025. His group, Arvitis, operates in wines, champagne and hospitality. The table notes that the family owns notably the champagnes Thiénot, Canard-Duchêne, Marie Stuart and Joseph Perrier, as well as the wines Dourthe and Kressmann, and that they opened a luxury boutique-hotel in Reims at the end of 2025.

Brazil: Generous Hospitality as a Driver of Transformation in Luxury Tourism [ABO]


Au Brésil, l’hospitalité n’est pas une construction récente. Elle s’inscrit dans la culture, dans les comportements et dans la relation à l’autre - DepositPhotos.com, dabldy

Hurtigruten


Brazil has always nourished a powerful imagination, spanning nature, history, and the relationship with others.

This imagination is not unfamiliar to French culture. Since the 16th century, France has shown interest in this territory, notably through the episode of France Antarctique in the bay of Rio de Janeiro.

This long-standing relationship echoes in literature, notably with Rouge Brésil by Jean-Christophe Rufin, which traces this encounter between two worlds. The narrative highlights what still today makes Brazil unique: the capacity to welcome, to blend cultures, and to forge a different relationship with others.

This historical and cultural link between France and Brazil goes beyond the frame of the narrative.

It is reflected in certain architectural influences, in the cross perspectives between the two countries, but also in how French travelers today approach the destination.



A redefining of luxury around experience, relationship and the identity of places

In the context of luxury tourism, this relationship takes on a particular dimension.

It enables French professionals – agencies, investors, hoteliers – to better understand a destination that, while deeply different, shares a common sensitivity around culture, the art of living and hospitality.

Long perceived through partial prisms, sometimes reduced to its structural challenges or to its most iconic images, Brazil today asserts itself as one of the most distinctive destinations in international tourism.

This evolution is neither a fashion trend nor a marketing repositioning. It is part of a long-term movement led by players who have progressively organized the country’s upscale transition.

This transformation does not merely rely on opening new hotels or upgrading infrastructure. It rests on a deeper change: a redefinition of luxury around experience, relationship and the identity of places.

At the heart of this transformation, the Brazilian Luxury Travel Association (BLTA) plays a central role. Created in 2008, the association now brings together 66 hotels and 8 DMCs across 39 destinations throughout the country.

Its mission goes far beyond promotion. It aims to structure a vision of Brazilian luxury, define its standards and carry its voice on the international stage.


A paradigm shift: from product to experience

The international luxury sector is undergoing a structural evolution. Value is no longer measured solely by the quality of equipment or the standardization of service. It shifts toward the ability to create a singular, embodied, and memorable experience.

Brazil presents a strong uniqueness in this context: hospitality is not a recent construction there. It is embedded in culture, in behaviors and in the relationship to others.

This reality constitutes a major competitive advantage. Camilla Barretto, CEO of the BLTA, offers a clear reading: « This is not an obvious luxury. It is a luxury combined with authenticity. If you go to Brazil, you won’t find this place anywhere else. »

This approach redefines the selection criteria for agencies and clients. The choice of a destination no longer rests solely on its level of equipment, but on its ability to create .


A complex territory that requires strong expertise

The main challenge for Brazil lies in its complexity. A continent-country, it cannot be approached as a homogeneous destination.

Each region has its own codes, operational constraints and opportunities.

For travel agencies, this reality implies an increased need for qualified intermediation. Value no longer lies solely in booking, but in the ability to build a coherent, smooth itinerary tailored to the client’s profile.

This is precisely where the Brazilian market is progressing. Actors, including the BLTA, have helped raise the overall level of professionalism by creating standards, networks and selection tools.

The development of tools such as the Mystery Shopper Audit, based on more than 240 criteria, responds to a key expectation of international buyers: transparency of quality.


Emblematic references that structure the perception of luxury


Generous hospitality as a competitive advantage

One of the most differentiating elements of Brazil lies in its relational culture.

The welcome goes beyond mere service. It is expressed in a way of being, in spontaneity, and in a natural attentiveness to others.

Camilla Barretto summarizes this specificity: « We do not pretend to welcome people. We smile at them. … In Brazil, it’s open, it’s free, it’s vibrant. »

This dimension corresponds to what I call generous hospitality. For tourism professionals, this notion represents a strategic lever. It allows creating differentiating experiences without resorting to artifices or excessive investments.

It also constitutes a loyalty driver. A strong relational experience creates a lasting memory, well beyond the material elements of the stay.

Read also : Luxury hospitality: the three keys to creating an experience that leaves travelers with a lasting impression


Sustainability and preservation: a central challenge

The upgrading of Brazil goes hand in hand with a major challenge: preserving the authenticity of its territories. The development of luxury tourism cannot come at the expense of ecosystems and local cultures.

This question becomes central for investors and operators.

The BLTA has integrated this dimension by setting an ESG certification objective for all its members by 2029, in line with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council standards.

This positioning responds to growing expectations from international clients, but also to a long-term requirement: maintain the country’s attractiveness.

Read also: Hospitality: the luxury of tomorrow will be sustainable or no longer


What to remember: Brazil, a strategic market to structure with precision

– Brazil is entering a decisive phase of its tourism development. The country has unique assets: diverse landscapes, rich culture, natural hospitality. The challenge is no longer to discover these assets, but to structure them.

– For travel agencies, Brazil offers a clear opportunity: to propose differentiated experiences with high emotional value, in a market still under construction.

– For investors and operators, the question is more strategic: how to develop a luxury offering while preserving the country’s essence? The answer lies in a fine understanding of what makes Brazil’s singularity. This singularity rests on a simple truth: luxury is not limited to what is seen. It is played out in relationships, attentiveness, and the ability to create connection.

– Generous hospitality is not a concept. It constitutes a real competitive advantage, already present, still partly untapped.

– Brazil does not seek to catch up with the great international luxury destinations. It offers something else: a more human, more embodied, more memorable experience. A territory that does not ask to be transformed, but to be understood.


To follow: Rio de Janeiro: a collection of hotels embodying different cultures of luxury


Laurent Delporte


Laurent Delporte - Delporte Hospitality

Laurent Delporte is the president and founder of DELPORTE Hospitality.

After 25 years of experience in luxury hospitality, notably within the Accor group, he combines a visionary spirit, an international hospitality culture, managerial and operational skills, and a network of independent experts to support decision-makers in hospitality in service of their clients, employees and partners.

As a recognized consultant in the hotel industry, an executive coach to leaders, a speaker in the world of hospitality, he also runs the DH-Mag magazine dedicated to trends in the hotel industry and speaks at leading schools and trade shows (HEC, Sup de Luxe, EquipHotel, Maison & Objets…).

Moreover, Laurent Delporte ranked 8th in the international ranking of hotel influence in 2024 by the American magazine Global Hospitality and the International Hospitality Institute (IHI) based in the United States. He was also selected in the list of the 25 luxury sector speakers worldwide.


From Camping to Hospitality: Huttopia Opens Two New Properties at Lake Aiguebelette


Philippe Bossanne, cofondateur d'Huttopia entouré du directeur d'Huttopia Domaine du Lac, des élus de la région, dont le maire de Lépin-Le-Lac - Photo CE

Costa Rica


« This is an event for the group » announced Philippe Bossanne, co-founder of Huttopia, this Thursday, July 9, on the occasion of the inauguration, not of one but of two new sites on the shores of Lake Aiguebelette in Savoie.

The group strengthens its regional presence with the simultaneous opening of two new addresses: Huttopia Domaine du Lac – Maison Ronde, combining hotel service with nature-oriented accommodations, and OnlyCamp Le Ferrand, a campsite dedicated to tents, vans and other caravans.

With this double inauguration, Huttopia now brings the number of its establishments around the lake to four, alongside Huttopia Lac d’Aiguebelette and OnlyCamp Les Peupliers.

In total, the group says it has invested nearly 20 million euros around Lake Aiguebelette since its arrival in 2017, « without resorting to public funding » insists Philippe Bossanne.



La Maison Ronde rénovée : hôtel 3 étoiles de 13 chambres, réception, bar, terrasse... - Photo CE

The flagship project concerns the transformation of Huttopia Domaine du Lac – Maison Ronde.

« The overall project cost us nearly €9 million » specifies Philippe Bossanne during the inauguration.

It includes notably the revival of La Maison Ronde. Built in the 1920s–1930s as a hotel, the establishment later became a holiday center in the 1950s before closing its doors for almost three decades.

« I didn’t even know that this building stood right next to the Le Curtelet campsite, which we had acquired », recalls the founder. Fascinated for a long time by its architecture, he eventually decided to undertake a rehabilitation project that he now acknowledges as particularly ambitious.

« Wanting to rehabilitate this building wasn’t very reasonable », acknowledged Philippe Bossanne at the inauguration. The leader explains that he quickly realized the project would exceed the initial estimates.

For several decades, the building remained abandoned. In 2020, Serge Grollier, the Mayor of Lépin-le-Lac, took the matter in hand again and launched a call for proposals: « When we visited La Maison Ronde in 2020, we found a real ruin, with many brambles on the site, but we were convinced it needed to be brought back to life », he recalled during the inauguration.

In 2022, the choice fell on an operator who wished to transform the site into a youth hostel, but the project did not go through. It was in 2023 that the search for investors was restarted and Huttopia was approached.

« It is a success when you see the quality of the result obtained by Huttopia and the companies that contributed to the projects, after only seven months of work, five of which were carried out in the mud due to heavy rains. Opening for the 2026 season is a real feat » added the Mayor.


The new Domaine du Lac combines hotel, hotel lodges, canvas-and-wood tents, and chalets


L'espace de séminaire associé à l'offre hôtelière permet de diversifier l'offre sur le Domaine du Lac - Photo CE

« We do not have a financial shareholder demanding dividends every year. This allows us to reinvest and carry out this type of project », explained the Huttopia co-founder, asserting a participatory family capitalism.

If the Domaine du Lac is operated under a 90-year lease, Philippe Bossanne acknowledges that the challenge now is economic. « The balance of such a project is not obvious. It will have to appeal and attract a lot of people »

The new Domaine du Lac now combines several activities on a single site: a 13-room 3-star hotel in La Maison Ronde along with 12 wooden hotel lodges, 59 outdoor accommodations (32 wooden chalets and 27 canvas-and-wood tents), a café, a beach, a jetty, water activities as well as an old hunting pavilion converted into a seminar space capable of hosting up to 80 people.

« This hotel offering with our hotel lodges and the seminar space will allow us to fill the wings during the shoulder seasons, and perhaps in autumn as well. We must always pursue the project’s viability. » states the group’s founding president.

The establishment will be open from April to mid-November and aims at both local clientele—particularly from Lyon and Chambéry—and international visitors. The Maison Ronde could also, in a later phase, develop a dining offer for local customers: « We have planned it, but for now it is not on the agenda. »


A development built around the lake


Vue sur le lac d'Aiguebelette depuis le Domaine du Lac - Photo CE

The history of Huttopia at Aiguebelette developed gradually.

Philippe Bossanne explains that he was first approached by local officials to develop the first Huttopia campground on the lake: Huttopia Lac d’Aiguebelette opened in 2017.

The success of this installation then led the group to take over Les Peupliers, and, during a real estate visit, the OnlyCamp Le Curtelet campsite, which has become today Huttopia Domaine du Lac.

In addition, there is a fourth address, adjacent to Les Peupliers, the OnlyCamp Le Ferrand, inaugurated on this same day in its new configuration.

The two sites will also be brought together next year to become OnlyCamp Grands Peupliers.


OnlyCamp Le Ferrand: €1 million invested


OnlyCamp Le Ferrand a bénéficié d'une rénovation l'hiver dernier pour 1 million d'euros - Photo CE

The OnlyCamp Le Ferrand campsite also underwent an investment of more than €1 million.

The works mainly focused on infrastructure, the complete renewal of networks, the creation of a new sanitary block, the modernization of the living center, and the development of a dining offer.

Faithful to its philosophy, the site is dedicated to bare pitches. « We decided to make it a 100% pitch campsite, where people arrive with their tent, caravan, van or motorhome », explained Philippe Bossanne.

The site now has 190 bare pitches spread over four hectares, with direct lake access.

For Axel Pénin, the managing director of OnlyCamp, this strategy responds to a sustained demand from traditional campers. The brand network, now with 104 destinations, favors bare pitches, simple yet high-quality facilities and a deliberately affordable pricing policy: « A family with two children can spend a week in the heart of summer for less than €250 », he notes.

A single rate is applied across all OnlyCamp campgrounds, regardless of location.

Pitches for two people are offered at €12 (no swimming) or €15 (with swimming) in off-peak season, then €17 and €24 between July 1 and August 31.


Huttopia Le Domaine du Lac – Maison Ronde under the spotlight


Céline Eymery Published by Céline Eymery Editor-in-Chief – TourMaG.com
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Characterful Hospitality: How to Turn Uniqueness into a Performance Driver [ABO]


L'hôtellerie de caractère gagne en performance le jour où elle transforme sa singularité subie en singularité assumée. Ici, l'établissement Relais & Châteaux de La Bretesche à Missillac, France - DepositPhotos.com, jqnoc

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In characterful establishments, from French castles to island lodges, including golf resorts and wine estates, it is not uncommon to hear the owner of a distinctive place speak of its particularities as much as an advantage as a challenge: a limited number of rooms to optimize, spaces that resemble one another little, and a heritage architectural fabric that complicates day-to-day operations.

These particularities, however, form the foundation of solid performance, capable of being structured around three levers that strengthen each other.



Pricing the Difference, Measuring Beyond the Room

The first lever touches the revenue strategy, and it rests on a widely documented conviction: in a competitive market, product differentiation yields more durable revenues than chasing the bottom prices.

The rarity and heterogeneity of the rooms become the arguments, since a restricted inventory, made up of spaces that stand out for their history, view, and size, allows a pricing grid where each room represents a product in its own right.

The value-creation phase is essential because the sector is gradually moving away from RevPAR, which centers on the room alone, in favor of indicators that incorporate the value created per guest and actual profitability, from TRevPAR to GOPPAR.

A characterful property, whose dining, experiences, and ancillary services often carry as much weight as the nightly rate, benefits from thinking this way, and its pricing grid is built as an overall strategy.

Consequently, hoteliers might place less emphasis on price based on sleep quality and more on the guest journey.


The service and the human, the most difficult advantage to copy

The second lever is the one that large brands find the hardest to replicate.

A small establishment potentially benefits from a higher personnel-to-guest ratio and a relational proximity that enables a level of attentiveness that mass scale dilutes.

Harvard Business School has formalized this mechanism under the name of the “service-profit chain”, where employee satisfaction fuels client satisfaction, which in turn underpins financial performance.

This effect of internal climate always translates into the client’s lived experience. The advantage of human intervention therefore bears fruit once organized, when training, the quality of procedures, and the smoothness of internal communication turn hospitality intentions into measurable loyalty.

In this era of AI, the quality of human service remains a condition for the value of hospitality, and we now have the tools to devote the necessary time to it.


The narrative, turning heritage into experience

The third lever extends the first two by giving them meaning.

The experience economy, theorized by Pine and Gilmore, established that travelers seek memorable moments and judge offerings by the level of authenticity they perceive.

For a characterful property, heritage and territory constitute an asset ready to become a story, because the history of a building, its regional anchoring, and local know-how form what luxury hospitality calls the soul of a house, a differentiating source that underpins loyalty as well as recognition.

The narrative proves its value when it leaves the brochure to take shape in lived experience, from a staged arrival to partnerships with regional artisans, and it fully aligns with the principles of regenerative tourism.


Hospitality: Dida Drives Bookings Without Leaving AI-Powered Apps


Dida veut générer des réservations de vols et d’expériences directement dans l’IA - Depositphotos

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Dida fait entrer l’hôtellerie dans l’ère de la réservation entièrement gérée par l’IA.

Avec Dida MCP, l’objectif est de répondre à un enjeu clé du voyage dopé par l’IA, c’est-à-dire transformer une simple recommandation en réservation confirmée, sans faire sortir l’utilisateur de l’environnement du partenaire.

Dida MCP donne accès à un portefeuille de plus de 2 millions d’établissements hôteliers dans plus de 100 pays, à destination de ses partenaires professionnels du tourisme.

Ces derniers peuvent donc faire bénéficier les internautes et les voyageurs de ce vaste portefeuille d’hôtels directement dans leurs applications utilisant l’IA, leurs agents conversationnels ou leurs plateformes clients.


Dida aims to generate flight and experience bookings directly within AI

La société insiste sur le fait qu’elle ne souhaite pas se positionner comme un acteur B2C, mais prolonger son modèle d’infrastructure B2B.

Le partenaire conserve ainsi sa marque, la relation client et la donnée, tandis que Dida opère en coulisses la connectivité, les disponibilités, les tarifs, les réservations, les paiements, les confirmations et le service.

La solution s’adresse notamment aux agences, OTA, TMC, tour-opérateurs, grossistes, banques, programmes de fidélité, plateformes e-commerce ou encore opérateurs télécoms.

Dida prévoit, à terme, d’étendre cette approche au-delà de l’hôtel, vers les vols, le transport terrestre et les expériences.

Hospitality: Growth Shifts to Value Over Bookings


Le marché hôtelier français entre dans une phase de maturité - Depositphotos.com, vverve

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According to the 2026* report on hotel distribution published by D-EDGE, the growth of the sector now relies more on value creation than on increasing the number of bookings.

The study, based on the analysis of distribution data between 2022 and 2025, highlights several structural evolutions in hotel revenue strategies.

If the number of bookings continues to rise, the momentum is gradually waning.

After an increase of 8% between 2022 and 2023, growth fell to 2.8% between 2023 and 2024, then to 2.3% between 2024 and 2025.

At the same time, value generated per booking grows faster. Revenue from bookings rose by 8.4% between 2024 and 2025, driven notably by the recovery of the average room rate.

“The French hotel market is entering a stabilization phase where performance will rely less on generating new bookings than on the ability to maximize the value of each of them“, explains Swann Couston, France Director of D-EDGE.

“For hoteliers, the question is no longer just to generate more volume, but to optimize revenue per booking, the distribution mix, and the stability of revenues.”


Bookings Are Being Made Earlier and Earlier

Another notable development: travelers are booking earlier. The average booking lead time increased by five days between 2024 and 2025, rising from 33 to 38 days.

Differences remain pronounced by channel. The direct channel shows the longest lead time, with 47 days on average, indicating typically more planned demand. It drops to 35 days on Booking.com and 31 days on Expedia.

The distribution structure changes little. Online travel agencies (OTAs) still account for about 70% of booking volumes.

The direct channel, meanwhile, remains around 25% of bookings by volume, but weighs more in value, with around 33% of revenue.

After a slight dip in 2024, the average daily rate (ADR) rises again in 2025 to reach €192.66, i.e., an increase of 4.28%.

This trend affects all major distribution channels, confirming that market growth now relies more on optimizing the average price and value per booking than on increasing volumes.


The GDS, a Channel That Remains Strong

In this context of overall slowdown, luxury establishments stand out. The 5-star segment shows a 6.8% rise in bookings and a 12% increase in value generated between 2024 and 2025.

According to the report, this performance reflects a progressive market polarization, where value creation concentrates more on premium and ultra-luxury segments.

The report also highlights the weight of the GDS in value creation. In France, the average ADR via this channel reaches €233, a level close to that of the direct channel. In the 5-star segment, it even becomes the most contributive channel, with an average price of around €660.

Another positive development for hoteliers: the cancellation rate declines in 2025, from 24.6% to 22.6%. This drop is notably explained by the rise of prepaid rates and non-refundable terms.

Differences remain significant across platforms. Nearly 44% of revenue generated via Booking.com ends up canceled, compared with a much lower level on the direct channel.


AI Transforms Search, Not Yet Booking

Finally, the report examines the impact of artificial intelligence on hotel distribution. While channel balances remain unchanged for now, AI already influences the early phase of the customer journey.

Travelers increasingly use these tools to search, compare, and discover properties before booking.

* The D-EDGE Hotel Distribution Report France 2026 is based on the analysis of confirmed reservation data collected via the D-EDGE platform from a constant panel of more than 5,000 hotels in France between 2022 and 2025. The study analyzes booking volumes, revenues generated, booking lead times, cancellation rates, and the performance of different distribution channels to offer a detailed reading of the structural dynamics of the French hotel market.


Amelia Brille Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor
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