Despite a lacklustre summer season, Oceania Hotels has recorded year-to-date growth of 11%. Overall, the year should be satisfactory in terms of sales, although profitability is expected to decline due to rising energy costs, inflation and interest rates, factors which are also having an impact on the sector as a whole.
"Unlike the post-covid summer of 2022, when tourists were keen to indulge, they've been more reasonable this summer. August in particular was below our expectations. We were expecting a better performance, but that seems to be common to the whole hotel and restaurant sector." - Gurvan Branellec, Chairman of Oceania Hotels Group
Oceania Hotels is well positioned in several cities that will be hosting Rugby World Cup matches, including Nantes, Marseille and Paris. This situation offers direct opportunities for hoteliers. In addition, September and October look promising, and the 2024 Olympic Games are also eagerly awaited. In the hotel industry, such major events often generate a significant increase in business.
Two existing hotels, in Dijon and Saint-Malo, will undergo a facelift in 2024:
- The Nomad hotel in Dijon, due to open in spring 2024, will be transformed into a 105-room establishment offering innovative features including video projectors and XXL beds. It will also feature a 12 x 3 metre swimming corridor, opening onto a living area with a bar.
- Meanwhile, the 4* Oceania Saint-Malo hotel, which will close temporarily in November 2023 for a complete refurbishment, will orient the beds in the rooms towards the sea. It will also add two new suites overlooking the port and the old town. The hotel's bar will be expanded, offering a view of the ocean.
- Oceania Hotels also plans to renovate the former Hôtel Médian in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, adding an indoor swimming pool and a restaurant overlooking the garden.
In 2025, two strategic locations will see the opening of hotels in Lille and Lyon:
- The Oceania hotel in Lille will feature an 8 x 4 metre stainless steel swimming pool set amidst the original safes. It will be the group's first low-carbon hotel, opening in late 2024 or early 2025.
- In Lyon, the 3-star Oceania hotel will offer 72 rooms, a restaurant overlooking a garden of more than 300 m², and well-equipped meeting and work spaces. The hotel will feature a décor inspired by the history of silk in Lyon.
In addition, Oceania Hotels recently launched a new version of its website, offering a sleek, modern design and new features for an enhanced booking experience. The site aims to boost direct online bookings, which currently account for 20% of the group's booking volume.
