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AltoVita's Spotlight Series: 5 Minutes with Laura Marchand

Introducing Laura Marchand, who joined Team AltoVita in December 2021. Laura is a part of our Hospitality Partner Growth team, which includes Danielle Prior, helping ensure our clients receive the highest level of service whilst managing the relationships with AltoVita’s network of 1,500+ hospitality partners around the world.

On Thursday, March 17th, Laura moderated a webinar dedicated to hospitality professionals and supply technology partners – our first conducted in French! In fact, she relocated back to France from London in February 2022, and will now spend her time criss-crossing Europe to meet with AltoVita partners.

Read on as we get to know more about Laura and her new life as a digital nomad…

First things first, tell us about your recent webinar which highlighted extended-stay trends in France within the current environment. What was your biggest takeaway from the panelists?

This webinar was actually my first as a moderator. I hope I did okay because it’s not that easy even in my native language!!! It also was the first French-moderated webinar for my amazing panel. It has been a great challenge/experience that I am ready to do again. 

We can now tell for sure that the pandemic has totally created a non-ephemeral change in our industry. We’ve adjusted, we’ve adapted, and we’ve created our new way to handle extended corporate stays. 

Tell us about the short-term rental market in Paris. What sets it apart from London, and what was the biggest surprise from partners you have met with so far? 

The short-term rental industry is clearly now more represented by leisure. I think that our Parisien partners’ biggest surprise was to see most clients having their offices moved out of the capital like everybody did during the pandemic, running away from the city and craving for bigger spaces.

After an unstable time with the pandemic, we’re moving into 2022 with optimism for and excitement for the future of corporate accommodation services.

What key trend do you forecast for the year ahead?

2022 is definitely a brighter year, filled with hopefulness. I’ve noticed that “working from home” is no longer an alternative due to unpredictable circumstances anymore, but instead a real new way to work/live that provides countless opportunities for both employers and employees. Working from anywhere also certainly impacts our corporate travellers and their habits, as they travel less but stay longer. 

For those not already a part of AltoVita’s hospitality network, what would be your top incentive for them to list with us?

Being a part of a professional and involved community is an amazing incentive, I’d definitely recommend. Being able to showcase their portfolio thanks to our unique technology which is now rewarded within our industry provides new and exciting opportunities as well. I’d also have to admit having the pleasure to work with my wonderful supply team is also a massive bonus, as we really do strive to go that extra mile when it comes to treating our hospitality partners like clients with the greatest respect and care. 

Tell us a surprising find that travelers may not know about your hometown, Troyes? 

A fun fact is that Troyes, my hometown (city center) has a shape of a cork from a Champagne bottle, very accurate as I am in the Champagne region.

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