Is it the prestige of the uniform? It is true that seeing hostesses and pilots in the halls of a hotel always has a certain effect. Providing accommodations to flight crews does not just guarantee a regular supply of clientele for a hotel, it is also a gage of quality for the average guest, undoubtedly in relation to the myths that this profession conveys. It must also be said that airlines are very watchful over the comfort of their personnel. A pilot who sleeps poorly may not perform well in flight. And inversely, the choice of property can enhance the airline’s image. The captain is the personal representant of the company’s president to execute the trip at its best. He or she thus permanently represents the company both on board and after landing. Airlines always chooses upscale hotels for its crews. Le Méridien, Hilton, Sheraton, Sofitel : this choice is representative of the hotels elected by the vast majority of airlines worldwide.“Contracts are signed by each individual hotel,” remarks the director of the group Accor, because it is difficult for a hotel group to be the appointed supplier of a company. In part because Air France, Lufthansa, ANA and others don’t put all their eggs in one basket. But also because hotel groups do not necessarily have properties that are susceptible to accommodating flight crews at all their destinations. And yet, the leaders have an advantage on this market because of the diversity of their geographic locations. And these hotel groups have a fine cake to share: airlines spend more than 750 million each year on accommodations for their crews and passengers in distress. Accor, which is less present in North America but well-established in Europe, Africa and Asia, realizes revenues of 140 million euros on this single market segment...