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m.carisetti

38 posts

Channel Coast and Northern Alps See Significant RevPAR Gains, Up to 12.8% Year on Year, Amid Heatwave

🏖 Channel coast and Northern Alps saw significant RevPAR increases, up by 12.8% year-on-year, driven by budget-conscious families escaping heatwaves. Channel coast occupancy rose 3.6 points in June-July, reaching above 90% in August. Le Touquet's RevPAR grew by 25%, with Normandy reporting 12.2 million stays in July (60.1% French). Northern Alps' RevPAR rose by 12.8%, benefiting from its cool climate and structured offers, establishing it as a dual-season destination.
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  • 2 min

Motel One Appoints Jérôme Lassara as Head of Development for Southern Europe, Targeting Italy, Spain, and Portugal

📈 Jérôme Lassara named Head of Development for Motel One in Southern Europe, focusing on Italy, Spain, and Portugal. In April 2024, Dieter Müller regained control of Motel One; PAI Partners acquired an 80% stake by Q2 2025. Revenue reached €980 million in 2024 with 99 hotels across 13 countries. Motel One's "The Cloud One," launched in 2022, expanded to several cities with a new Lisbon opening planned. Lassara's career spans roles at Accor and an MBA from Cornell/ESSEC.
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Christian Wildhaber Returns to Switzerland as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Geneva After Jakarta Tenure

📚 Christian Wildhaber, a Swiss hospitality expert born in Vevey, returns to Switzerland in 2026 after leading Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta since August 2025. With nearly 30 years of global luxury hotel experience, his career includes roles in China, Morocco, Hong Kong, Australia, Indonesia, and Switzerland. Notable achievements include transforming the Belle Époque palace in Lucerne, reopening as Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern in September 2022. Now, he manages Mandarin Oriental, Geneva, a competitive 178-room hotel.
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EIH Sees 10% Drop in International Arrivals, Increases Marketing Spend by $420,000 to Attract Domestic Guests

🗺 International arrivals to India dropped by 9.4% in 2025 to 9.02 million, mainly due to stricter visa rules for Bangladesh. Air India cut flights to several countries in response. EIH, facing a 10% drop in international guests, boosted domestic marketing by $420,000. Revenue rose 15% to $73 million. RevPAR for Trident and Oberoi brands grew by 13.8% and 8.2% respectively, with renovations underway. The BRICS summit in New Delhi may aid recovery.
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Stack of speckled ceramic bowls stacked on a white surface against a dark gray background.
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  • 2 min

Siim Karu Appointed to Lead Revenue Management and Technology for Highgate's Expanding European Portfolio

📈 Siim Karu starts as head of revenue management, sales, and marketing for Highgate's European portfolio on August 10, 2026, based in London. With over 15 years in hospitality, he previously worked with Generator and Freehand Hotels. His role aims to enhance revenue growth and pricing strategy. This follows other governance changes at Highgate: Pete Sams became president in July 2025, and Pedro Braz was appointed finance director for Highgate Portugal in January 2026.
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Tripadvisor's Viator Partners with Airbnb to Offer Over 425,000 Experiences Worldwide by Year-End 2026

📅 Airbnb and Tripadvisor's Viator are collaborating to offer over 425,000 experiences globally by year-end 2025. This move follows Airbnb's May 2025 relaunch of its Experiences product in 650 cities, later focusing on Paris. In Q2 2026, Tripadvisor's revenue dropped 7%, contrasting with 17% growth for Airbnb. The partnership expands Airbnb's catalog and supports Tripadvisor's strategy of diversifying distribution channels amidst pressure from competitors and activist investors.
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The Peninsula Hong Kong Celebrates Nearly a Century as Historic Landmark with Upcoming 2026 Renovations

🏨 Kadoorie family, an Iraqi-origin dynasty, settled in Hong Kong in the late 19th century, founded The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Company. Sir Ellis Kadoorie initiated a hotel project in Kowloon in 1923, completed from 1924 to 1927. It opened on December 11, 1928, with 168 rooms. The hotel, used by Japanese troops during WWII, became a symbol of luxury, adding a 30-story tower in the 1990s. A HK$450 million renovation was completed in 2013.
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Person wearing a VR headset sits in a futuristic capsule ride under blue and pink neon lights in an arcade setting.
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  • 5 min

Mirapolis Amusement Park, Opened in 1987, Closed in 1991 After Failing to Meet Visitor and Financial Targets

🎡 Architect Anne Fourcade conceived Mirapolis in 1980, opening on May 20, 1987, in Courdimanche, France. Despite initial expectations of 2.5 million visitors annually, only 600,000 visited in the first year, leading to a 20 million franc deficit. The park closed on October 20, 1991, after 5 seasons, with losses of 300 million francs. Future projects, including Uxco Group's 2023 proposal, face environmental reviews and community relocation challenges. The Île-de-France authority flagged issues in July 2024.
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The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Approves €231 Million Renovation for Peninsula Hong Kong and Tokyo Properties

💵 On August 5, 2026, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels approved a €231 million renovation for the Peninsula Hong Kong and Peninsula Tokyo. Capex had dropped to €20 million in early 2026 from €55 million the previous year. First-time major renovations for Peninsula Tokyo, open since 2007, and Peninsula Hong Kong since 2012-2013. First-half 2026 revenue hit €435 million, up 8%, with RevPAR up 29% in Greater China and 16% in the US. Net profit was €2.5 million.
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Glass entrance with a large illuminated Google logo on the glass facade, reflecting trees and the surrounding building.
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  • 4 min

Google Initiates AI-Driven Hotel Booking Test in the U.S. with Amadeus, Partners with Booking Holdings

🌐 On August 7, 2026, Google confirmed a limited test of AI agent hotel booking in the U.S., partnering with Amadeus. The Ask Maps feature provides actual prices and availability. Booking Holdings, a partner, sees less than 1% of bookings from conversational agents. Studies show a 10-25% drop in Google referral traffic from May-June 2025. Despite traffic declines, AI-assistant bookings remain stable. Hotel loyalty programs like Marriott’s Ask Bonvoy and IHG’s ChatGPT apps aim to maintain customer relations.
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