The 46th edition of the European Trade Fair of Tourism Trends (SETT) concluded on November 6 at the Montpellier Exhibition Centre, confirming its position as Europe’s leading professional event for the outdoor hospitality and tourism industries.
Held from November 4 to 6, the 2025 event drew 20,215 professional visitors, marking an 8.7% increase from the previous year. Notably, international participation rose by 41.3%, with 13% of attendees traveling from abroad.
The three-day trade fair featured more than 700 exhibitors across 60,000 square meters, showcasing the latest trends, innovations, and equipment for tourism, outdoor hospitality, catering, and public leisure facilities.
According to organizers, this year’s growth underscores SETT’s expanding European influence and the vitality of the sector. “This growth reflects both the vitality of the sector and SETT’s ability to unite European stakeholders around shared priorities — ecological transition, attractiveness, and innovation,” said Philippe Robert, president of the Fédération de l’Hôtellerie de Plein Air Occitanie (FHPA Oc), which organizes the event.
Visitors from Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and Portugal contributed to the event’s strong international presence, reinforcing SETT’s status as a crossroads for tourism professionals across Europe.
Originally centered on outdoor hospitality, the fair now attracts a broader range of professionals, including operators of campsites, holiday cottages, guesthouses, cafés, hotels, and restaurants. Attendees also included managers of tourist facilities, swimming pools, and sports complexes, reflecting the industry’s growing interconnection.
This diversification was mirrored in the event’s partnerships. Alongside FHPA Oc, the Union des Métiers et des Industries de l’Hôtellerie Occitanie (UMIH) joined the fair, underscoring the complementarity between the outdoor hospitality and HORECA sectors.
Innovation was central to this year’s edition, with artificial intelligence (AI) as the main theme. A series of practical conferences explored how AI can enhance customer relations, marketing, communication, energy optimization, and safety management within the tourism sector.
These sessions aimed to equip professionals with tools to integrate digital transformation into their business strategies, helping them adapt to shifting consumer expectations and operational challenges.
The SETT d’Or competition highlighted innovation and sustainability, honoring five French companies for advancements in resource management, safety, digitalization, and sustainable development.
The fifth annual SETT Awards also took center stage, recognizing six French campsites for outstanding initiatives in hospitality and guest experience. A “Coup de Cœur” award was also presented to a sector leader for exceptional commitment to outdoor hospitality.
Presented by a jury of industry peers, the awards served as a moment of recognition for managers driving innovation and quality improvement across Europe’s outdoor accommodation sector.
Since its founding in 1978 by the Languedoc-Roussillon Outdoor Hospitality Federation, SETT has evolved into a continental hub for collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in tourism and hospitality.
The next edition of SETT will take place November 3–5, 2026, at the Montpellier Exhibition Centre, continuing its mission to connect and empower Europe’s tourism professionals.
Featured image by Marion Barges / Agence Seize9