March 2025: the real estate, tourism and hospitality press review
Last update : 1 April 2025
HoliProject presents its March 2025 press review, dedicated to the hotel, tourism, investment and real estate sectors. The aim: to decipher the underlying market trends, investment opportunities and news highlights of recent weeks. This month's highlights include an ambitious hotel project in the Alps, an encouraging winter season for ski resorts, the return of confidence in real estate and a French real estate market showing signs of recovery.
Hotels: XXL project in Tignes to redefine alpine accommodation
The Alpine Collection group has announced Genesis, a vast real estate project in Tignes due to start construction at the end of 2026. The aim is to redefine the standards of mountain hospitality by “combining comfort, sustainability and aesthetics”. The project will revitalize the Lavachet district, while respecting the resort’s natural environment. In concrete terms, Genesis will include an 82-room 5-star hotel with spa, restaurants and rooftop bar, as well as 95 luxury apartments linked to the slopes. (Tourmag)
Hotels: Hilton targets 1,000 hotels in EMEA and launches new brand
The giant Hilton is poised to reach a symbolic milestone by reaching 1,000 establishments in Europe, the Middle East and Africa this spring. To support this growth (+50% target presence in five years), Hilton is announcing the arrival of Tempo by Hilton – its new lifestyle brand – while continuing to roll out its Spark budget brand in the region. This expansion reflects the dynamism of the international hotel business, with numerous plans for new openings across Europe and beyond. (La Tribune de l’Hôtellerie)
Tourism: Stable visitor numbers in French ski resorts this winter
According to the ANMSM-Atout France National Observatory, mountain resorts reported an average occupancy rate of 83% for the 2025 winter vacations, stable compared to last year. The school calendar played its part to the full: the week from February 15 to 22 was the most dynamic (91% occupancy, +8% vs. 2024), while the last week was quieter (74%, -8%). Thanks to good snow cover across the board, consumption of resort activities was up for 42% of professionals surveyed. French ski areas thus confirmed their resilience, with stable domestic clientele and a slight upturn in foreign customers (+0.3%). (L’Écho Touristique)
Tourism: Sustainable tourism and emerging destinations in the spotlight at ITB 2025
At the ITB Berlin trade show (March 2025), travel professionals highlighted the global trends that will shape the year: regenerative tourism is establishing itself as a new model, inviting hotels and tour operators to make a positive contribution to the territories. At the same time, the quest for authentic, sustainable experiences is becoming a major criterion for travelers. (Euronews)
Tourism: Ski resorts look to the end of the season with optimism
After a successful winter, mountain professionals are satisfied with March bookings (92%), and the outlook for spring is clearly up. Ski resorts are already recording a forecast occupancy rate of 30% for tourist residences at Easter (vs. 17% in 2024) and 32% for vacation clubs (vs. 22% last year). This end-of-season craze, boosted by a late snowfall and promotional offers, extends the winter’s positive momentum and augurs a more favorable off-season than last year (L’Écho Touristique).
Investment: Compagnie des Alpes – higher dividend after a record year
Compagnie des Alpes – France’s leading ski area operator – has announced a dividend of €1 per share for 2023/24, on the strength of its excellent business results (€1.2 billion in sales, €92 million in net profit). This distribution, up +10%, was approved at the AGM on March 13. It reflects the Group’s outstanding results for the past year, driven by record visitor numbers in the 10 major ski areas operated by the Group, and by the strong performance of its leisure parks. (Le Dauphiné)
Investment : Falling interest rates presage a rebound in real estate funds (SCPI)
The real estate crisis has slowed SCPI inflows over the past two years, but industry insiders foresee a brightening of the situation. “The fall in interest rates and inflation is good for SCPIs, and they are likely to rebound in 2025,” says one industry expert. Indeed, the expected turnaround in monetary policy should boost share prices and boost investor confidence. Some diversified SCPIs are already posting solid yields (6-7% in 2024) despite the context, and could take advantage of a more buoyant cycle this year. (Meilleurtaux Placement)
Investment : BNP Paribas REIM bets on Europe’s healthcare sector
Real estate asset manager BNP Paribas REIM has set up a new division dedicated to healthcare and hospitality real estate. This pan-European entity, called Practice Healthcare & Hospitality, brings together some fifteen experts to acquire, manage and operate strategic assets in these two growth sectors. Already 10% of BNP Paribas REIM’s portfolio (€2 billion) is invested in clinics, nursing homes and hotels, segments driven by demographic ageing and leisure trends. This innovative positioning illustrates institutional investors’ attraction to alternative asset classes offering long-term growth prospects. (Paper stone)
Real estate: Mountain real estate beats price records
A niche market par excellence, ski resort real estate is showing surprising vitality “despite the crisis in the sector and the climate crisis”, and remains “extremely resilient” according to a SeLoger study. In contrast to the sluggish national market, prices in the Alps have risen by +21.8% in four years (compared with just +6.8% nationally). The growing appeal of high-altitude property, the wealthy international clientele and the scarcity of supply are fuelling this surge. Luxury resorts such as Val d’Isère (€15,600/m² average) are reaching unprecedented levels, even higher than Parisian prices. (Gomet’ / SeLoger)
Real estate: French market set to recover in 2025
After two years of slowdown, the residential real estate market in France is showing signs of improvement in March 2025. According to the 41ᵉ Meilleurtaux observatory, the gradual fall in interest rates is breathing new life into borrowers, and demand for real estate loans is returning to normal levels. As early as autumn 2024, buying intentions began to rise again, and January 2025 saw a peak in activity not seen since 2022. The easing of interest rates (now often below 3.7% on 20-year mortgages) has increased households’ borrowing capacity (by around €20,000 for an average income since the end of 2023) and reopened access to credit for many applicants. All these factors point to the beginning of a recovery in the real estate market in 2025, with prices stabilizing and buyers gradually returning. (Meilleurtaux – Observatoire Crédit)
Date de première publication : 1 April 2025
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