Automatic

🏝 In 2023, overnight stays in short-term rental accommodations in Europe, booked via Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, and TripAdvisor, reached 719 million, marking a 20.5% growth over the previous year and a 40% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels. France led with 159 million overnight stays, followed by Spain at 141 million. The summer months of July (16.1%) and August (17.4%) saw over a third of these stays, with significant seasonality variations among countries.

📆 Travel distribution in Spain evolved over 30 years with key events shaping the industry. In 1994, traditional agencies dominated, with Viajes El Corte Inglés and Halcón Viajes leading. Internet emergence in 1998 saw the first online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia enter the Spanish market. By 2000, Booking.com and Lastminute.com consolidated in Spain. The Euro was introduced in 2002, facilitating travel within Europe. The financial crisis in 2008 forced traditional agencies to restructure. Internet penetration exceeding 50% in 2005, further boosted OTAs. The 2011 Imserso program expanded to include affordable spa stays. In 2019, Thomas Cook's bankruptcy shook the industry, followed by Globalia and Barceló's merger in November. COVID-19 in 2020 devastated the industry, leading to rapid adaptation and promoting local tourism. By 2022, the sector began to recover, focusing on flexibility and safety. In 2023, Viajes El Corte Inglés exited the Soltour Travel Partners joint venture, and in June 2024, FTI Touristik declared bankruptcy, highlighting the ongoing dynamics in travel distribution.

🏨 Booking.com faced a CNMC fine of €413 million, the highest sanction by the regulator, for imposing unfair commercial conditions on hotels in Spain and restricting competition among online travel agencies (OTAs), thus abusing its market dominance. AEHM's complaint led to this ruling and prompted Booking to change its terms on June 13, effective July 1, including eliminating the "narrow parity clause," binding Spanish legal terms, and shifting judicial jurisdiction to Spain. AEHM President Gabriel García Alonso noted positive outcomes for Spanish hoteliers and market fairness.