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Sector Deep Dive: Tourism and Travel Tech

The French government wants startups in this sector to go faster and further to transform a critical piece of the nation's economy.

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“Must try harder!” was the resounding message that echoed through Olivia Grégoire’s opening speech at the October launch of French Tourism Tech, France’s latest national startup program.

As Minister for Tourism, Grégoire emphatically urged French travel and tourism tech startups to step up their performance as she unveiled the first 15 companies chosen to participate in the program, set to run from January to June each year. The selected startups stand to gain from comprehensive training, advisory, and promotional support, with the ambitious goal of not only enhancing their success but of potentially birthing the next French unicorn.

The call-to-action was clear, but why the firm tone? Let's take a closer look at France's Travel and Tourism Tech Sector.

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France Travel Tech

• Toutes filières
• Appel à Manifestation d'Intérêt
• Projet porté par Direction Générale des Entreprises (DGE)
• Ouverture des candidatures : 11 juillet 2023
• Fin des candidatures : 15 septembre 2023
• Thématique : Transport
• Projet déposé en : Appel à manifestation d'intérêt

Programme d’accompagnement « France Travel Tech »

Présentation du programme.

La création de ce programme est fondée sur quatre constats :

• Un ralentissement des créations d’entreprises dans le secteur de la travel tech depuis 2018 (32 maximum par an contre une cinquantaine dans les années 2000)
• Une présence de la travel tech peu établie dans l’écosystème des start-ups (3 % des start-ups françaises)
• Des levées de fonds trois fois moindre que la moyenne des start-ups françaises
• L’absence de licorne française dans le secteur

L’objectif du programme

L’objectif de ce programme est de structurer et renforcer la travel tech en faisant notamment émerger des champions français dans le secteur. Il s’agira ainsi d’accompagner et d’appuyer la montée en puissance des technologies et solutions émergentes applicables au tourisme (fluidité de l’expérience voyageur, découverte des destinations, etc.), à l’aune où la France s’apprête à accueillir les grands évènements sportifs.

L’appel à Manifestation d’Intérêts « France Travel Tech »

L’AMI vise ainsi à sélectionner les lauréats de la première promotion 2023-2024 du programme d’accompagnement « France Travel Tech », qui sera déployé sur un an à partir de septembre. Ce programme accompagnera annuellement une dizaine d’entreprises dans les différentes phases de leur structuration et croissance : accompagnement administratif (aide à la recherche de financements, appui règlementaire), développement des actions d’open innovation (partenariats avec des grands groupes, collaboration entre start-ups, etc.), mise en place d’un réseau de conseil (aide à la recherche de terrains d’expérimentations et les partenaires) et la multiplication d’actions de valorisation (évènement de lancement, tourisme tour, communication sur les réseaux sociaux). Il a en particulier vocation à mettre en relation les entreprises sélectionnées porteuses de solutions numériques avec des potentiels acheteurs (grands groupes, territoires, Etat, fonds d’investissement, etc).

Eligibilité

Ce programme, piloté par la Direction générale des entreprises (DGE), s’adresse à une vaste catégorie d’entreprises (start-ups, TPE, PME et ETI) exerçant, d’une part, dans des activités diverses du tourisme (transport, hébergement, commerce, restauration, réservation de voyage, activités culturelles, récréatives ou de loisirs, tourisme d’affaires, etc.), d’autre part, développant une technologie susceptible de s’appliquer à ce secteur et, par conséquent, de développer de nouveaux usages.

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Le gouvernement prépare un programme d’accompagnement « France Travel Tech »

Le 11 juillet 2023, dans le cadre du plan « Destination France », le gouvernement a annoncé le lancement d’un appel à manifestation d’intérêt qui vise à créer le « Programme France Travel Tech » et à en initier sa première promotion 2023-2024.

Le contexte de cette initiative gouvernementale en faveur des « Travel Tech »

Le plan Destination France , annoncé par le Premier Ministre le 20 novembre 2021, est un programme de reconquête et de transformation du tourisme qui a pour objectif de « conforter la France comme première destination touristique mondiale » en se donnant « les moyens de relever les défis du secteur et en posant les fondations de la France touristique des dix prochaines années ». Un des objectifs de ce plan ambitieux est notamment d’accompagner la transition durable et numérique du secteur en favorisant le développement et le rayonnement de startups ou entreprises dont les solutions innovantes peuvent utilement contribuer à l’attractivité et à la compétitivité des entreprises, des filières, et des destinations touristiques.

Ainsi, le réseau France Travel Tech vise à faire émerger des champions français de la travel tech en soutenant la montée en puissance des technologies émergentes dans le tourisme et en fédérant les acteurs autour des enjeux de numérisation du secteur . En effet, la part de la  travel tech  dans l’écosystème des startups françaises ne représente que 3% . Par ailleurs, les levées de fonds sont trois fois moins importantes que la moyenne des jeunes pousses , et aucune licorne française n’est présente dans le secteur du tourisme . Enfin, la France dénombre un ralentissement des créations d’entreprises dans le secteur de la travel tech depuis 2018 (32 maximum par an contre une cinquantaine dans les années 2000).

« Notre objectif c’est de structurer l’écosystème de la Travel Tech et d’aider les entreprises du secteur à se développer et à se connaitre entre elles pour développer des synergies », a indiqué  Olivia Grégoire , ministre déléguée chargée des PME, du Commerce, de l’Artisanat et du Tourisme qui est à l’initiative.

Lire plus : Je choisis la French Tech : la nouvelle initiative du gouvernement en faveur des startups

L’appel à manifestion d’intérêt pour le programme France Travel Tech est ouvert !

L’appel à manifestion d’intérêt (AMI) lancé le 11 juillet 2023 vise à sélectionner les lauréats de la première promotion 2023-2024 du programme d’accompagnement « France Travel Tech » , qui sera déployé sur un an à partir de septembre 2023.

Il s’adresse à une vaste catégorie d’entreprises (startups, TPE, PME et ETI) exerçant, d’une part, dans des activités diverses du tourisme  (transport, hébergement, commerce, restauration, réservation de voyage, activités culturelles, récréatives ou de loisirs, tourisme d’affaires, etc.), d’autre part,  développant une technologie susceptible de s’appliquer à ce secteur  et, par conséquent, de développer de nouveaux usages (plateformes numériques, intelligence artificielle, etc).

Pour y participer, les entreprises doivent candidater via un formulaire disponible en ligne avant le 15 septembre 2023.

Lire plus : « Tibi 2 » : Macron annonce 7 milliards d’euros supplémentaires pour les startups

Les objectifs du Programme France Travel Tech

L’objectif de ce programme est de structurer et renforcer la  travel tech  en faisant émerger des champions français dans le secteur. C e programme accompagnera annuellement une dizaine d’entreprises  dans les différentes phases de leur structuration et croissance : 

• Accompagnement administratif (aide à la recherche de financements, appui règlementaire), 
• Développement des actions d’open innovation (partenariats avec des grands groupes, collaboration entre start-ups, etc.), 
• Mise en place d’un réseau de conseil (aide à la recherche de terrains d’expérimentations et les partenaires),
• Actions de valorisation (évènement de lancement, tourisme tour, communication sur les réseaux sociaux). 

Le Programme France Travel Tech a en particulier vocation à mettre en relation les entreprises sélectionnées porteuses de solutions numériques avec des potentiels acheteurs  (grands groupes, territoires, État, fonds d’investissement, etc.). 

Lire plus : 10 livres à lire avant de lancer sa startup

Pour conclure, l’appel à la manifestation d’intérêt dans le cadre du Programme France Travel Tech vise à sélectionner les lauréats qui rejoindront la première promotion 2023-2024 à partir de septembre. Pour cela les entreprises doivent candidater via un formulaire disponible en ligne avant le 15 septembre 2023.

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Outsight is awarded at France Travel Tech

We're thrilled to share that Outsight has been honoured at the first 'France Travel Tech' programme promotion.

Charlotte Simon

This recognition was given at the launch event of the France Travel Tech program held on October 24 at Station F, Paris.

The event, initiated by Madame Olivia Gregoire, Minister Delegate for Small and Medium Enterprises, Trade, Crafts, and Tourism , signifies a step towards fostering the growth of travel tech ecosystem in France.

It serves as a incentive for stimulating the emergence of French companies by supporting the integration of emerging technologies within the tourism sector.

The software’s sensor-agnostic nature allows for a tailored deployment, enabling operators to choose the most suitable hardware based on their needs. This flexibility, coupled with Shift's ability to transform raw LiDAR data into actionable insights, empowers airports and transit hubs to enhance security, efficiency, and overall passenger experience.

Being laureates of the first ever ' Appel à Manifestation d'Intérêt France Travel Tech ' is a testament to the innovative prowess and the potential of Shift in redefining the travel tech landscape.

The recognition amplifies our commitment to spearheading innovative solutions that cater to the evolving needs of the modern travel industry.

The collaborative spirit that echoed at the France Travel Tech event establishes the promising horizon awaiting the travel tech sector. As we continue to innovate and collaborate, we look forward to contributing to a future where technology drives enhanced experiences and operational efficiencies in travel and tourism.

With 73 patent filings and feedback from hundreds of customers globally, we are poised to continue our journey of innovation.

This award follows many other recognitions and fuels our resolve to persistently explore and develop solutions that resonate with the industry's dynamics:

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Outsight is awarded at France Travel Tech

We're thrilled to share that Outsight has been honoured at the first 'France Travel Tech' programme promotion.

Charlotte Simon

This recognition was given at the launch event of the France Travel Tech program held on October 24 at Station F, Paris.

The event, initiated by Madame Olivia Gregoire, Minister Delegate for Small and Medium Enterprises, Trade, Crafts, and Tourism , signifies a step towards fostering the growth of travel tech ecosystem in France.

It serves as a incentive for stimulating the emergence of French companies by supporting the integration of emerging technologies within the tourism sector.

The software’s sensor-agnostic nature allows for a tailored deployment, enabling operators to choose the most suitable hardware based on their needs. This flexibility, coupled with Shift's ability to transform raw LiDAR data into actionable insights, empowers airports and transit hubs to enhance security, efficiency, and overall passenger experience.

Being laureates of the first ever ' Appel à Manifestation d'Intérêt France Travel Tech ' is a testament to the innovative prowess and the potential of Shift in redefining the travel tech landscape.

The recognition amplifies our commitment to spearheading innovative solutions that cater to the evolving needs of the modern travel industry.

The collaborative spirit that echoed at the France Travel Tech event establishes the promising horizon awaiting the travel tech sector. As we continue to innovate and collaborate, we look forward to contributing to a future where technology drives enhanced experiences and operational efficiencies in travel and tourism.

With 73 patent filings and feedback from hundreds of customers globally, we are poised to continue our journey of innovation.

This award follows many other recognitions and fuels our resolve to persistently explore and develop solutions that resonate with the industry's dynamics:

Related Articles

Explore topics, featured articles, outsight in a nutshell.

The Seven reasons why 3D LiDAR is Transforming Airports

The Top 101 Applications of LiDAR

The 10 Reasons to Use a 3D Software Processor

Travelsoft Acquires Three Travel Tech Companies 

Justin Dawes , Skift

May 23rd, 2024 at 6:00 AM EDT

The CEO of Travelsoft said earlier this month that more acquisitions were coming.

Justin Dawes

Travelsoft said Thursday that it has acquired three tech companies. France-based Travelsoft is primarily focused on providing tech to travel agents and tour operators that streamlines the process of selling and marketing travel packages. 

The three companies Travelsoft acquired offer business-to-business services in that space:

• Spain-based TravelgateX offers a tech platform that connects lodging suppliers with sellers. 
• UK-based Atcore Technology offers a reservation and inventory platform for tour operators as well as tech to package, price and distribute travel packages.
• Romania-based Travel Connection Technology offers a tech platform to integrate contracting, inventory management, sales channels, booking management, and financial accounts.

Each of the companies will maintain autonomy, Travelsoft said. That includes keeping brand names, leadership teams, and their tech platforms.

The acquisition prices were not disclosed, but here are a few other details:

• The deal nearly triples Travelsoft’s employee base to 600.
• Travelsoft says its platforms now facilitate bookings worth a total of €35 billion ($37.9 billion). Before the deal, that number was €5 billion ($5.4 billion).
• The company said it now has recurring revenues totaling €100 million ($108.3 million) annually, up from €43 million ($46.6 million).
• Travelsoft now has 400 major clients, up from 300, as well as 1,000 travel suppliers, up from 600

An Acquisition Spree

This is the sixth acquisition for Travelsoft since 2022 – there are now seven companies under the group’s umbrella.

Travelsoft earlier this year acquired Eventiz Group , which owns three publications and hosts events geared toward the French tourism and business travel industry. The company had been struggling financially and was following a court-supervised restructuring process and a plan to pay back its creditors.

Travelsoft’s first portfolio company was Orchestra, and then it acquired Germany-based Traffics in 2022 and Spain-based Travel Compositor in 2023 . 

Private investment firm Capza invested in Travelsoft in 2023 and became a minor shareholder. That investment has enabled Travelsoft’s acquisition spree, the company said.

Industry experts are saying that the industry is ripe for consolidation, and that’s been showed with multiple deal announcements over the past few weeks alone. Hotel tech startup Mews, for example, made its ninth acquistion this month.

Investment bank AGC Partners is among those that believe merger and acquisition activity is on the rise. The company published an analysis on the topic last month that said the pieces are in place for more deals.

Those pieces include an improving funding environment and the fact that tech private equity firms have about $300 billion to deploy, AGC said. “The real action is yet to come,” AGC stated.

Among their strategies, those firms are investing in companies like Mews and Travelsoft to finance their growth via acquisition.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: mergers and acquisitions , the prompt

Photo credit: Travelsoft has acquired three companies. Pixabay

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Toulouse. Ctoutvert lauréat de la première promotion du programme "France Travel Tech"

Par Dorian Alinaghi

Ctoutvert, éditeur toulousain spécialisé dans l'e-tourisme, a été distingué parmi les lauréats de la première promotion "France Travel Tech", récompensant son expertise et son engagement en matière de gestion de l'hébergement de plein air.

L'entreprise Ctoutvert, basée à Toulouse, fait partie de la première promotion de la "France Travel Tech". (Photo : PBagein)

Ctoutvert , l'éditeur toulousain de renom spécialisé dans l'e-tourisme, a été honoré lors de la première promotion du programme " France Travel Tech " lancé par le ministère du Tourisme.

Ce programme, initié dans le but de soutenir et accompagner les entreprises françaises de la travel tech , vise à faire émerger des champions nationaux dans le secteur. Il se donne pour mission d'appuyer la croissance des technologies et des solutions émergentes applicables au secteur du tourisme, notamment en ce qui concerne la fluidité de l'expérience du voyageur et l'intelligence artificielle, à l'approche des grands événements sportifs prévus en France. A l'image des Jeux OIympiques de Paris 2024.

Ctoutvert, un partenaire central

Ctoutvert, avec son expertise reconnue dans le domaine de l'e-tourisme, se distingue en devenant membre de cette première promotion "France Travel Tech". L'entreprise a concentré ses ressources et ses investissements sur la conception de solutions de gestion de nouvelle génération dédiées aux professionnels de l'hébergement en plein air. Cette orientation stratégique a permis à Ctoutvert de devenir un partenaire central pour plus de 5000 campings à travers l'Europe qui ont réussi leur transition vers une gestion numérique efficace de leurs opérations.

"Une formidable reconnaissance"

Le fondateur de Ctoutvert, Manuel Mirabel, a exprimé sa satisfaction :

"Cette annonce est avant tout une formidable reconnaissance pour l'ensemble de nos équipes. Nous travaillons au quotidien avec exigence, un bel engagement pour nos clients, et c'est avec une fierté non dissimulée que nous intégrons cette promotion comme une récompense collective. La qualité et l'innovation sont une histoire d'équipes qui travaillent ensemble. Grâce à nos partenaires, à nos clients et en cohérence avec les travaux de la fédération nationale des professionnels de l'hôtellerie de plein air ( FNHPA ), nous avons pu concevoir un projet d'entreprise pertinent. Nous savourons cet instant et nous nous remettons au travail dès demain avec le même niveau d'exigence."

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About Travel Tech

The Travel Tech conference series was launched in 2020 – during the most unprecedented travel market we have ever experienced – to teach hotels how to adjust their operations to regain profitability, regardless of how the COVID-19 pandemic affects demand. .

The Travel Tech conference series brings together hotels, OTAs and hotel technology companies to learn about operational technology and gain practical insights on how to leverage recent innovations to accelerate travel recovery around the world.

Today it is the trade's biggest online event, with more than 1.6 million organic impressions.

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France’s Travel & Tourism broke all records last year, WTTC research reveals

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today unveiled the remarkable growth of Travel & Tourism in France last year, with the sector’s GDP contribution surging by nearly 6% year-on-year to a record-breaking €246BN.

According to the global tourism body’s latest research, in 2023, Travel & Tourism soared 4.3% above the previous peak, representing 8.8% of France’s total economic output, signalling a year of significant growth for the sector.

In collaboration with Oxford Economic, WTTC’s latest research highlights a sector abundant with opportunities, creating more than 172,000 new jobs, elevating the total to nearly 2.9MN nationwide, 4.7% above 2019 levels.

This continued growth solidifies Travel & Tourism’s position as a major employment driver, representing one in every 11 jobs across the country.

Last year, international visitors injected €66.7BN into the economy, while spending by domestic travellers rebounded to €135BN, surpassing previous 2019 heights by 1% and 3%, respectively.

The latest data highlights France’s Travel & Tourism as a cornerstone of economic growth and employment creation, with Paris standing out as the first choice for international visitors.

A glimpse into 2024

This year, the French Travel & Tourism sector is poised for an all-time high economic contribution of more than a quarter of a trillion Euros (€254.7BN).

Representing an increase of nearly 8% from 2019 levels, this affirms the sector’s significant role as an economic force, accounting for 9% of the national economy.

The sector is set to support 2.93MN jobs in France, representing an increase of more than 76,000 jobs compared to its highest point.

As the world’s most popular destination, spending by both international and domestic tourists is expected to reach unprecedented levels, with forecasts indicating a total expenditure of €70.3BN and €138.8BN respectively.

This adds on to the expected success in visitors ahead of the Olympics and Paralympics Games taking place in France later this year.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “France is setting unprecedented records in Travel & Tourism, solidifying its status as the globe’s premier destination, ensuring its position on the world stage.

“This success is not only reflected in the data. President Macron’s steadfast efforts to highlight Travel & Tourism’s economic significance, its role in job creation, and its impact on the countries global stature have been instrumental to maintain France as a pole destination.

“Building on the momentum from the triumphant Rugby World Cup, France remains adept at captivating visitors’ interest as it gears up for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympics Games later this year.”

What does the next decade look like?

According to WTTC forecasts, the outlook for the next decade is exceptionally bright. By 2034, the sector is expected to dramatically enhance France’s economy, contributing an estimated €310.5BN – 9.6% of the total economic landscape.

This burgeoning sector is also projected to be a major source of job creation, expected to provide employment for 3.4MN people nationwide – 11% of the workforce, representing one in every 10 workers.

The forthcoming decade promises not just growth, but a transformative period for Travel & Tourism. France is on the threshold of an era characterised by prosperity, innovation, and connectivity on an unprecedented scale, marking a golden age for the sector that is eagerly anticipated by both consumers and businesses alike.

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Inside Europe's tech hubs: France's AI push puts it on the rise

By arjun kharpal,cnbc • published june 27, 2024 • updated on june 27, 2024 at 4:38 am.

• In the second episode of our European tech hubs mini-series for CNBC Tech's "Beyond the Valley," we travelled to Station F to talk to its director Roxanne Varza about the growth of the French tech scene.
• France has looked to position itself as Europe's leading artificial intelligence hub, with high-profile companies like Mistral AI and H getting large amounts of funding.
• French generative AI companies have raised $2.29 billion to date, according to data from Accel and Dealroom, the most of any European country.

In the 13th arrondissement of the French capital Paris is an old rail freight station that has been converted into the world's biggest startup campus.

24/7 New York news stream: Watch NBC 4 free wherever you are

Known as Station F, the massive complex, which can house 1,000 startups and has corporate partners including U.S. tech giants like Meta and Google , underscores France's push over the last few years to reinvent itself as one of the world's leading tech hubs.

In the second episode of our European tech hubs mini-series for CNBC Tech's "Beyond the Valley" — which you can listen to above — Tom Chitty and I travelled to Station F to talk to its director Roxanne Varza about the growth of the French tech scene over the last few years.

In 2015, taxi drivers in France protested the rise of Uber and startup founders complained about the country's burdensome labor laws that made it difficult for young tech firms to be nimble. From the outside, France had a reputation of being anti-tech and innovation .

But various governments over the years have championed the country's technology ecosystem to push programs like Station F and reforms to laws to help out startups. And with the tech world currently undergoing a boom in artificial intelligence, France is looking to position itself as a leading hub .

Get Tri-state area news and weather forecasts to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York newsletters.

French generative AI companies have raised $2.29 billion to date, according to data from Accel and Dealroom, the most of any European country. This has been driven by huge investments in buzzy French AI startups such as Mistral AI and H.

France's far right looks headed for victory in the first round at the polls. Here's what that means

Top Democratic fundraisers sound the alarm after Biden's debate performance

"France is the leader on artificial intelligence in Europe," Bruno Le Maire, France's finance minister, told me at the country's high profile event Viva Tech last month.

If you have any thoughts on this or previous episodes, please email us at  [email protected] .

You can subscribe to "Beyond the Valley" by clicking the links below to your chosen platform:

Apple Podcast

Google Podcasts

Here is a transcript of the "Beyond the Valley" episode released on June 20, 2024. It has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Tom Chitty 

The 13th Arrondissement in Paris is home to a thriving nightlife scene and the city's principal Asian community. If you like Chinese or Vietnamese food, then you'll be happy here. It also happens to be home to Station F, the world's largest startup campus. Brimming with entrepreneurs and around 1,000 startup companies, it embodies France's exciting tech industry. In the second installment of our look at Europe's leading tech hubs, we're in Paris to speak to the head of Station F about how the country brushed off its reputation as being anti-tech, the success of its AI companies, and the political and regulatory challenges it may face. Arjun, have you been to Station F before?

Arjun Kharpal

This is my first time. I've been wanting to visit for so many years. So quite excited to be here. It's amazing. 

To describe to our listeners quickly what it's like. It is a bit of an oasis. It looks like a huge aircraft hangar. And there's all these sort of shipping containers which serve as sort of meeting rooms [which are] glass fronted so you can kind of see in them. Anyway, that's what it looks like visually, but to understand what actually goes on here, with the work that happens and the companies that are located here, we need to speak to the Director of Station F, Roxanne Varza. Thank you for joining us on Beyond the Valley, Roxanne.

Roxanne Varza

Thanks so much for having me.

First off, give us a bit of a backstory of this place. What's the purpose of it? And how did it start?

So we opened in 2017 and it was right after President Macron had been elected for his first presidency. And essentially, the idea had kind of come about a few years before. Obviously, we'd been noticing that, especially from abroad, when people would look at the European ecosystem, they would know London and London has all these companies that everyone knows, and all the funds are based there. People actually knew a lot about Berlin. I think a couple of companies quite well-known had been based there as well. And France was just kind of not on anyone's radar, even though there was actually a lot going on. So the idea behind Station F was let's make this kind of big emblematic space, bring everyone to the ecosystem together, really facilitate launching a business because that really kind of felt like the hurdle was getting people up and running. And so that's essentially what we've been doing.

Let's find out a little bit about yourself, because I know that in some French media, you have been called the queen of tech amongst other titles, all very positive. Well, I'll let you decide that. But you're also scout investor for Sequoia Capital, which we'd like to talk a little bit about. But what makes you the right person to be director here? How did you get selected for that role?

So many people ask me this, and I wish I knew what was going on in our founder's head when he picked me. I grew up in the U.S. in Silicon Valley. I was born and raised in Palo Alto. I moved out to Europe about 15 years ago, at the time, it was to do a master's degree and I just fell in love with this ecosystem. Having come from the Bay Area, it felt like so many things existed over there. And here, there was so much opportunity to build and to have an impact. So what makes me the right person for this role? Probably, I would say maybe just my connection to the startup ecosystem, the international startup ecosystem. I think, also, if you look at maybe people who don't know, our founder, his name is Xavier Niel, and he's got a big telecoms company in France and he's launched so many projects that have just powered this ecosystem. But if you look at the other projects that he's done, he tends to gravitate towards people that would be what he calls less formatted, young and maybe not too influenced by a large corporate career. And that was very much my case when I came into this role. And maybe also the fact that [to] have a bit of an international female profile is a bit appealing for today's ecosystem that needs to kind of consider diversity.

Now, before we get back to it, we have, of course got to do stat of the week. Have you heard about stat of the week?

I have not. Should I be nervous?

Very much, I get nervous every week to play it. It's a game we play, where Arjun has a stat, which he's thought about extensively in the lead up to this episode, and it refers to what we're going to be talking about. But he will just give us a stat and you and I are going to go head-to-head. And whoever gets it right or closest to what it refers to, then we win. But I do have a quick question, which I've asked all of our guests on this mini series that we've done. So if you could rank Europe's tech hubs, what would be your top three?

  Roxanne Varza

That's almost mean. I mean, I lived in both Paris and London and I feel like those are no brainers. So can I start with those two? The third one, I think is actually really hard. So every year in the summer, I take my entire team to a new ecosystem. We've been to Amsterdam, we went to Berlin. This year, we're going to Lisbon. And I feel like I don't know enough hubs to really have a fair point of view. But I'm really excited about Lisbon actually, I know the Mayor of Lisbon pretty well, have been hearing really positive things. And I feel like we've also got a very interesting French entrepreneur expat community that's growing there. So that's an ecosystem. I'm pretty excited about. 

Okay, but just to push you, which would be number one?

Paris, what do you mean, you're pushing me?

Arjun, I'll let you take it away.

Stat of the week. $2.29 billion dollars.

Arjun, you had a question.

I wanted to start with the sort of concept of Station F because we always talk about these ecosystems around Europe. And, you know, if you go to London, traditionally, it was sort of the East End of London around Old Street roundabout that had these hubs, Shoreditch and sort of expanded. But there were these sort of pockets in many cities, where these startups, investors perhaps gathered. Is the idea almost to just create this single giant hub where you don't need to have these kind of disparate parts of cities. I know, they're single cities, but some of them are still big one end to the other, can take a bit of time. So is that really the idea behind Station F?

You know, I think at the time, that was the idea, because we thought this is so big, 1,000 companies, that's going to be the whole ecosystem. But actually, what we've seen is that even today, Station F is really not even that big anymore, given how big the whole ecosystem is. So we're really I think, in terms of early stage and getting started, this is where you come. And then there's different pockets, as you said, for kind of later stage and growth stage companies within Paris.

And Roxanne, what year did you take? 2017?

Was the launch in the summer.

And is that when you took over the role here?

I started two years before.

I think we're on so many years now, I think so many things have changed. I remember sort of visiting Paris at the time, and there were protests from the taxi drivers around Uber. And, you know, many had from the outside looked at that and said, well, this is just underscores at this point France's broader sort of antithesis to technology and change and innovation. What's changed since then, in France and Paris in particular, around technology?

I mean, so much has changed. It feels literally like 180 degree flip. When we started Station F, it was more like almost a running joke. Are there really 1,000 companies in France to fill this space? Like are you guys even sure about what you're doing? Whereas today, people are looking at this ecosystem and going is that the leading ecosystem in Europe? Is everybody building an AI company in Paris? Which I just think is just not something that we would have imagined so long ago. So a lot of things have changed. I have to say the government has definitely played a very active role. And they have known which steps to take and taking the right ones, because government can also sometimes overstep and try to do things that doesn't necessarily make sense for the government to do. And then I also just think culturally, we've really been through a huge transformation, I think, maybe in part powered by Station F. But we're not the only players in that space. And it kind of made entrepreneurship cool. It made it possible for a lot of people that just were almost ashamed to tell their families, I did this degree, and now I'm going to start a business.

And so what would you say are some of the core strengths at the moment of the of the French technology scene? I know, the university kind of path has been quite strong with some of those technical universities. There's also I guess, people having been experienced in some of the big U.S. tech giants as well. Where are the core strengths? 

I would say like in terms of infrastructure, we're up there with any leading tech ecosystem, I mean, places like Station F, we have all the university programs you would possibly need, all the resources that you know, tangible resources to build a company. I think the talent is the piece that we've kind of cracked a little bit over these last few years with international talent now coming here. The French government made the visas a lot easier to get a hold of. And we're also just seeing, I think, with the global maybe geopolitical shift, people are looking less towards the U.S. maybe less towards traditional ecosystems, and now coming here. So I think that has played definitely a huge role. And then in terms of funding, it used to be impossible to get the tier one funds on your cap table being based in Paris. Now they're here every week. 

And by the same token, the challenge is that France, Paris, Station F has, are they the same as any European tech hub? Or are there any particular ones that you've found here?

Well, I do think I mean, it's not an English speaking market. So I think if you compare working in Paris to working with London, I think, people who are looking, for example, for bilingual schools, or for doctors, that would be very comfortable in English, like, there's just little things like that, that I still think are maybe still not where they could be. But otherwise, if we look at just the ecosystem, and from a business perspective, I think working here is as good as any other ecosystem if not better.

I remember one of the complaints a few years ago, were things like labor laws, the startup founders were really kind of not happy, they were too rigid, too strict. Have some of those sort of teething issues in the early stages of founding startups in France changed at all?

100%. I'd say the labor law, when people bring that up now, I almost feel like, okay, you haven't caught up to speed with where we are today. There's definitely a lot of ways to get around the hurdles. I mean, you can't compare, obviously, what we have in France with what happens, for example, in the U.S. with how easy it is to hire and fire. They're just different markets. But it's no longer creating the headlines that we were seeing 10 years ago of, you know, impossible to fire the teams and things like that.

When we talk about the U.S, obviously, a lot of the European markets are always facing the challenge of U.S. big tech, you know, wanting to get into these markets and, you know, flex their muscles, if you will. How much do you worry about that? Is that something that keeps you up at night?

Big tech coming here?

U.S. Big Tech.

Not at all, because they're all Station F partners. You can see their logos behind me. I think this is an ecosystem that wants to work with international leaders. If they be French, if they be Chinese, if they be from the U.S., you know, whoever they are, I think the entrepreneurs here want to work with those companies. And all of the U.S. leaders are present and have been present for a long time.

It's a good chance, I think, then to talk about artificial intelligence, very difficult to have a conversation these days in tech without talking about that buzzword. But you know, France, for sure has been in the headlines with companies like Mistral and H and all of these different companies as well raising very large sums of money, as well. Look, Europe just more broadly, lost out, let's say in the internet age to the big U.S. tech giants when it came to social media, search, all of those kinds of things. What kind of opportunities does the boom in AI we're seeing present for French companies and for European companies more broadly, to compete on the global stage?

I think you're absolutely right. I mean, you just put your finger on it. So I think there was this feeling of we missed out from kind of that first generation of the internet essentially. Even though there were many excellent companies that were built here, they just didn't compete on the same level. And I think today there is a bit of this race to be competitive on that level. And when we had Mistral's mega first round, everyone thought OK, that's wonderful, but it's one round, it's one company. And today we've had Poolside who's also, you know, come over from the U.S. We just H. And now people are starting to wonder, is this a trend? Is this something we can actually really build into our ecosystem long term? And I think the answer is potentially, yes.

I think to Tom's point, though, as well, about the sort of influence of the U.S. tech giants. One of the interesting things has been how involved they've been very early on in these companies, the likes of Mistral getting backing from Microsoft and some of the other large tech giants. I remember I was at Viva Tech just a few weeks ago, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire was there and I asked him, are you concerned even still about the influence potentially, as Europe tries to really grow its homegrown technology companies in the in the world of AI about the role of the U.S. tech giants. And I think his was one of there needs to be a balanced, we're happy to sort of have them here. But we also need to champion our own homegrown. Again, we're still very early stage, but as you see this developing, how is that balance needed to be struck?

It's interesting because here we're talking about countries and almost there's a level of sovereignty that's probably involved in that discussion. But I also think just from, let's imagine that everybody wants to team up with some of these big players, we also want to avoid having them have so much power that they can dictate tomorrow's innovations. And so I think these are probably topics, I mean, France will be the next country that will host the next AI summit in February of 2025, and I think these are going to be very, very key topics. But I do think there's a very clear sovereignty angle that should be a concern for many governments.

When we talk about governments and countries, France is facing an upcoming election. Are you concerned about where you might be in six months time,

I mean, very, very clearly, a lot could change. I think more will change when we have the next presidential election. So clearly, my mind was there. But we could see things change ahead of time. I don't think they'll be as dramatic, hopefully, I mean, it could go down to not having a minister for digital. I mean things like that could just be completely deprioritized, which is essentially what has been helping us move things forward in France. So things could change very dramatically. But a lot of people are quite confident that that will not change, it will maybe be more on a policy level. And it may take more months and weeks to see the action. So I mean, I have to say we're trying to be as positive as we can. 

One of the concerns I read was that if there is, you know, this sort of resurgence of the far right, and there's a negative impact on things like immigration policy, that could affect access to talent from abroad, right?

100%. I mean the real issue is if you look on both extreme sides of the spectrum, they send not great messages to foreign talent, to foreign investors. So I think those are the risks. But there's also people who feel that maybe it will go so poorly that in the next upcoming election, things will go back to where they should be. So there may be a silver lining in both cases. But yes, I do think in the case that we have both extreme sides, one or the other win, it will not be as good as we are today. It's very clear.

You mentioned the push from the French government, particularly under Macron, and his government to boost the French tech scene as well. Again, another sort of reputation Europe more broadly has had is one of regulation over innovation. And to some extent, that still reigns. We saw the big EU AI Act pass as well. But it feels like President Macron in particular has tried to bring the narrative back to, no, we can innovate, but we also do need to regulate as well. Under Macron what have been for you the big positives that have come out of his presidency and tech push more broadly.

Oh, wow, there's been so many. I will say that I think he's done a lot for international visas. The visa scheme was overhauled, I think it was the same year that we launched Station F and we saw the impact immediately. Late stage funding, I mean, the funding landscape has just transformed. Before we used to feel like there's no early stage funding, and there's no late stage funding. And today, I just feel like it's all the gaps have been filled.

And why is that though?

The government, I think, they've really gone out and tried to work on either implementing policies that would encourage people to invest in early stage, whether it be through tax breaks, and other things like that. Those are more recent. But he's actually gone out and essentially gathered up the capital needed for some of those late stage funding initiatives. So I would say those are probably the two biggest ones. But then there have also been little adjustments to kind of labor law and things like that, that we mentioned earlier, that have just kind of cleaned things up quite a bit. So I would say just across the board, we've just felt things always going forward, never going backwards, which had definitely been the case previously.

That funding gap with the U.S. does still remain not just here in France, this is a broader European issue as well. Where do you see this sort of next steps required to close that gap further?

Oh, wow, that's a really good question. So I do think we still have late stage funding issues. I mean, when we're not at the amounts, or even the number of rounds that we should be maybe even with regards to building those companies. So I would say late stage is still a big thing. But I think the real piece that we have to crack in Europe, across the board is exits. And I'm sure you've heard this many times before. But I think we can definitely do a lot to encourage more of an acquisition culture in Europe with our European corporates, which seem quite absent, if you compare with all the Americans that come over and want to acquire companies. The IPO market is really where I don't know how you fix

I was on the roof of the London Stock Exchange. When was this? Last week? … But it was the IPO of a company called Raspberry Pi, the computing startup that's been around for you know, I think, more than a decade now. And there was big fanfare, confetti cannons and lots of noise for an IPO I think that valued the company, just over about $500 million. And I think that really underscores the issues with the market at the moment or the concerns about the market that even for such a small, or relatively small IPO in the tech world, there was a lot of excitement, because it just hasn't been those exits on the IPO front. And there's, I think in London in particular, there's lots of issues around things like founder shares, and dual class share structures, and all of these various things which need to be reformed and access to some of these startups in the earliest stages from pension funds and other areas. Are those similar issues prevalent here in France?

100%. And I would say probably we also have just, how can I say this? The market just doesn't exist. So I think when it comes to listing a technology company, people just automatically assume I mean, we have had some here, I shouldn't say we haven't because a few years ago, we had quite a few, two or three. But I think today just anybody who wants to go public just will not look at this market, given what the track record that we've had.

And it feels like a pivotal time because if you've got companies like Mistral raising these sums at astronomical valuations, thinking, even 2, 3, 4 years' time, what they're going to be valued at, the market doesn't exist for them to go on an IPO of maybe $100 billion valuation, potentially in a few years … The other point you brought up was the M&A side of things. So European corporates not as active in terms of buying or acquiring technology companies?

Yes. And I think I mean, I can really speak to the French market when I say that, I don't know if it's the case across Europe, but it is a feeling that I have. I mean, at Station F we have a ton of early stage companies. And we've got all the American corp dev teams that come show up here. And we've had very few of their French counterparts. And I think it just points to the fact that culturally, they're probably less aggressive in that space. In some cases, they don't even have corp dev teams. So I think that's definitely something that we can work on building.

Just to bring it back to the sort of what we talked about right at the top with where Paris and France is as a tech hub. What do you see is the future for Station F and are you focused on kind of what's happening elsewhere and making sure you're still leading in those areas? Or do you very much look at yourself and just worry about you? How do you see the next sort of couple of years panning out?

Well, as I mentioned, we have this looming election, so ask me again in a few weeks. I think it's a balance, because we definitely look abroad and we get inspired by a lot of what's happening elsewhere. And we try to sometimes look at those ideas and do they work locally. But Station F was actually really built for local demand, local needs. So a lot of people have asked us, you know, did you essentially cut and paste something that exists elsewhere? Absolutely not. We asked all the entrepreneurs around us essentially, not just entrepreneurs, but everyone in our ecosystem, what works well? What's needed? Where do you have difficulties? And some of the stuff we've built you would never see it outside of France.

Has the profile of startups in here changed as tech trends have changed, whether it's the crypto boom into the AI boom?

Very good question. Yeah, we actually refresh everything on a yearly basis. So two years ago, crypto, we launched our crypto Web3, program. Last year, we did quantum computing, two AI programs, I think this year, we'll continue to see AI. I'm hoping we can boost climate tech a bit more. I think that's another place where Europe really has a possibility to shine. But what have I seen in terms of kind of evolution of entrepreneurs? It used to be a lot of first time entrepreneurs, very young, fresh out of school. Today, we're seeing more and more repeat entrepreneurs. I think over 50% of the entrepreneurs we have on campus have already created a business and I think it points to the mature maturity of our ecosystem,

And you're building a hotel.

We launched housing in 2019. So we have 600 people that live in our housing component. And we're kind of finishing that we have a restaurant there, we're going to have a sports facility. So there's some other things that we have on site, it's about 15 minutes away. Later this year, we're launching, it's right outside the building but it's essentially 12 spaces that will complete the offers that we have for entrepreneurs so they wanted more healthier food options, bike repair, smartphone repair, podcast studio. So those kinds of services will be available next to us and the hotel of course in two-to-four years.

Fantastic. Well that is all we have time for but we have of course got to do stat of the week. Have you been thinking about it?

So that is the stat of the week. $2.29 billion. Any guesses?

The value of France's AI market in 2025 projected.

On the right-ish tracks but no cigar.

Amount invested in AI since the beginning of the year?

Close. I'll do one more round of guesses.

It can't be how much we raised as a global volume for the first half of the year?

You're knocking at the door. I'll give this one to Roxanne, because she was super close. So it was the amount French generative AI startups have raised to-date …So that's quite astronomical. A few other fun stats. So the top five cities for generative AI startup creation across the region, London number one, 27% of GenAI startups from London. Tel Aviv 13%, Berlin 12%, Paris 10% and Amsterdam 5%. Even though Paris is fourth in terms of GenAI startup creation, it has the highest levels of funding thanks to some of those aforementioned companies there.

Okay. That is all we have time for. If you would like to follow and subscribe to the show, you can. And you can also rate the podcast which would be great, five stars if you want. Thank you, Arjun.

Thank you, Tom.

Tom Chitty,

Thank you, Roxanne.

We'll be back next week for another episode of Beyond the Valley. Goodbye.

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An Oyster-Filled Week on France’s Arcachon Bay

Seaside bungalows, secret sandbanks, and beach naps..

Everyone knows that person who spends weeks sniffing around travel blogs, going deep into Tripadvisor rabbit holes, collecting Google docs from friends of friends, and creating  A Beautiful Mind –style spreadsheets to come up with the best  vacations  and itineraries possible. In this recurring series, we find those people who’ve done all the work for you and have them walk us through a particularly wonderful, especially well-thought-out vacation they took that you can actually steal.

Having just moved from New York City to Paris last spring, I was eager to spend the summer hopping around the French seaside . High prices and rowdy crowds deterred me from the more obvious destinations in the French Riviera, so instead, I went west, swapping the Med for the Atlantic, palm trees for pine, and Riviera glitz for rustic charms that reminded me of my childhood.

I grew up in a coastal fishing town in Massachusetts , so Cap Ferret, a small village in the southernmost point of Lège-Cap-Ferret, a peninsula that splits the Arcachon Bay and the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest of France, felt instantly familiar.

French friends had described it to me as a low-key summer destination for chic French families and friends. It’s host to both swimming and surfing beaches, as well as tons of al fresco seafood restaurants and oyster-tasting shacks. I was able to convince some friends to join me in late July as we traversed the Bay of Arcachon for a week of oyster lunches, blissed-out beach days, and majestic boat trips — topping it off with an impromptu weekend in Bordeaux.

9 a.m.: Travel from Paris to Cap Ferret 

From Paris, my friend Anny and I took a train to Arcachon, which required a transfer in Bordeaux, making it a three-and-a-half-hour journey by train. From the train, we walked ten minutes over to the Thiers Pier ( Place Thiers, 33120 Arcachon ) on Arcachon Beach and boarded a boat shuttle to Cap Ferret. It was a scenic 30-minute ride to cross the bay with some pretty epic views of the Dune du Pilat. Pulling up to the small port of Cap Ferret, we noticed the rows of oyster beds marked with sticks and got excited to feast on oysters all week!

1 p.m.: Settle into a surfside bungalow

Once we arrived at the port, we walked 20 minutes through the quaint sandy roads flanked by rustic ranch homes to Hotel des Dunes ( 119 Avenue de Bordeaux ), our home for the next two nights. Hotel des Dunes is the oldest hotel on the peninsula, having originally opened in 1969, and thus has become somewhat of an institution.

In 2022, French-born Karine Hecquet and her husband Jean-Philippe, who have spent summers in Cap Ferret, bought the property and reopened it last summer as a modern surf lodge inspired by the motels you’ll find along the California coast. This wasn’t random, I learned, as the hotel’s new owners spent their summers in Cap Ferret and had also visited Hawaii, surfing their way through Waimea Bay, Ho’okipa, and Waikiki, before settling for a few years in New York, where they fell in love with Montauk. Throughout those years, they also spent time traveling to California surfing the best breaks in Malibu, Monterey, and San Diego, often staying in fuss-free seaside motels that would eventually become the source of inspiration when they returned to France in 2015 and rediscovered the joys of Cap Ferret.

So when the couple bought Hotel des Dunes, they had high hopes of bringing back the laid-back surf spirit ingrained in the hotel’s history. Along with the nostalgic feel of California surf motels, the property seamlessly emulates the traditional architecture around the basin, like the cabins on stilts typical of the Bassin d’Arcachon, which are used to watch over the oyster fields. If Hotel des Dunes isn’t available, as there are only 13 rooms, there are tons of chic affordable Airbnb options for families and groups of friends. Here are three I love:

2 p.m.: Nap on the beach

After we settled in, we were eager to get to the beach. The beach directly across the street from the hotel, Plage des Dunes, is on the Atlantic side, so it’s ideal for wind sports, like surfing and kite surfing. One of the things that makes Cap Ferret so unique is its geographical positioning, where you can access the calmer waters on the bay side of the peninsula and the wilder waters on the Atlantic side. Once we climbed through heaps of white sandy dunes flanked by tall grass, we descended to a beach that looked like it went on for miles. Since the water was a bit choppy on this side and we didn’t have the energy for water sports after our trip, we spent the afternoon reading and napping on the soft, pillowy sand. The weather was perfect, not too hot even during the dog days of summer; it was warm and dry with a perfect breeze.

5 p.m.: Visit your first oyster tasting on the basin

From the beach, we walked down to the oyster village that lines the basin and had a late lunch/early dinner at one of the most famous oyster spots, La Cabane d’Hortense ( Rue des Tamaris ), the casual sibling to the more formal restaurant Chez Hortense, which we visited the following day. At all of these “dégustation” shacks, as they’re called, they serve oysters, shrimp, snails, and pâtés. We ordered everything on the menu and topped it all off with a glass of white wine. After the meal, we walked through the fisherman village toward the main town lined with shops and restaurants and popped into a few boutiques. Our favorite was Belle Amie ( 10 Bd de la Plage ), which carried a well-curated assortment of designer brands, like The Row and Loewe, and smaller, more affordable French brands, like L/Uniform for great bags. Then we finally made our way back to the hotel to meet our friends who had just arrived from Capri.

10 a.m.: Enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel

We took our time this morning and indulged in a perfect breakfast, complete with fresh breads and cakes, the best charcuterie in the southwest, fresh fruit from Cocotte, a local legend at the Ferret farmers’ market, and granola and honey from the basin. After breakfast, we spread out across the property on the outdoor deck chairs and hammocks to catch up on some work before lunch at the iconic Restaurant Chez Hortense ( 26 Av. Du Sémaphore ).

Noon: Have a scene-y lunch at Chez Hortense

Two of us walked to lunch, which took 30 minutes as we cut across some scenic little beaches on the bay side, while the other two biked over using the bikes provided by the hotel, taking them roughly ten minutes. It felt like anyone who’s anyone on Cap Ferret was having lunch at Chez Hortense, so be sure to reserve at least a month in advance if you can. It’s set on a shaded outdoor terrace covered in vines and greenery with views overlooking the bay. It’s a nice crowd because it’s a mix of locals, friends, and families, yet it’s not rowdy, just really warm and fun. It was already super busy when we arrived for our 12:30 reservation and we ordered a pretty substantial amount. Oysters, the fish of the day, shrimp, and mussels and fries, paired with a couple of bottles of white wine. We polished it off with a round of dessert: some strawberries and cream and homemade ice cream.

3 p.m.: Hit the beach before the rain

After lunch, we made our way around the back of the restaurant and walked left toward the quiet beaches on the bay that we had discovered on the walk over to lunch (these beaches don’t have names, but you can’t miss them). We found a spot with a direct view of the Dune du Pilat and hung out at the beach before the rain came. As luck would have it, the rain lasted as long as it took us to run and bike home, and when we arrived, the sun was out on our little deck at Hotel des Dunes. We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing on the hammocks and taking in the final hours of sun before dinner.

8 p.m.: Enjoy a change of palate for dinner

The super-friendly staff at the hotel had booked us a reservation at Mayzou ( 32 Av. Nord du Phare ), a ten-minute walk from the hotel. Mayzou serves international cuisine and has a menu that changes daily depending on the fishing or harvest of their local suppliers. While we were loving our oyster-filled week, it was nice to try some new flavors. We ordered almost everything on the menu that day, which included pulled lamb tacos, tuna tataki, burrata and bottarga, tomato salad and anchovies, zucchini fritters, Japanese-style oysters, hong shao eggplant, Persian rice ,and popcorn chicken with spicy mayo. Everything had so much flavor and really hit the spot.

9 a.m.: Wake up early for a morning market run

I’m an early bird so after my early morning breakfast at the hotel, I took a stroll over to the Cap Ferret market ( Av. Du Monument Saliens ) as they were just setting up. The market sells crafts from woven basket bags and lamps to linen clothing by local vendors, as well as fresh fish and local wine. One of my friends biked over to meet me when they got up and we perused the market, restocking on some good linen finds before heading back to the hotel for our last day here.

11:30 a.m.: Spend a final beach day on the basin

When I got back to the hotel, my friends had just finished eating breakfast and we walked over to Plage du banc du Mimbeau ( Av. de la Conche ) on the bay side since it was right by our lunch reservation. It was an especially warm day, so we spent the afternoon in the water, swimming to the sandbar that forms when the tide is high.

1:30 p.m.: Take in another oyster lunch before checking out

When it was time for lunch, we walked a few steps to Chai Bertrand ( 48 Quartier des Pecheurs ) for yet another tasting of oysters, shrimp, snails, and white wine. After lunch, we walked back to the hotel and packed up, then Karine offered to drive us to the port in the hotel jeep.

4 p.m.: Check in to a new hotel in Arcachon 

We boarded the boat shuttle to Arcachon and from there called an Uber to Villa du Pyla ( 4 Av. du Figuier ), located in Pyla-Sur-Mer, a small seaside town just outside of Arcachon that sits between Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat. Villa du Pyla is a cozy guesthouse-style hotel on the beach, featuring 18 suites, each with kitchenettes and balconies or private patios. We relaxed on the beach for a few more hours of sun, then did some work from our balconies before dinner.

8 p.m.: Bask in a sunset dinner overlooking Dune du Pilat

We had the concierge call us a cab to take us to our dinner reservation at Hotel Restaurant La Co(o)rniche ( 46 Av. Louis Gaume ), the most famous hotel in the area, known for its insane views of Dune du Pilat, which sits just 4.5 kilometers away from the property. We grabbed drinks at the bar while waiting for our table and took tons of photos of the sunset overlooking the dunes and the bay before sitting down to dinner. We ordered a round of oysters and snails, followed by fresh fish of the day, which was a sea bass.

10 a.m.–1 p.m.: Begin our boat day around Arcachon Bay 

In the morning, a breakfast basket with a fresh baguette and other baked goods and fruit and yogurt was delivered to our door. We ate on the balcony overlooking the beach and got ready for our boat day on Arcachon Bay. We took a cab to the meeting point in the harbor at Rue de Marins and met up with the crew of Des Hommes et Des Mers . We booked a full six-hour day to really take advantage and see everything we wanted to (but you can also book three- or four-hour days). Des Hommes et Des Mers has the option of two boats, a smaller classic boat, called L’Empreinte (fits up to 12 people), built on the basin for the basin, which allows you to get as close as possible to the villages and the most inaccessible places, and a larger boat, L’Embrun (fits up to 15 people), which is a catamaran for larger groups. We started our journey on the basin checking out the famous stilt houses, “Les Cabanes Tchanquées,” an emblem of the basin located on L’ile aux Oiseaux, which were originally built for monitoring oyster parks. We then made our way closer to the Lège-Cap-Ferret peninsula and cruised along the shores of the various little fishing villages until reaching one of the most famous: L’Herbe.

2 p.m.: Visit L’Herbe for lunch, then go for a swim

We descended onto the beach of L’Herbe and walked up through the village, passing a few dégustation shacks until stopping for lunch at one called Kykouyou ( Av. de L’Herbe ). After lunch, we made our way through the charming, narrow backstreets of L’Herbe, exploring the village and its colorful fishing homes. We made our way back onto the boat and decided it was time to swim. We anchored at a beach that sits between Plage de la Vigne and La Plage des Américains for an hour of swimming before jumping back on and heading to the point where the bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, called “La Passe,” which is very dangerous to cross, depending on the swell and wind conditions, but we wanted to feel the strength of the current, so we jumped into the water and swam a bit against the wild and majestic backdrop of the dune. Wasn’t an easy swim, so only recommended for strong swimmers!

5 p.m.: Climb the Dune du Pilat and visit a secret sandbank

We then cruised over to the dune and actually managed to climb up partway. It was a pretty insane workout, and the views were wild. When we got back on the boat, our captain, Patrick, wanted to show us one more spot: a famous sandbank that sits in front of the Dune du Pilat that only appears for a few hours in the evening, called “Le Banc d’Arguin.” We were the first to arrive just as it was beginning to poke out from the water, and it was magical. We ran around and took in the 360-degree views of the bay just as the sun was beginning to set. Finally, because of the tides, Patrick was able to drop us right on the beach we were staying on, so we rolled onto the beach and straight into our hotel rooms.

8 p.m.: Enjoy a steak dinner

After so much seafood, we were craving classic bistro food, so we went to dinner at Café Ha(a)itza ( 312 Bd de l’Océan ), a brasserie at Hotel Ha(a)itza (our hotel helped us make the reservation the night before). It’s the same owners as La Co(o)rniche, but feels a bit more casual. We were ready for a change of pace from seafood, so we ordered a round of steaks and fries.

2 p.m.: Make an impromptu pit stop in Bordeaux

Two of our friends left for Ibiza that morning and my friend Anny and I got a cab to the Arcachon train station to travel back to Paris. We were on a direct train back to Paris, but when a train delay had us held up for 15 minutes in Bordeaux, we spontaneously decided to get off and finish out the weekend there! It was already the evening at this point, so we sat at the train-station café while we sorted out a place to stay.

5 p.m.: Check in to a charming hotel, then eat dinner at a southwest institution

We booked a last-minute stay at Maison La Course ( 69 Rue de la Course ), a former family home set within a 19th-century mansion around the corner from the hip Chartrons neighborhood. It has just five rooms, so we lucked out as they had a cancellation. The intimate nature of the home gives it a guesthouse feel with a few cozy communal spaces, like the lounge with a fireplace, kitchen, and tasting room (should you wish to book a tasting). There’s also a spa that we didn’t get around to checking out.

Once we settled in, we aimlessly walked around the city, making our way to the iconic La Tupina ( 6 Rue Porte de la Monnaie ) for dinner, known for its upscale southwestern comfort food. The crowd was a bit too touristy for our taste, but the food was solid and the service was super friendly. We ordered the macaronade de cèpes et foie gras (its signature rigatoni with crème fraîche, mushrooms, bacon, and foie gras sauce) and Chateaubriand beef filet with bone marrow — we really went for it … we were hungry! We loved the local red wine our waiter suggested, from Chateau de Parenchere .

11 a.m.: Walk around the Chartrons neighborhood

As it was Sunday, most things were closed (whoops!), but we still enjoyed strolling around the Chartrons neighborhood (I knew some places already as I had visited Bordeaux earlier in the summer with friends and expert tour guide Yolanda Edwards , who has a house in the Medoc). We picked up sandwiches at La P’tite Boulangerie Notre Dame ( 62 Rue Notre Dame ) for our stroll around the neighborhood before heading back to the hotel to catch up on some work.

6 p.m.: Have a final dinner in Bordeaux

In the evening, we wanted to go for a glass of wine and some salted anchovies at Motto Bar ( 33 Rue Piliers de Tutelle ), a hi-fi music bar, but we realized it was closed on Sundays, so we’ll save that for next time! Just next door, there was a place that looked great called Soif ( 35 Rue du Cancera ), which serves a seasonal menu of small plates, so we popped in there for dinner. We ordered the mussels, a really interesting tomato salad with crunch, and the beef dish they were serving that day. We paired the meal with some really good natural wines from the region; I loved my Merlot from Chateau Brandeau. We finished the meal with some local cheese, a brioche perdu, which is basically a fancy French toast, and, of course, some cognac! It was a perfect last meal before our two-hour train back to Paris in the morning.

Monica’s Arcachon Bay packing list

I love Attersee for elevated basics. The oversize shirt is a chic, lightweight piece for a coastal getaway. I wore it open to the beach and buttoned up at night.

I never travel without my Paravel Weekender bag, but it was especially clutch on this trip. It has smart straps that slip over the trolley of your carry-on suitcase and a zipper for seamless lugging through unpaved roads and cobbled streets. Nothing spilling out or falling over, and it fits way more than it appears.

Tombolo’s One-in-a-Billion for Billion Oyster Project shirt feels like a no-brainer here if you really want to get into the spirit of the trip — I did! It’s silly and fun, and 15 percent of proceeds from the capsule are donated to the Billion Oyster Project to help improve New York’s harbors.

I love Ciao Lucia’s Zacchi pant (in white or the more festive shell print). I like to pack clothes that can work double duty, and these do just that. They’re lightweight and easy to transition from the beach to dinner.

Of course, I don’t travel without SPF, but something less obvious that I don’t travel without is a tube of Biafine , a French pharmacy product that has proven extremely useful to treat sunburns (or sun rashes) for when you miss a spot with the SPF!

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments , rolling luggage , pillows for side sleepers , natural anxiety remedies , and bath towels . We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

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Today’s Top Clicked

Best eSIMs for Europe in 2024

Add these to your travel pack list

• Best overall
• Best for sub-regional plans
• Best for affordability
• Best for customizable plans
• Best for network coverage
• Best for calling and SMS
• eSIMs for international travel FAQs

eSIM cards have revolutionized the world and made life easier for frequent travelers. If you travel frequently across Europe, getting a physical SIM card in every new country you visit becomes stressful, but eSIMs have solved this issue. An eSIM is embedded in your phone, and you can seamlessly connect to new networks while you travel.

European travelers have endless eSIM options, and it can be challenging to pick a suitable one. However, you’ve arrived at the right place, which will help you make an appropriate choice. This guide will explore the best eSIMs for Europe and the factors to consider when choosing one. 

• We've also listed the best eSIM for international travel of 2024.

The best eSIM for Europe in 2024 in full:

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Best eSIM overall

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Airalo is a cost-effective eSIM that works in 39 European countries. It supports 5G connectivity, and you can choose a specific data plan and validity period. You can choose a plan covering the whole of Europe or a sub-regional plan like Eastern or Northern Europe. Note that Airalo offers data-only plans, meaning you won't get a phone number for calls and SMS. However, you can use VoIP apps like Skype and WhatsApp to call and text with your data.

Airalo is noticeably easy to activate and use. You'll download the app from the Play Store or App Store, scan a QR code, and activate the eSIM. Airalo supports many payment options, making it easy to pay from anywhere.

We like that Airalo offers a variety of data plans for European users. The 1 GB plan costs $5 and lasts up to 7 days. The 5 GB plan costs $20 and lasts up to 30 days. The priciest plan is 100 GB, which costs $185 and is valid for 180 days.

With an Airalo eSIM, you don’t need to bother switching between SIM cards when traveling across Europe. You'll enjoy swift 4G connectivity and 5G in some cities in the 39 supported European countries. The main drawback is that an Airalo eSIM offers only data– you don’t get an assigned phone number to make calls as you travel across Europe.

Read our full Airalo review.

• ^ Back to the top

Best eSIM for sub-regional plans

aloSIM is one of the best eSIM providers, and it has widespread coverage in Europe. It's available in 34 countries, offering excellent network speeds, including 2G, 3G, LTE, and 5G. You can choose the plan covering 34 European countries or a sub-regional plan covering 11 Eastern European countries.

aloSIM is easy to activate and use– you can buy and set up the SIM in a few minutes. Afterward, you can install the Android or iOS app to activate your plan. The app is intuitive and easy to navigate.

This eSIM provider offers data plans of 1 to 10 GB. You can pay $5 for 1 GB for 7 days, $8 for 2 GB for 15 days, $13 for 3 GB for 30 days, $20 for 5 GB for 30 days, or $37 for 10 GB for 30 days. Every data plan comes with a free international phone number to receive calls—a U.S. or Canada number that works over data or Wi-Fi, so it is not really a “phone number.”

With aloSIM at your side, you'll never pay roaming charges when you travel across the 34 supported European countries. Your data is unthrottled, and you can top it up if you run out of your initial allocation. Buying an aloSIM requires little identification and documentation.

Read our full AloSIM review.

Best eSIM for affordability

Saily is an affordable eSIM provider with widespread coverage across Europe. It is offered by the same company behind NordVPN , one of the best virtual private network (VPN) apps. Saily works in 150+ countries, including 37 in Europe.

Like Airalo, Saily only supports data plans without phone calls or SMS. We picked it because of its affordability and widespread coverage, with plans starting from just $2.49 weekly for 1 GB, depending on the country. You can choose a data plan between 1 GB and 20 GB, with the latter typically costing $28.99 monthly.

This eSIM provides speedy 4G or 5G connectivity as you travel across Europe. It removes the need for physical SIM cards and mobile contracts whenever you visit a new destination.

The main drawback we observed is Saily's limited data options. The highest plan you can get is 20 GB, unlike Airalo, which offers up to 100 GB. Saily also has no pay-as-you-go option, unlike some other eSIM providers.

Read our full Saily review.

Best eSIM for customizable plans

Holafly is an eSIM provider that gives unlimited data, unlike other providers with capped data plans. It offers plans ranging from 1 to 90 days, and you’ll enjoy unlimited data as long as your plan hasn’t expired.

An unlimited data plan is preferable if you plan to travel for a long time. It ensures you have data as you visit multiple countries, with no need to monitor your data usage constantly. Holafly works in 32 countries, from the U.K. to Romania, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, and more.

A good thing about Holafly is that users can customize their plans. You can choose the exact number of days, and Holafly bills you according to what you choose. For instance, 1 day costs 6 euros, 5 days costs 15 euros, 20 days costs 57 euros, and 90 days costs 129 euros. Holafly is more expensive than Airalo and Saily, but the unlimited data makes up for the high cost. 

With Holafly at your fingertips, you don’t need to worry about data access when traveling across Europe (in supported countries). Holafly doesn’t offer a phone number with its eSIM, but you can call via WhatsApp and other VoIP apps.  Use code TECHRADAR to get 5% off.  

Read our full Holafly review.

Best eSIM for network coverage

5. Bouygues my European eSIM

Bouygues Telecom is a well-known French mobile carrier. It offers an eSIM with coverage in all European countries, enabling you to enjoy vacations or business trips without worrying about roaming charges. 

This eSIM includes 30 GB of data valid for 30 days. It comes with a French phone number, which gives it a competitive advantage over other eSIMs in this guide. Many eSIM providers don’t offer phone numbers because of the complex infrastructure and regulations required to do so. However, if your eSIM comes from an established telecoms firm like Bouygues rather than a non-carrier provider, it’ll almost always include a phone number. 

Bouygues Telecom’s my European eSIM costs 39.90 euros ($43). After purchasing the eSIM online, you must scan a QR code on your smartphone to trigger the activation request. If you’re within Europe, you can activate your Bouygues eSIM immediately after triggering this request. There’s no need to download any app as with the other eSIMs on this list. You can transfer your Bouygues eSIM profile from one smartphone to another or delete it when you no longer need it.

Best eSIM for calling and SMS

6. Orange eSIM

Orange is the largest French telecommunications company by market share. Like its rival Bouygues Telecom, Orange offers an eSIM package that works in most European countries. Customers can get up to 50 GB of data and a French phone number with up to 120 minutes of calling and 1,000 texts. 

Orange offers three Holiday eSIM plans: 4.99 euros for 1 GB (without calling or text), valid for 7 days, 19.99 euros for 12 GB (30 minutes calling and 200 texts), valid for 14 days; 39.99 euros for 30 GB (120 minutes calling and 1,000 texts), valid for 14 days; or $49.99 euros for 50 GB (120 minutes calling and 1,000 texts), valid for 28 days. Users can enjoy high speeds of 4G, LTE, or 5G (only available on the 50 GB plan)

This eSIM has rigid plans that cannot be customized, as you can with Holafly. We also don’t like that 5G is restricted to the most expensive plan. However, Orange’s extensive network coverage and robust SMS and calling allowance make up for these drawbacks.

Best eSIMs for international travel FAQs

Factors to consider when choosing an esim.

1. Coverage

Coverage is the first thing to consider when choosing an eSIM that works in Europe. What countries does the eSIM provide network connection in? Europe has 44 sovereign countries, and the ones you travel frequently to determine the eSIM package to choose. 

It’s a good thing that some eSIM providers offer sub-regional packages for Eastern or Northern Europe. This way, you can pay for a cheaper package only covering the few countries you’ll be visiting instead of a more expensive package covering the whole of Europe.

If you’re a frequent tourist or business traveler, you can choose a package like the Bouygues my European eSIM, which works in all European countries. The rule of thumb is that eSIMs from established telecom firms offer more widespread coverage than those from eSIM-only providers like Airalo and Saily. The higher the coverage, the more you should expect to pay.

2. Phone number

Most eSIM packages don’t come with phone numbers. The exception is eSIM packages from telecom firms like Orange and Bouygues, which almost always include a phone number.

Most eSIM packages don’t include phone numbers because of the complex infrastructure and strict regulations required to offer them. Any company issuing a phone number must have a service provider license, which is very expensive to get. In contrast, data-only providers can easily tap into the infrastructure of existing telecom firms to provide network connectivity.

If you need a phone number for calls and SMS, look for an eSIM package from a well-known European telecom firm. But if you require only data, you can choose from Saily, Holafly, and Airalo. 

3. Data allowance

Look at the data plans and see the highest amount of data you can get under a single plan. If you’re a heavy internet user, you’ll likely need an eSIM with a robust data offering, i.e., 20 GB and above. The good news is that many eSIM providers offer up to 50 GB on a single subscription, and you can top up your data if the initial allocation runs out. 

Some providers offer unlimited data, eliminating any worry about accessing the internet when you travel across Europe (these are usually from established telecom firms with robust infrastructure).

Always check if the eSIM allows you to use your mobile phone as a hotspot, which is important if you’ll be commuting a lot during your visits. 

4. Length of stay

The duration of your trip is an essential consideration when choosing an eSIM package. Most eSIM providers limit the validity of your data and calling allowance. The smaller the data allowance, the shorter it lasts. For instance, you can find a 1 GB plan that lasts for barely 7 days or an unlimited data plan for 30 days. The longer the duration, the more expensive the eSIM package, but the price is worth it because it lets you avoid more steep roaming charges.

Of course, pricing must be considered when choosing an eSIM bundle. It’s necessary to choose a bundle you can afford without stress. Some eSIM providers offer fixed plans, while some allow you to pay-as-you-go. The latter is preferable if you’re not sure about the duration of your trip, while the former is preferable if you know the exact length of your trip and how much data, calling, and SMS allowance you need.

The good news is that there’s no shortage of affordable eSIM packages. You can find an unlimited data package for as low as 15 euros, depending on the validity period. The longer the period, the higher you should expect to pay.

Even if an eSIM package seems expensive at face value, consider that it saves you from potentially steep roaming costs when you travel. It’s not uncommon for people to rack up hundreds of euros in international roaming charges because they used a lot of data, SMS, and calling allowance. With an eSIM package, you’re assured of paying a fixed price beforehand and only topping up if necessary. In contrast, international roaming prices vary depending on the countries you visit, and you can end up paying much more than you expect. 

• We've also listed the best eSIMs for Turkey in 2024.

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Stefan has always been a lover of tech. He graduated with an MSc in geological engineering but soon discovered he had a knack for writing instead. So he decided to combine his newfound and life-long passions to become a technology writer. As a freelance content writer, Stefan can break down complex technological topics, making them easily digestible for the lay audience.

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Election latest: Reality star reveals changes he would make to political system

Rylan Clark has revealed the changes he would make to the political system - including introducing a "Power Rangers government". We're entering the last Friday of the election campaign.

Friday 28 June 2024 06:42, UK

• General Election 2024
• Who is on Sky News this morning?
• Analysis : Sunak's tetchiness over betting scandal speaks volumes
• Rylan would 'love' to get into politics
• How will Britain's ethnically diverse communities vote?
• Starmer defends plan for VAT on private schools

Election essentials

• Manifesto pledges: Conservatives | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid | Reform | SNP
• Trackers:  Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Campaign Heritage:  Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts:  Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more:  Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Guide to election lingo
• How to watch election on Sky News

TV presenter Rylan Clark has said he would "love" to become a politician - and replace the party system with a "Power Rangers of government" model.

The TV personality, 35, joined political editor Beth Rigby and former Scottish Conservative leader Baroness Ruth Davidson for this week's Sky News Electoral Dysfunction podcast.

Asked if he would ever consider the career change, he said: "If I wasn't in the job that I was in, I would love nothing more."

Rylan, who won Celebrity Big Brother and also appeared on the X Factor, appeared on the podcast in place of Labour candidate Jess Phillips after tweeting his praise for Rigby on the day Rishi Sunak announced the general election.

Sharing a clip of her and Sky presenter Sophy Ridge outside a rainy Downing Street waiting for Mr Sunak to appear at the lectern, he said: "Obsessed with the Rigby."

Speaking to her and Davidson, he said his "obsession" with politics began with Brexit - "as we've seen so many promises which weren't fulfilled" since then.

He added: "I lie there at night sometimes, and I think about [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy. He hosted one of the same shows I've hosted in Ukraine."

The TV presenter also shared his idea of abandoning political parties altogether.

Read the full story here: 

By Gurpreet Narwan , political correspondent

Britain could soon have its most diverse parliament ever but how will voters from ethnically diverse communities behave at the ballot box?

The voting trends of such groups are incredibly complex and varied. There is no single narrative but several themes stick out from YouGov's exclusive polling for Sky News.

Most notably, the handling of the conflict in the Middle East has damaged the two major parties in the eyes of British Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. This is something the Labour Party, in particular, is very sensitive too.

Labour have historically fared well with these voters and 53% of ethnic minority voters we polled said they would vote for the party - that's a greater lead than polls we've done with the general population.

However, the Tories fare worse among ethnic minority voters on the whole - in this poll they are neck and neck with the Green Party at 14%.

But, if we drill into the detail, 32% of British Indians said they would vote Conservative - 12% higher than the general population. This is a good reminder that there is a huge variation in voting trends among communities.

Reform UK polled much worse with ethnically diverse communities than the population at large - they're on 7% - but they're still one point above the Lib Dems.

Read Gurpreet's full piece here:

Welcome back to the Politics Hub.

It's the final Friday of the general election campaign.

In seven days time, we'll be waking up to the results of the country's vote.

The gambling scandal is still looming over the Conservatives, some communities are unhappy with Labour's response to the conflict in the Middle East, and Nigel Farage has responded to one of his party's campaigners saying the army should shoot migrants crossing the Channel.

Stay with us as we keep you up to date with the latest developments as they happen.

Coming up on Sky News this morning:

• Education secretary and Conservative candidate Gillian Keegan at 7.15am ;
• Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury and Labour candidate Darren Jones at 8.15am ;
• SNP leader John Swinney at 8.45am .

We'll be back at 6am with all the latest from the final week of the general election campaign.

There are just six days of campaigning left until the polls open on 4 July, and political parties from across the House of Commons are busy trying to win your votes.

Join us from the morning for more live updates.

Until then - read all the latest from Sky News below:

The Metropolitan Police has been dragged - reluctantly, as I understand it - into investigating candidates a week out from the election. 

Even 24 hours ago this was not the case - Scotland Yard wanted to take care of their own - the officers probed by the Gambling Commission - and no more.

But as the days have dragged on, it's clear the issue has become more complex, and now gone beyond the scope of the Gambling Commission.

What has changed is a realisation by investigating authorities that they need to look into whether some candidates may have broken the law on misconduct in public office.

This is beyond the remit of the Gambling Commission, which began the initial probe, and now falls to the police.

This means the prospect of mainly Conservative candidates, including the prime minister's closest aide, potentially being interviewed under caution, maybe even this side of election day.

You could see how tetchy the subject made Rishi Sunak in the interview with the broadcast pool earlier today.

Read Sam's full analysis here:

With our coverage here on the Politics Hub drawing to a close, here's everything you need to know as the election campaign entered its final week - and a sneak preview of what we have coming up tomorrow. 

• Sir Keir Starmer  has told Sky News there is "no evidence" private schools will be forced to close due to  Labour's plans to impose VAT on them ;
• Speaking to  Sky's Sophy Ridge,  the Labour leader defended his party's education policy to use the money to support state schools;
• He also vowed to "hit the ground running" should he become prime minister, saying cutting NHS waiting lists would be Labour's first priority in government.
• A Reform UK campaigner has been filmed saying migrants crossing the Channel should be used as "target practice";
• In   footage recorded by a Channel 4 undercover reporter , the same campaigner used a racial slur against Rishi Sunak;
• Another Reform figure was filmed making homophobic remarks ;
• Party leader Nigel Farage has described comments in the footage as "very wrong".
• Rishi Sunak  has refused to say if he told one of his closest parliamentary aides the date of the election  before he placed a bet on it ;
• Craig Williams , who has now been suspended as the Conservative candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr,  admitted  he "committed a serious error of judgment" but "not an offence";
• The  Metropolitan Police  have issued an update on their investigation into bets being placed on the date of the election - there are now  seven officers under investigation;
• Meanwhile, Mr Sunak's most senior adviser in Downing Street has been interviewed in the investigation. Sources have emphasised to Sky News that he is not a suspect.

Join us tomorrow morning for a new episode of Sky's  Electoral Dysfunction   podcast - and this time we've got someone very much outside the Westminster bubble.

Joining our  political editor  Beth Rigby   and  Ruth Davidson  this week is none other than  Rylan Clark .

👉  Tap here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts  👈

The next government is being urged to tackle an "appalling" rough sleeping crisis as new figures show a record high in London. 

A total of 11,993 people were seen rough sleeping in the capital in the year to March, according to the latest Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain) statistics.

That is the highest figure ever recorded on the database, and marks a 58% increase compared to 10 years ago.

The "appalling" increase reflects a "crisis, both in the capital and across the country", said Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, the membership body for frontline homelessness services in England, which manages the Chain database.

He said the next government "must create a cross-government plan to prevent rough sleeping and homelessness through delivering genuinely affordable and secure homes quickly, whilst making sure there are a diverse range of properly-funded homelessness services to help people address the root causes of their destitution and move on from rough sleeping for good".

The St Mungo's homeless charity said the next government must "treat homelessness as an emergency and prioritise it in their first 100 days".

According to the latest available figures for England, published in February, the estimated number of people sleeping rough on a single night in autumn in 2023 was 3,898 - more than twice that of the figure in 2010.

Racist and homophobic remarks filmed as part of a Channel 4 investigation   during the Reform UK campaign were "inappropriate," chairman of the party Richard Tice has said. 

Speaking at a Reform UK event in Boston with party leader Nigel Farage, Mr Tice said: "We put a statement out and it's all self-explanatory in the statement.

"The reality is that we're a fast-growing movement, and when you've got unpaid volunteers, some people behave inappropriately. And they're gone."

In footage recorded by a Channel 4 undercover reporter, a Reform UK campaigner has been filmed saying migrants crossing the Channel should be used as "target practice".  He also used a racist slur against Rishi Sunak (see previous post).

Another Reform figure was filmed making homophobic remarks.

Mr Farage has described remarks in the footage as "very wrong".

A Reform UK campaigner has been filmed saying migrants crossing the Channel should be used as "target practice". 

In footage recorded by a Channel 4 undercover reporter , the same campaigner used a racial slur against Rishi Sunak. 

The clips were recorded in Clacton, where Reform leader Nigel Farage is a candidate. 

Responding to the footage, Mr Farage has said the comments were "very wrong".

"There was an activist that said some pretty unpleasant things," he said.

"Very very prejudiced, very wrong.

"He's somebody who turned up to help ... all political parties encourage volunteers."

He added that the campaigner in question would "not be welcome back" and that the two other figures featured in the footage would also no longer be working with the campaign. 

In the footage, the undercover reporter captured canvasser Andrew Parker talking about people coming ashore at Deal in Kent.

Mr Parker said: "Army recruitment - get the young recruits there, with guns, on the f****** beach, target practice. F****** just shoot them."

Mr Parker said in a statement, sent to Channel 4 News: "I would like to make it clear that neither Nigel Farage personally or the Reform Party are aware of my personal views on immigration."

He added: "I have never discussed immigration with either Nigel Farage or the Reform Party and that any comments made by me during those recordings are my own personal views on any subject I commented on. At no time before I was sent out to canvass did I discuss my personal views with any representative of the Reform Party UK or Nigel Farage."

Another Reform figure was filmed reacting to a Pride symbol on a passing police car.  

He says: "You see that f****** degenerate flag on the front bonnet? What are the old bill doing promoting that crap?"

The other candidates for the Clacton constituency are:

• Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, Labour;
• Matthew Bensilum, Lib Dems;
• Craig Jamieson, Climate Party;
• Tony Mack, independent;
• Natasha Osben, Greens;
• Tasos Papanastasiou, Heritage Party;
• Andrew Pemberton, UKIP;
• Giles Watling, Conservatives.

Our live poll tracker collates the results of opinion surveys carried out by all the main polling organisations - and allows you to see how the political parties are performing in the run-up to the general election.

With just a week to go, the Tories and Labour have taken a drop, while support for Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats is on the rise.

Read more about the tracker  here .

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