The summer season of 2025 in France shows a positive outcome. According to INSEE, tourist attendance has improved compared to the previous summer, with overnight stays even surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Summary: According to INSEE’s official report, collective tourist accommodation in France increased by +3.7% in summer 2025 compared to 2024, representing 9.1 million additional overnight stays—higher than the peaks of summer 2023. The rise affected all types of accommodation, reflecting a broad recovery. Notably, international visitors surged +6.8% compared to 2024, making them the “engine” of summer 2025. In particular, hotel nights by foreign tourists jumped +10.9%, accounting for 40% of summer hotel activity. French tourists, who still make up over two-thirds of overnight stays, also increased (+2.3%) after a slight decline in 2022.
Why it matters: These figures confirm the resilience of the French tourism market. The strong return of international visitors, combined with loyalty from French holidaymakers, has pushed occupancy to new highs. For investors and operators, this translates into higher occupancy rates and strengthens the viability of hotel projects. Exceeding pre-crisis levels indicates that the sector has not only recovered but continues to grow—a strong signal encouraging new tourism investments.
“Improvement in collective tourist accommodation attendance” is how INSEE titles its report for summer 2025.
In Switzerland, the 2025 tourist year is heading toward a new record. Swiss hotels welcomed more visitors than last year, driven notably by the return of long-haul guests, putting the sector on track to reach the highest historical number of overnight stays.
Summary: According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Swiss hospitality indicators are rising in 2025. In August, overnight stays increased by +3.3% compared to August 2024. This growth was fueled by foreign tourists (+6.2% in August), particularly from China and the United States, while Swiss visitors remained stable (-0.2%). Since the start of the year, Swiss hotels have recorded 25.3 million overnight stays, up +1.6% year-on-year. Barring setbacks, the country is expected to approach the absolute record of 42.8 million overnight stays set in 2024.
Why it matters: These indicators show the strong health of Swiss tourism and its regained international appeal. The fact that foreign attendance offsets the slight domestic decline indicates successful diversification of clientele. For professionals, the prospect of matching or surpassing last year’s record means well-occupied hotels and increased profitability. It also reinforces investor confidence in the Swiss market: a sector near its historical peak provides demand guarantees for any new capacity or hotel renovation.
“The record of 42.8 million, reached last year, appears to be on track” for 2025, highlights the Swiss press.
Switzerland is betting on extending the season to boost tourism. More and more Alpine resorts remain open in autumn, and figures show a clear increase in off-summer attendance, driven by both local and international travelers.
Summary: According to Switzerland Tourism, prospects for autumn 2025 are very favorable. A growing number of mountain destinations are extending their opening periods beyond summer, often until November on weekends. This strategy is paying off: in November 2024, hotel overnight stays by Swiss visitors in Alpine areas increased by around +30% compared to 2018. Domestic demand largely drives this growth, supported by a resurgence of North American visitors. Operators are adopting a new mindset: for the first time in 2025, the Schilthorn cable car (Bernese Oberland) will remain open year-round, with no technical closure in autumn.
Why it matters: By reducing seasonality, the Swiss tourism sector optimizes its infrastructure and revenue. Keeping hotels, lifts, and attractions open longer attracts guests outside the summer period, improving occupancy rates and annual profitability. For investors, this means tourist projects can now rely on activity spread over more months, securing revenue streams. Extending the season also meets growing demand for travel outside traditional periods, a structural trend that strengthens the sustainability of tourism investments.
“…more and more [operators] are willing to keep their facilities open beyond the summer season,” says Angelo Trotta, director of Ticino Turismo.
Investment firm Remake Asset Management has completed a flagship acquisition in French hospitality. Through its SCPI, it has acquired a leading 4-star hotel in Lyon, reflecting investor appetite for well-located, profitable hotel assets.
Summary: Remake announced the acquisition of a 4-star hotel located at Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport, one of France’s largest regional air hubs. The transaction, exceeding €43 million, allows the Remake Live SCPI to strengthen its hotel diversification. The immediate net property yield is an attractive ~7.2%. The hotel operates under the NH Hotels brand, with a firm lease of approximately 8 years remaining.
Why it matters: This deal demonstrates renewed investor confidence in hospitality. Despite a more demanding financial environment, specialized players like Remake can identify prime assets offering an attractive yield/location combination. Here, the strategic location (within a major airport connected to the TGV) and the quality of the tenant provide revenue visibility while benefiting from the recovery of air traffic. For investors, this transaction shows that high returns are achievable in 2025, signaling a transaction market favorable to informed buyers.
“This acquisition illustrates Remake’s commitment to identifying prime assets, combining strategic location, strong tenants, and competitive financial terms,” analyzes Jonathan Dhiver (MeilleureSCPI.com).
Faced with significant financing needs in hospitality, a new investment model is gaining ground: the club deal. This approach allows investors to pool resources to acquire hotels together without daily management responsibilities, opening the hotel market to a broader audience.
Summary: A hotel club deal involves creating a dedicated structure that brings together multiple co-investors to purchase one or more hotels, with operational management entrusted to a professional. This “turnkey” setup appeals for its accessibility: high-net-worth individuals or family offices can invest alongside institutional players, sharing risks and profits. A key example is Byron Gestion (a subsidiary of Louvre Hotels Group), which acquired the Luxotel Cannes, a 4-star seaside hotel, through a club deal. The property will be fully renovated to meet Radisson Group standards, demonstrating how this model can enhance existing hotel assets.
Why it matters: The rise of club deals reflects a shift in hospitality financing. For project owners, it provides an alternative to 100% bank financing: by uniting multiple investors around a single project, capital can be raised quickly while risks are shared. For investors, this model offers an entry point into hotel real estate—a tangible and potentially profitable sector—without managing a hotel themselves. This investment-sharing approach democratizes access to the sector and injects new capital to modernize the hotel stock, benefiting the entire industry.
“It opens the doors to hotel real estate for those looking to enhance their portfolio with tangible and potentially profitable assets,” explains Roni Chiche (MisterTravel).
The luxury hotel market is breaking records with an extraordinary transaction on the Riviera. The 5-star Hôtel Cap Estel, an exclusive gem perched on a private peninsula in Èze (between Nice and Monaco), was acquired by a leading investor for a record sum, highlighting the unmatched appeal of ultra-luxury assets.
Summary: Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, purchased Hôtel Cap Estel in Èze for approximately €200 million, nearly €10 million per room. This price sets a European record for value per key, reflecting the uniqueness of the asset and the demand from ultra-high-net-worth individuals for exceptional hotels.
Why it matters: This sale demonstrates the enduring allure of the ultra-luxury segment for investors with substantial means. Even in a constrained financial context, exceptional properties in unique locations retain—or even increase—their value. The fact that a major luxury player has invested a historic sum in a hotel underscores how high-end hospitality is viewed as a strategic asset, complementary to other sectors. For project developers, the key takeaway is that upgrading to premium and exclusive offerings can justify unprecedented valuations, supported by clientele with extraordinary purchasing power.
The price paid—nearly €10 million per key—sets an absolute European record, highlighting the uniqueness of the property and the appeal of ultra-luxury hotels to wealthy clientele.
Three major trends emerge from September 2025 news:
Tourism hits records – In France, Switzerland, and even globally, attendance has surpassed pre-crisis levels, indicating sustained traveler enthusiasm.
Hotel investments accelerate – From the record sale of a French Riviera palace to strategic regional acquisitions, hospitality continues to attract investors seeking returns and tangible assets.
Innovation and adaptation pay off – Extended tourist seasons to smooth activity, new entrants (celebrities, emerging funds) bringing fresh ideas, and upgraded infrastructure all strengthen sector competitiveness and create new development opportunities.
HoliProject Switzerland is a consulting and transaction firm for hospitality players operating in France and Switzerland. We support investors and operators in successfully executing their hotel projects—from strategic advice to project management—turning market trends into concrete opportunities.
