This year, the 47th WorldSkills International Competition took place at Eurexpo Lyon from 10 to 15 September, attracting 250,000 visitors throughout the week. Among these visitors, 1,500 young individuals under the age of 23 from around the world competed in 62 different trades, representing a wide array of skills and professions. This international event undoubtedly benefited the hotel industry in Lyon over these six days. Were the establishments able to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity? The answer is below.

Lyon's bid was supported by Emmanuel Macron, who designated WorldSkills 2024 as a “great national cause.” The opening ceremony took place on September 10, followed by four days of competition, a skills village at Place Bellecour, and open house events at various local businesses. The closing ceremony was held at Groupama Stadium on September 15.

“It was about bringing together the world of sports athletes with the world of skilled trades athletes [...] who share roughly the same codes in terms of physical and mental preparation, commitment, pursuit of excellence, and performance.” - Franck Le Roux, Director General of WorldSkills 2024

Cumulative data over the Six days of competition - September 10 to 15

CUMULS - WorldSkills Lyon 2024 par Hospitality ON

Hotels across all segments

• With a cumulative occupancy rate reaching 91.0%, up by 7.3 points from the previous year, hotels experienced robust demand, highlighting the attractiveness of the event.
   
• Meanwhile, the average cumulative price rose to €167.6 excluding tax, representing an increase of 17.9%.
   
• This trend is corroborated by an improvement in RevPAR, which cumulatively stands at €152.5 excluding tax, reflecting an impressive increase of 28.1%.

4-Star and 5-Star Hotels

More specifically, 4-star and 5-star hotels also displayed impressive performance during this period:

• The cumulative occupancy rate of 4-star and 5-star hotels in Lyon reached an exceptional level of 94.1%. This remarkable performance represents an increase of 10.9 points compared to the previous year, highlighting a marked interest in luxury establishments during this major event.
   
• At the same time, the average cumulative price in these hotels saw a significant rise, reaching €234.1 excluding tax, which represents an increase of 9.8%.
   
• Finally, the cumulative RevPAR also experienced a notable increase, reaching €220.3 excluding tax. This increase of 24.2% reflects strong economic performance among upscale hotels.

Daily performance

DAILY -WorldSkills Lyon 2024 par Hospitality ON

Hotels across all segments

• The occupancy rate peaked on September 11, reaching 97.29%, an increase of 1.15 points compared to the previous year.
   
• The average price also recorded notable changes, peaking at €182.30 excluding tax on September 11, which represents an increase of 16.27% compared to 2023.
   
• In terms of RevPAR, September 13 was particularly remarkable, reaching €138.30 excluding tax, marking an impressive increase of 54.3% compared to the previous year.

Furthermore, other days also showed significant increases, notably September 12, which recorded a rise of 32.6%.

• The most significant changes during this event also include the occupancy rate on September 12, which increased by 5.46 points compared to 2023, reaching 95.39%.
   
• On September 13, the average price saw a notable increase of 33.62%, with a rate of €160.08 excluding tax.
   
• Finally, September 14 saw a RevPAR increase of 29.67%, reaching €141.08 excluding tax.

4-Star and 5-Star Hotels

• September 11 recorded an exceptional occupancy rate of 98.48%, with an increase of 4.11 points compared to 2023.
   
• This strong demand also had a positive impact on the average price, which reached €249.61 excluding tax that day, representing a rise of 7.98% compared to the previous year.
   
• In terms of RevPAR, September 13 was the best-performing day, reaching €210.42 excluding tax, an impressive increase of 57.42% compared to 2023. This day was also marked by an average price of €227.29 excluding tax, showing a rise of 24.46%.

Other days also exhibited notable changes:

• The occupancy rate on September 12 was 96.51%, with an increase of 7.53 points compared to the previous year. On that day, the average price also saw a significant rise of 19.71%, reaching €251.17 excluding tax.
   
• September 14 recorded an occupancy rate of 93.94%, up by 16.66 points, while the average price slightly decreased by 6.12%.
   
• On September 15, although the occupancy rate dropped to 84.76%, it still recorded an increase of 15.77 points compared to 2023. The average price was €197.29 excluding tax, with a slight decrease of 2.41%, but the RevPAR still showed a rise of 19.9%, reaching €167.24 excluding tax.

What are the trends for the end of the year?

OTB - WorldSkills Lyon 2024 par Hospitality ON

October

Hotel bookings for October 2024 show a slight decrease compared to 2023. The average booking rate in October 2024 is 44.76%, down from 45.76% in October 2023, indicating a decline of nearly one point.

In October 2024, certain dates stand out with particularly high booking rates or significant variations compared to 2023:

• October 2, 2024, records a booking rate of 67.26%, one of the highest of the month, almost identical to that of 2023 (66.5%), demonstrating strong demand for this day.
   
• October 5, 2024, also stands out with 59.72% of reservations, marking a significant improvement compared to the previous year when the rate was only 46.5%, indicating better performance in 2024.
   
• October 8 and 9, 2024, also show high rates of 62.61% and 65.18%, respectively. Although these figures are lower than those of 2023 (75.82% and 79.5%), these days remain among the most booked of the month.
   
• Finally, October 15, 2024, stands out with a rate of 58.09%, higher than that of 2023 (54.67%), reflecting a notable increase in demand for this date.

November

The average booking rate for November 2024 is 27%, slightly lower than that of 2023, which stands at 29.25%.

In November 2024, certain dates stand out with higher booking rates than others:

• November 1 records a booking rate of 43.56%, higher than that of 2023 (38.34%), marking strong demand at the beginning of the month.
   
• November 19 and 20 also show notable performances with rates of 35.43% and 42.21% respectively, although these figures remain below those of the previous year (43.72% and 47.2%).
   
• November 21 also stands out with 37.41%, compared to 44.81% in 2023, showing nonetheless a good booking dynamic.
   
• Conversely, several dates exhibit lower booking rates in 2024, such as November 11 (15.95%) and November 25 (16.09%), down from the previous year (28.58% and 25.12% respectively).

December and the Festival of Lights

The Festival of Lights, which will take place from December 5 to 8, 2024, in Lyon, has already had a significant impact on hotel bookings, although the booking rates for these dates are slightly lower than those of last year during the same period.

• In 2023, the booking rates for December 5 were 40.68%, compared to 33.77% for 2024.
   
• Similarly, December 6 shows a booking rate of 39.33% in 2024, compared to 43.09% in 2023.
   
• December 7, however, shows a slight increase with 46.81% for 2024, surpassing the 42.47% recorded on the same date in 2023.
   
• Finally, for December 8, the bookings for 2024 are at 22.71%, slightly higher than the 20.96% observed in 2023.

In summary, the 47th WorldSkills International Competition has been a true springboard for the hotel industry in Lyon. With an occupancy rate reaching 91.0% over the course of the event and significant increases in both average prices and RevPAR, hotels were able to capitalize on this large-scale event. The days from September 10 to 15 particularly illustrated this dynamic, with remarkable performance peaks, especially on September 11, when the occupancy rate peaked at 97.29% and the average price reached €182.30 excluding tax. The 4-star and 5-star hotels also distinguished themselves, showcasing impressive figures, reflecting the visitors' attraction to luxury offerings.

The end of 2024 presents varied prospects for the hotel industry, marked by fluctuations in booking rates compared to 2023. Overall, while challenges remain, certain key dates and events, such as the Festival of Lights, continue to play a crucial role in energizing hotel bookings in Lyon. The Lyon hotel industry will need to capitalize on these opportunities while adapting its strategies to address demand fluctuations.