VINGT Paris

New star system for French hotels

Read the full article on Charles Bremners site - Travellers in France know not to pay attention to the number of stars attached to a hotel. You can turn up at an establishment rated with three and find the plumbing broken and the bed in a state of decay. The government is finally getting around to changing a state of affairs that is odd for a country which receives more visitors than any other. Under a new tourism law, hotel ratings are to be put into the hands of outside consultants. Classifications will be reviewed at least once every five years. Under the current system, in force since 1986, once a hotel received its stars, no-one checked again to ensure that they were still deserved. That means that a three-star hotel of 1986 can still boast of its rating even if it has not had a lick of paint since.......
 

Fédération des Loueurs d’Appartements Temporaires

 
This week, we got together with representatives of some of the key players of the short-term Paris rental sector in order to act in a concerted and efficient manner to defend the sector and our clients with the aim of obtaining a modification of the law or of its application.   The « Fédération des Loueurs d’Appartements Temporaires » (Federation of Renters of Temporary Apartments), or FLAT, has been created and will be the organ through which the profession will get together to express in a unified voice the value of our sector and the direct and indirect implications. FLAT has identified and commissioned a specialised lawyer, a press relations agency and a political lobbying agency to accompany us swiftly and effectively, to start a dialogue with the political leaders, to evolve the laws and their application modes.

Paris rental situation - twitter feed

Having taken the initiative to discuss with our owners and some press the major and minor players on the Paris vacation rental market came together this week.  I was reminded of the Mafia heads of the Family meeting in the Godfather.  After some buried their heads in sand, it is time to face the music.  Therefore there was not a great reception for me as I was seen as having broken the omerta.  Stay tuned here, I have set up an emergency twitter feed to send alerts easily to you so that you can get the up to date information as this unfolds.

So I was asked to speak about my meeting with the Department de Logement, which I did and transmitted the information I shared with owners which work with my company last week.

French based rental agencies are mobilising to set up a professional body, pressure group and employ a political lobbyist. It is very diificult to ascertain exactly how this will unfold but it is clear that it will take time to see exactly how the laws will be applied.  This could be a long, drawn out saga.