CASE. Why will letters be sent to owners renting their accommodation on Airbnb in Villeneuve-sur-Lot?

The night of July 11, not a single one will be available in Villeneuve hotels. It has been months, in fact, since Villeneuve establishments checked this box on the 2024 calendar, just to prepare for the rush of the arrival of the Tour de France. To accommodate the technical teams of Amaury Sport Organization, the hotels in the city center will be at the forefront, and one of the links in the success of the passage of the cycle race in the bastide.

Beyond the city center, 377 beds will be occupied in Villeneuve the night of July 11 to 12. A first tourist and financial windfall, which comes at the right time, at the very beginning of summer – a period which has fallen short of expectations in recent years. “We especially hope that it will bring people for the rest of the season,” says Éric Nuevo, the owner of the La Résidence hotel, rue Lazare Carnot, labeled “bicycle reception”, “motor lodge” and “fishing accommodation”. Because for the moment, attendance at his establishment is not good, a situation due to the convergence of several factors. “I had a month of May that looked like March,” says the manager.

60 letters sent to owners renting via AirBnB

In the bastide hotels, the weather conditions did not help. But that doesn’t explain everything. Firstly, businesses. Fewer trips with the deployment of videos, large construction sites are also less buoyant. “The companies prefer to rent houses to accommodate everyone,” say the professionals. The “world after” Covid…

But their main complaint concerns a problem that affects many cities, which even affects medium-sized towns like Villeneuve: the proliferation of accommodation on Air B’n’B. If you connect to the online rental company’s website, around sixty accommodations are offered in the Lot-et-Garonne sub-prefecture. Mayor Guillaume Lepers, like the president of the tourist office Anne Delliaux, has been alerted many times on this subject by Villeneuve hoteliers. “The regulation is not up to par” admits the councilor, “we cannot support this competition in the face of local hotels which have enormous costs”. Thus, all accommodations listed on the rental site will shortly receive a letter reminding them – if they have not already done so – to declare the accommodations as furnished tourist accommodation. “The other problem, encountered by larger cities, is that there are too many housing units and it turns the town into a ghost! We want residents,” supports the mayor. A bill, adopted by the Senate at the end of May, gives mayors expanded powers to better regulate premises used for tourism. A good omen.

The picture is not black either. The clientele is changing, sporting events are particularly successful – the artistic swimming competition filled Les Remparts and Les Platanes for example. The artists who perform at the theater and their teams also come to fill the hotels in the center – in particular Le Glacier which can keep its stoves burning until late. A complementary offer, in the four corners of the bastide.

The Remparts, historic establishment

One of the photos in the entrance hall dates from 1930. “The whole thing was made up of the hotel with the restaurant next door,” smiles Christophe Bessentiel, lively owner of the Remparts, rue Etienne Marcel. He has managed the store since 2013, and renovated the 9 rooms five years ago now. He does everything by himself, from breakfast to laundry. Large rooms overlook different views of the city, ideal for families and groups. Above all, it is ideally located, a few meters from the Cale de la Marine, the cinema and the streets of the bastide.

Le Glacier, 3-star welcome

An essential establishment for epicureans on Boulevard Georges-Leygues, the Glacier is also a hotel. “The only three stars in the center” supports boss Alex. He and his team took advantage of the confinement to renovate the 9 rooms, spread over two levels and offering a breathtaking view of the bastide. “With a natural and heritage decoration” supports the owner, Ms. Molinié, just to make you want to visit the city. Modern, comfortable and air-conditioned, the rooms are separate from the dining area – and above all accessible by elevator.

The Residence, the natural setting in the city

Near the old station, rue Lazare Carnot on the left bank of the Lot, there is a hotel that stands out for its tranquility. Behind the orange facade, past the reception and the corridor, an interior courtyard surprises the guests of Eric Nuevo, owner of the establishment since 2012. With its labels, it welcomes many passing tourists in one of the 12 rooms . The building, which was built in the early 1960s, has retained its charm. A vintage aspect that we find in certain rooms, most of which overlook plants. A city center hotel that gives the impression of being in the countryside.

Les Plane trees, the technological shift

He took over the business in 2022: Nicolas Vidroc, with his partner Anaïs Cottin, is the new boss of Platanes. Their arrival brought a breath of fresh air to this establishment: new decoration, new bedding, new furniture… and more technology. “We check in with our phones,” says Nicolas. From his smartphone, he can configure the arrival of guests in their rooms, via connected TVs. A plus that meets customer expectations. 15 rooms all year round, including “mini-studios”, which can be filled thanks to the partnership established with Ze Cuistot, avenue du Général de Gaulle, which can deliver dishes to be reheated.