Automatic

💸 Finn Ackermann from Iberostar Hotels & Resorts defends hotel price increases, asserting that continuing price hikes are based on customer valuation and willingness to pay for the hotel experience. At Hotel Trends during Fitur, industry experts including Fernando Vives from Minor Hotels Europe & Americas, Íñigo Onieva from Barceló Hotel Group, and Beatriz Miguel from Ilunion Hotels discussed optimizing pricing through value propositions and operational promises. Vives emphasized diversifying market strategies, targeting international clients with higher spending patterns, and utilizing revenue management to improve profitability beyond just raising prices. Ackermann suggested Spanish hotels previously undercharged compared to international counterparts. Vives highlighted the 2024 recovery in price-quality ratio and RevPAR growth due to higher ADR from quality offerings.

🏖 During the International Tourism Trade Fair (Fitur), the Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality and Sustainability (ICTES) awarded the Q Awards, recognizing tourism sector entities supporting Quality Q and Sustainable Tourism S. This year marks ICTES's 25th anniversary. Awards went to Jerez City Council, Benidorm and Costa Blanca Hotel Business Association (HOSBEC), Axarquía Routes (Málaga), and journalist Carles Lamelo. Special 25th-anniversary awards were given to Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Apartments (CEHAT), Intelier Hotels, and Astún Ski Station (Huesca). The event, attended by over a thousand professionals, was held at Madrid City Hall's Crystal Gallery. ICTES President Miguel Mirones highlighted the importance of business associations, and the minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, emphasized Spain's leading tourism role. A new EU directive for 2024 mandates certified sustainability through independent audits; over 600 Spanish companies and destinations are now certified.

🏠 In 2024, over 60% of hotel arrivals in Spain were from international guests, despite a 5% room rate increase to an average of €212, peaking at €247 in August. The high season extended with May and October arrivals at 9.39% and 9% respectively, up from 2023. Booking lead times increased by 6%, reaching 39.41 days. (Source: SiteMinder's "Hotel Booking Trends 2025").