Travel Demand for France Surges Ahead of 2024 Summer Olympics

Travel Demand for France Surges Ahead of 2024 Summer Olympics

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on July 17, 2024

The Olympics is one of the global events that can significantly boost both travel and advertising sectors. This year, spending on advertisements for events such as the Super Bowl, Olympics, and European Championship is projected to hit $61 billion. These events not only increase ad revenues but also drive substantial travel demand. For instance, flight bookings to Singapore surged by 63% before the F1 Grand Prix, and trips to Qatar were booked well in advance of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Such events also maintain interest in host destinations long after they conclude. Following the Qatar World Cup, international lodging searches in the country rose by 79-255%.

Similarly, scheduled from July 26 to August 11, 2024, the Olympics is expected to attract 10,500 athletes from 206 countries, marking the largest event ever hosted in France.

Paris Sees a Spike in Flight Bookings

Paris is already a top tourist destination, with 6.3 million visitors to the Eiffel Tower in 2023 alone. The upcoming Olympics are set to enhance this popularity. Since tickets for the 33rd Olympic Games went on sale on November 30, 2023, flight bookings to Paris have increased by 125% compared to the same period last year. Most travelers plan to depart the city as soon as the Olympics end, suggesting many come from countries like the United States, where extended leave is uncommon. The average trip length has shortened to 11 days from 13.2 days in 2023, indicating that the games are influencing travel plans.

Paris remains a favorite summer destination, especially for American travelers. During the Olympic period, 23.8% of flight bookings to Paris are from the United States, followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Spain. The U.S. also led the medal counts in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, likely contributing to the high demand.

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Leveraging Increased Travel Demand

Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) can benefit from the heightened travel interest by using continuous, multichannel marketing strategies. Noreen Henry, Chief Revenue Officer at Sojern, said “By using the right channels throughout the year—not just seasonally—DMOs can reach travelers in the moment and inspire them to think beyond sporting events. Not only do always-on, multichannel campaigns give DMOs better insights, but these types of campaigns enable them to maximize their budgets, do more with less, and get in front of travelers at every stage of the planning cycle.”

Travel Data from Amadeus Shows Significant Increases

Amadeus, a leading provider of travel technology, also reports a surge in travel interest. As of June 6, 2024, international air travel to France is up 56% for the Olympic period from July 24 to August 13. Domestic air travel within France has increased by 31%. Paris, in particular, is expecting 72% more travelers than the same period last year. The Paralympics, from August 28 to September 8, will boost travel to Paris by 16%, especially from the United States, Spain, and Canada.

Lille, hosting basketball and handball events, anticipates a 203% increase in visitors compared to last summer, with domestic travel growing by 300% and international travel by 181%. Bordeaux, hosting football, and Marseille, hosting sailing and football, also see significant increases in bookings, both up by 38%.

With the Olympics approaching, the hospitality sector in France is gearing up for a busy season, driven by substantial increases in both international and domestic travel bookings.


Aircastle to Announce Third Quarter Financial Results

Aircastle to Announce Third Quarter Financial Results

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 2, 2026

Aircastle Limited has announced that it will release its third quarter financial results for the period ended November 2025. The results will be made public before market hours, offering investors and industry stakeholders insights into the company’s recent performance.

Alongside the announcement, Aircastle’s management will host a conference call to discuss the financial results and provide updates on business operations. The call will be open to all interested participants, including analysts, investors, and members of the public.

Participants will be able to join the live conference call by dialing the designated toll-free or international access numbers. Callers are advised to join a few minutes early and reference the company name, “Aircastle,” when prompted by the operator.

A simultaneous webcast of the conference call will also be made available on a listen-only basis through the company’s official website. Listeners are encouraged to visit the website in advance to ensure that any required software is installed for uninterrupted access.

For those unable to attend the live session, a replay of the webcast will be available on Aircastle’s website shortly after the conclusion of the conference call, allowing stakeholders to review the discussion at their convenience.


SKA Arcadia Strengthens Retail Mix with Bercos, The Barbeque Company & Domino’s at Wave City

SKA Arcadia Strengthens Retail Mix with Bercos, The Barbeque Company & Domino’s at Wave City

By Author

Published on December 28, 2025

SKA Group has announced the addition of three popular food and beverage brands—Bercos, The Barbeque Company, and Domino’s—to the retail portfolio of SKA Arcadia, its flagship commercial development in Wave City, Ghaziabad. The new brands will occupy a combined area of over 14,500 sq. ft., further enhancing the project’s appeal as a high-potential neighbourhood retail destination.

Strategically positioned at the main entrance of Wave City on NH-24, SKA Arcadia benefits from excellent connectivity to Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, and surrounding premium residential catchments. Its location, coupled with a thoughtfully curated tenant mix, continues to position it as one of the region’s most attractive emerging commercial hubs.

Commenting on the development, Sanjay Sharma, Director, SKA Group, said that SKA Arcadia has been envisioned as a neighbourhood centre offering everyday convenience, quality dining, and a strong sense of community. He added that the inclusion of Bercos, The Barbeque Company, and Domino’s reflects the group’s focus on curating brands aligned with evolving consumer lifestyles, while creating a vibrant ecosystem where both retailers and customers can thrive as Wave City continues to grow.

The newly signed brands join established anchor tenants such as Haldiram’s, which occupies over 11,000 sq. ft. at the development. With these additions, SKA Arcadia further strengthens its positioning as a modern, experience-driven commercial destination designed for high footfall, convenience, and long-term value creation.

Spread across 2 acres, SKA Arcadia is a signature high-street commercial development featuring five floors of retail and dining spaces. The project offers premium amenities including fine dining restaurants, a food court, escalators, elevators, multi-level mechanical parking, power backup, and high-speed Wi-Fi, and is registered under RERA number UPRERAPRJ228610/03/2025.


Wonderla Delivers Record Q2 Performance with Strong Revenue and Footfall Growth

Wonderla Delivers Record Q2 Performance with Strong Revenue and Footfall Growth

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on November 9, 2025

Wonderla Holidays Ltd. has announced its financial results for the second quarter and half year ended September 30, 2025, marking its best-ever Q2 performance in company history. The remarkable results highlight record revenues, strong footfall growth, and a sharp increase in profitability.

The company reported a 12% year-on-year rise in footfalls to 5.05 lakh visitors, with total income up 24% YoY at ₹88.52 crore and EBITDA soaring eightfold to ₹7.48 crore.

Parkwise, the company registered footfalls of 1.96 lakh in Bengaluru, 1.92 lakh in Kochi, 0.93 lakh in Hyderabad, and 0.24 lakh in Bhubaneswar, reflecting consistent performance across locations.

Commenting on the results, Arun Chittilappilly, Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Wonderla Holidays Ltd., said,

“This quarter marks a defining moment in Wonderla’s journey, as we achieved our best-ever Q2 performance with record revenues, footfalls, and a sharp improvement in profitability. A 24 percent year-on-year growth in total income and an 8X jump in EBITDA highlight the resilience of our business model and the power of the Wonderla brand.”

He added that the strong results were driven by effective branding and footfall-driving campaigns, alongside enhanced digital sales strategies, which now contribute to half of total bookings. The company’s investments in technology, operational efficiency, and customer convenience have played a vital role in driving this growth.

Chittilappilly also noted that new offerings like “Isle by Wonderla” continue to strengthen guest engagement and diversify the company’s revenue base.

“Looking ahead, we remain excited about the next phase of expansion. Work on our Chennai Park is progressing rapidly, and we’re on track to announce the launch by December 2025. With strong fundamentals, expanding capacity, and a trusted brand, we’re confident of sustaining our momentum and delivering long-term value to both our guests and shareholders,” he said.

With this milestone quarter, Wonderla Holidays continues to reinforce its leadership in India’s amusement park sector through innovation, guest experience, and strategic expansion.

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