Paris (AFP)
Paris-2024 President Tony Estanguet wrote Thursday to the main hotel organization to propose a quick meeting and reaffirm his commitment to the sector, angry since the announcement of the partnership between the International Committee Olympic Games (IOC) and Airbnb.
In a letter to Roland Héguy, the president of the Umih, the main employers' organization of the sector, the head of the organizing committee of the Olympics (Cojo) reaffirms the desire of Paris-2024 to "rely on all actors in the traditional hotel industry, and in particular hotels that are part of the official hosting plan for the Games, to make this event a success that will mark the history of our country ".
Paris-2024 says it has booked 40,000 nights at these hotels.
"Your involvement will be decisive," adds Tony Estanguet, saying he is available "to organize a meeting quickly".
On Wednesday, the Umih announced at its congress in Biarritz, that hoteliers were suspending their participation in the organization of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024, by no longer sitting in preparatory meetings, pending clarification.
In question, the arrival of the giant private leasing of Airbnb among the most important sponsors of the IOC until 2028. This contract, an amount evaluated by specialized media to about 500 million dollars (450 million euros), will allow the platform to display its brand around the Olympic competition venues. Airbnb also appeared Thursday on the website of Paris-2024 among its "global partners", along with the other companies in the TOP program of the IOC.
However, the traditional hotel sector continues to denounce the unfair competition that weighs the platform rental.
At Cojo, it is also noted that the contract signed by Airbnb does not prevent Paris-2024 to sign a sponsorship contract in the hotel and restaurant category.
The arrival of Airbnb has also angered the city of Paris, for which the giant of rental tourism is weighing on rising rents and shrinking housing supply.
© 2019 AFP