Paris, like many European cities, was not built to cope with extreme heat.
The Eiffel Tower and Louvre temporarily closed in June, when France recorded its hottest-ever heatwave; restrictions on water use tightened; and the country’s infrastructure was at risk of buckling.
It’s 32 degrees Celsius in the city today, a slight improvement on the last few days, but I’m still sitting in darkness. Despite the brightness outside, my curtains and windows are closed — they are the only thing between me and the day’s oppressive heat.
For travelers from the U.S., where AC is commonplace, it’s been bleak. Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record and, after a brief cooler spell, the heat just won’t quit. The numbers aren’t yet in for July but, in the UK, provisional data suggests last month smashed records for being the hottest and driest on record for parts of the country.
Climate change is reshaping travel, from searches for hotels with AC soaring to travelers opting to stay in cooler countries.
Destinations that don’t adapt risk losing out, and Paris is already experiencing backlash for its sluggish AC adoption. The city’s mayor for international relations, Audrey Pulvart, pushed back on social media, highlighting the fact the country is trying to curb its carbon emissions. AC, with its additional energy use, contributes to the very thing it is designed to offer relief from. France is split on how to deal with that.
Hotels are in a bind, and now must weigh up the same arguments: guest comfort or climate goals, and bad reviews that come along with the latter.
That’s what I’ve been digging into this week, and here are a few things that stood out to me:
Chains could benefit from long dry and hot spells because they offer predictability, and a high likelihood of having AC. What does that mean for independent and boutique hotels?
Increasing the number of rooms and rentals that have AC is not a real solution. Travelers want to try new food, experience culture, and see the sights — not sit staring at the same four walls for most of the day. Without a structural fix, could summer become western Europe's quiet season?
Online reviews and social media posts are littered with complaints about short-term rentals that said they have air conditioning but didn’t. I’m curious, could we see booking sites crack down on this?
If you have the answer to any of these questions, you know where to find me: [email protected].
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