Paris, April 2024 – CDS Groupe, the hotel marketplace of business travel, is pleased to confirm the successful upgrade to Booking.com’s latest API version (version 3.1).

This reflects CDS Groupe’s commitment to proposing the most accurate and up to date technical integrations to offer the best experience to its clients and partners.

“We are thrilled to introduce Booking.com api V3 to our platform, offering our users unparalleled benefits and an enhanced booking experience” said Hugo Vicherat, VP product and partnerships at CDS Groupe”. This integration reflects our commitment to delivering top-notch services and ensuring customer satisfaction.”, says Hugo Vicherat, VP OBT Stratégies Partenariats.

« We’re excited to see CDS Groupe as one of our first partners to seize the opportunity to upgrade to V3.1, the latest version of our Demand API, » said John Almeida, Partnerships Product Director at Booking.com. “This new version has been rebuilt from the ground up to empower partners to provide better services for their customers while also bringing added value with performance, scalability and a better developer experience. Version 3 will see the future addition of non-accommodation products and will unlock new rate types, creating even more future growth opportunities for our partners.” says John Almeida, Director of Products and Partners at Booking.com.

This new technological integration aligns perfectly with the CDS Groupe’s strategy. As a European technology player, the CDS Groupe aims to meet the evolving expectations of corporations and offer travelers the highest quality experience across all markets. The goal is to integrate the best rates and services while adhering to CSR policies and maintaining data and employee security.

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Part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), Booking.com’s mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. By investing in the technology that helps take the friction out of travel, Booking.com’s marketplace seamlessly connects millions of travelers with memorable experiences every day.
For more information, follow @bookingcom on social media or visit globalnews.booking.com.

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The platform, which is highly intuitive, was developed in collaboration with hoteliers, restaurateurs and carbon experts. Clorofil uses ADEME’s Bilan Carbone® method to calculate all direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions emitted by the establishment in 5 major categories: energy, purchases, waste, hotel/restaurant services and mobility.

Clorofil helps you reduce your GHG emissions

Once the carbon footprint has been measured, the users can subscribe to an offer to manage their GHG emissions from their accounts. They then establish goals for reducing emissions, gain access to resources that help achieve these goals, and as a result, decrease their carbon footprint.

In addition to its technical solution, which enables users to promote and communicate their carbon footprint, Clorofil also offers tailor-made support for those wishing to go further:

– Consulting services: assistance with data collection and integration, analysis of results and on-boarding of employees to implement the action plan.

– Training: support throughout the certification process, climate fresco, CSR initiation, eco-related workshop.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Clorofil. With growing awareness of the environmental and social challenges facing our society, new expectations have emerged. We’ve set ourselves the goal of supporting this momentum, but also of leading the industry in this transformation. Raising hotels’ awareness of customer expectations is a key point, and Clorofil will be a perfect partner in this effort.”

Maeva Etheve, CSR Manager CDS Groupe

The inflationary trend persisted in France throughout 2023, driven by a combination of factors: the significant return of international tourists creating pressure on occupancy rates, the hosting of the Rugby World Cup, and the rising costs of services (energy, food, staff). The dynamism of leisure customers affects room availability and inevitably has an impact on corporate prices.

According to travel managers, the current situation has made hotel budget management increasingly challenging. Therefore, it is essential today to gain insight into trends to better control purchases and accordingly adjust spending limits by city.

The 2023 barometer is the result of collaborative work between MKG Consulting and CDS Groupe. This tool, offered to the Business Travel industry, provides a comprehensive overview of the hotel market across Europe, with a focus on France, Germany, and Italy.

This detailed report shows occupancy rates and average prices per city and category. It provides buyers and travel managers with a transparent overview of the rates applied by hoteliers, enabling them to manage their accommodation policy more effectively.

According to Ziad Minkara, this new approach of empowering the traveler seems to be working well. Regardless of the approach, implementing rigorous processes for hotel budget management, from booking to payment and including digital invoicing, results in savings ranging from 7 to 11%. In other words, the buyer’s levers no longer solely rely on rate negotiations, although they remain significant, but on establishing tools and processes to manage the hotel expenditure comprehensively from end to end.

In addition, 2024 is likely to be a very special year, given the impact of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This year, the monthly report will therefore be supplemented by an additional study dedicated to the evolution of booking rates during the period of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, to provide the best possible support to buyers and travel managers.

The effect of Olympic Games will be a challenge for travel managers. The advice given by the public authorities to encourage remote working in order to relieve transport congestion to and in the capital is likely to cause a travel freeze 2

during the summer. But as July is traditionally a busy month for business travel, travellers will have to shift to June and especially to the autumn, a period that is usually already very busy. This could lead to traffic jams and the risk of skyrocketing prices.

« Business travel is a crucial segment of the French tourism industry. It ensures hotels are occupied from Monday to Friday and contributes to the economic activity of the entire country.
We are pleased to observe that post-COVID, despite initial concerns, business travelers have returned to levels close to those of 2019. »  » states Vanguelis Panayotis, CEO of MKG Consulting.

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MKG Consulting is the leading consultancy and marketing research company for the hotel and tourism sector in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. As the European observatory for the hotel and tourism industry, MKG Consulting addresses the concerns of all players and investors in the sector, thanks to a wide range of research and analysis methodologies specific to a constantly evolving market.

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Cytric customers will be able to benefit from the entire CDS Groupe offering, including :

• Comprehensive content including all major OTAs, GDS content and aggregators such as Amadeus Value Hotels (AVH)
• Competitive rates including negotiated corporate program
• Integrating payment methods
• Customizable billing and reporting tools
• Personalized support from hospitality experts

The hotel content and booking process will be fully integrated into Cytric by Amadeus, including rates negotiated in line with the company’s travel policy.

The partnership between these two technology players will combine the implementation of customized hotel programs, rate optimization and expense control for their customers.

« This partnership with Amadeus is an obvious choice for supporting our corporate customers and agency partners. This partnership is in line with the Group’s strategy and completes our integration with Amadeus and the Amadeus Value Hotels offer. This partnership will accelerate our international expansion. The technological synergy between the two companies will provide companies with more advanced functionalities, enabling them to better meet the requirements and expectations of all markets, including France and Europe! says Ziad Minkara, CEO of CDS Groupe

Bertrand Poey, Managing Director, France and Gestour, Amadeus adds, « Cytric is our corporate travel booking and management tool, simplifying the user experience while respecting corporate travel policies. We’re delighted to extend our agreement with CDS Groupe to give business travellers using Cytric access to a wider range of hotels. »

About Amadeus

We work to bring a better travel experience to people everywhere by promoting innovation, partnership and responsibility for people, places and the planet.

Our technology is driving the travel industry forward. She instills more open ways of working. More connected, traveler-centric ways of thinking. Our open platform connects the entire international travel ecosystem. From startups to major industry players and governments. Together, we’re rethinking tomorrow’s journey.

We work to transform travel into a force for social and environmental good. We have a collective responsibility to protect and enhance the people and places we visit, ensuring that travel continues to make a positive contribution to our world.

We put innovation at the service of new needs, to meet real challenges. We’re an international, diverse company with over 150 nationalities represented among our employees. Our employees are passionate about travel and technology.

We are listed on IBEX 35, the Spanish stock exchange, under the ticker AMS.MC. And we’ve been recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the past eleven years.

To find out more about Amadeus, visit www.amadeus.com.

CDS Groupe, France’s independent and technological player in the business hotel sector, enters the German market with the acquisition of CRC (Corporate Rate Club) to meet market demand for business accommodation solutions and services.

This acquisition strengthens CDS Groupe’s global position in Europe, which now covers France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Croatia.

CRC, based in Stralsund and recognized in Germany for over 20 years, will join the CDS Group and remain autonomous.

CDS Groupe and CRC share the same DNA: service and innovation. By joining forces, we will create a purchasing power of 800 million euros and demonstrate our ability to satisfy our corporate customers in terms of cost savings and technological agility to serve them.

 » This acquisition is designed to strengthen the execution of CDS’s strategy and accelerate its international expansion. Thanks to its strong relationships with customers and suppliers, CDS Groupe will ensure that the new group has the best product offering in each country, and will also be able to draw on the expertise of CRC teams. We’re delighted to be joining the CRC team. The group will now employ 300 people « said Ziad Minkara, CEO CDS Groupe & President Goelett.

 » We are delighted to be part of CDS Groupe’s success in Europe and beyond, » added Michael Krenz, CEO Corporate Rate Club.

About Corporate Rate Club
As a hotel reservation portal, CRC offers its customers access to a wide range of accommodations of all categories worldwide, available stand-alone or integrated into an SBT. CRC is a pioneer in the optimization of hotel service processes: from booking and payment to the issuing and control of invoices down to the smallest detail. The company has been offering the best service on the German market since 2002, to the complete satisfaction of its customers and partners.
www.crc.ag

A leader in France, CDS Groupe provides solutions covering the entire hotel distribution value chain: sourcing, reservations, payment processing and reporting for companies.
Since its creation in 2001, CDS Groupe has gradually built up a reputation as a leader in the European business hotel market. Its in-depth knowledge of this market and its ability to listen carefully to the specific needs and constraints of its customers have enabled it to develop technological tools, payment solutions, integrations, standards and a very high level of security.

Referencing within the Selectour network is an obvious choice, as travel agencies today play an important role in business travel, with customers making new demands in terms of technology, respect for the environment and increasingly looking for the best rates in an inflationary context.
« As France’s leader and an expert in the hotel market, we need to provide maximum support to travel agencies by offering them a wide range of hotel content to meet the needs of end customers at attractive rates. Our business model, already appreciated by many travel agencies, allows us to build a relationship of trust through a transparent business model, » says Ziad Minkara, CEO of CDS Groupe.

Selectour is the leading network of independent travel agencies in France, with more than 1,000 member agencies throughout the country and the French overseas departments.
Both in travel agencies and online, the group offers a very wide range of products, from holidays to business trips. Its negotiating power with suppliers means it can offer the best prices, completely independently.
The Cooperative organisation is characterised by the involvement of its members: all the directors are entrepreneurs, who put their expertise at the service of the group. This cooperative nature gives the network unique agility and responsiveness.

With 450 agencies and offices throughout France, Selectour Affaires is the leading French actor in business travel. Our presence in all regions means that we are the key contact for multi-site companies.
Our teams of experts are based throughout France and receive regular training so that they can deal effectively with all requests, even the most complex.

« We are delighted with this partnership, which is part of our ongoing technological growth drive. It’s a real step forward for Selectour Affaires, and this platform will help to make the customer experience of booking hotels smoother and easier, » declares Laurent Abitbol, Chairman of Selectour’s Management Board.

CDS Groupe works closely with the technological actors in the industry and the travel agency environment, i.e. SBTs and back offices, to ensure that travel agencies can automate their processes. The tripartite relationship between CDS Groupe, the back office tool and the payment solution chosen by the agency enables easy and automated accounting processing (reconciliations and allocations).

A first that lived up to all its promises, so much so that by the end of the day many participants were already anxious to know the date of the next event.
This first « Golfday du voyage d’affaires » was supported by various sponsors: American Express, Appart’City, Goelett, Hotels & Préférences, Staycity, Travel Concept Sport. The event was also supported by Culture Sport Fairways magazine.
Golfday du voyage d’affaires » was also a time of generosity. During a special event on the « hole-in-one », golfers were able to buy an extra ball, with the amount doubled by CDS Groupe in aid of the association
60 000 rebonds.

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CDS GROUPE wins the GOLD trophy of the Summit of Growth Companies in the category of BtoB services of more than 70 million euros in France.

The Growth Company Summit in a few words?

Organized by the Ficade group, the Growth Company Summit is aimed at Company CEOs and managing directors, managers of family businesses, and members of the executive committee of small and medium-sized companies and Publicly traded companies. The objective of this event is simple: to honor growth companies and reward them for their added value in accelerating the sustainable transformation of the economy. The rewarded companies have been able to combine sustainability and profitability, job creation, leadership, collaborative management and finally social, societal and environmental responsibility.

An intense morning punctuated by conferences on the theme of innovation, financing and sustainable growth, bringing together nearly 400 recognised managers and entrepreneurs. CDS Groupe, the leader of the business hotel market place on the French market, won over the jury. Raphaël Bechakjian, Director of Publications and Partnerships – Leaders League (Ficade Group) and President of the jury praised the resilience and performance of CDS Groupe in a market affected by the covid as well as the strong growth and profitability of the group.

« I am very proud to have won the 1st prize of the Growth Company Summit in the prestigious category of BtoB services of more than 70 million euros in France. This prize goes to the CDS Groupe & Goelett teams who are doing remarkable work, to our partners for their confidence, to our distributors, to our customers and to the board who support me in the strategy » declares Ziad Minkara, CEO of the CDS Groupe.

With more than 2000 registered participants and during more than 7 hours of live, this event hosted by François-Xavier Izenic aimed at gathering the professionals of the business travel sector to share their knowledge and expertise in order to consider the mutations of business travel: Digital transformation and RSE will be at the heart of the debates.

« The Grand Live du Voyage d’Affaires has become a key event in business travel, and I was delighted to organise this third edition. This type of event is an opportunity to unite the players in the same sector around round tables, » said Rebecca Xerri, Director of Digital Transformation, CDS Group.

As usual, the day began with the business hotel barometer, in partnership with EPSA, Extendam and MKG Consulting. In this inflationary context, it is essential for travel buyers and travel managers to have visibility on the average prices applied by hoteliers by region and by category.

Following the business hotel barometer, a table dedicated to domestic air transport led by Paul Chiambaretto, Director of the Pegase Chair.

« Domestic air transport is going through a real crisis, and it is crucial to shed light on the future prospects, not only for the airlines, but also for all the players in the business travel sector », says Paul Chiambaretto.

One of the highlights of the day was the conference dedicated to associations. This year, it was the members’ turn to speak and share the challenges of 2023.

The afternoon was dedicated to technology: its role in the recovery of business travel, towards a simplified and accessible digitalisation of Expense ».

As usual, the consultants ended this day and shared with us the lessons of 2022 and the prospects for the years to come.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title= »See the business travel barometer » style= »custom » custom_background= »#e83d26″ custom_text= »#ffffff » shape= »round » align= »center » link= »url:https%3A%2F%2Fpp.cdsgroupe.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F01%2FBarometre-de-lhotellerie-daffaires-GLVA-2023.pdf| »][vc_single_image image= »4681″ img_size= »full » alignment= »right »][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Following CDS Groupe’s acquisition of Rydoo’s travel business, the CEO of the hotel distribution operator talks about the ambitions of the association between these two renowned players. On the evening of Tuesday September 6, Rydoo travel was officially renamed Goelett.

Remind us of the strategy behind CDS’s acquisition of the Travel division of Rydoo last May…

Ziad Minkara : CDS has been providing business hotel solutions for 20 years. For 3 years, just before the crisis, thanks to our financial partners IDI and Access Capital, our ambition was to position CDS as a leader in France and a key player in Europe. Today, just as we have Booking and Expedia on the « leisure » hotel side, Sabre and Amadeus, Travelport incidentally in Europe, on the BT side we have three HBTs: HCorpo (Accor), Germany’s HRS and us.

As we are an integrated player across the entire distribution chain, from content to OBT integration, we are keen to expand through external growth. When Rydoo Travel & Expense came to us in May and said « We want Rydoo to become an Expense-only player, we’re selling the T&E part, so we looked at the opportunity very carefully.

Discussions opened up very naturally, as this acquisition was in line with our strategy of expanding in Europe, remaining « UX centered » and with a strong « business hotel » focus.

And what made CDS a « good buyer » for Rydoo T&E?

The complexity of an OBT is not so much the tech as the fact of being considered a true software publisher, with the business model that this implies, which is very viable, even very profitable in many fields. Unfortunately not in the travel sector: these models have difficulty in becoming self-sufficient and must be backed by an operator: Amex GBT, SAP, Amadeus… Rydoo T&E, for its part, will be based on the hotel business.

Stripped of its purely Expense section, what will this « second-generation » Rydoo look like?

Rydoo will become an agnostic tool, retaining all its freedom for expense. Our ambition is to become the BT marketplace in Europe, supporting our long-standing customers including Havas in France, as well as FCM and VoyagExpert, which has European ambitions. In fact, our aim is to appeal to all agencies wishing to deliver simple tools from purely digital and international players, interested in high-performance technology without heavy investment and with a simple business model, backed by a group that is strong both capital-wise and in terms of volumes.

Exactly what volumes are we talking about?

In a few figures, CDS Groupe and Rydoo travel represent a customer portfolio worth just over €500 million in hotel sales. Just over a million hotels, including 5,000 direct contracts with independents. But above all, 1 million users on the interface. We want to capitalize on the Group’s 200 employees, including 50 in R&D, to continue innovating in this market, and on our customer support to provide a quality service based on a tool that’s easy to deploy, integrate and use.

Regarding company size… It’s in an agency’s interest to deploy Rydoo for very small and medium-sized businesses, for « Egencia »-type customers, that’s the core target. In a call for tenders, Rydoo « climbs » on the SBF 250 (between the CAC 40 and the ETI, editor’s note). As for CDS, it’s more CAC 40 and we’re also « going down » on SBF. And both entities are familiar with all public procurement contracts. So we cover all market segments.

Now all you have to do is spread the word about this new association. A busy back-to-school season?

Very! We’re going on tour! We’ll be present at Univ’AirPlus the day after tomorrow (September 8, editor’s note), alongside Frmmes du Tourisme on September 13, the Marco Polo evening on the eve of the IFTM, in the IFTM Business Lounge with two joint but separate stands, we’ll be partnering the AFTM for their workshop on post-crisis consolidation, we’ll be with EPSA on their Barometer, with APECA on CSR, but also in Lyon and Toulouse. I forget. And we’re going to round off this wonderful year by being an official partner of the Lauriers du Voyage d’Affaires.

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