Automatic

🔒 Since December 2, the European Commission (CE) is examining Spain's new traveler registry mandate, which requires accommodation, car rental, and travel agencies to report customer reservation data to the Ministry of Interior, potentially violating GDPR. Consumer and travel agency organizations, including OCU, UNAV, ACAVe, and FETAVE, demand the suspension of this registry until the CE completes its investigation, arguing it infringes on privacy, is excessive in terms of data collection, and imposes high responsibilities on businesses, especially SMEs. They advocate for the exclusion of travel agencies from the scope of the decree.

🎰 Parlament de Catalunya passed a law eliminating fiscal benefits for the Hard Rock casino and hotel in Vila-seca and Salou (Tarragona) with 72 left-wing votes. The session on January 29 repealed tax breaks from 2014, changing the gaming tax rate from 10% back to 55%. The opposition to Hard Rock triggered early elections in early 2024, leading to a government change. Hoteliers fear the project's future due to the removed incentives, despite a 6% growth in off-peak overnight stays last year.

🛫 The European Commission will informally exchange information with Spain on potential EU legislation breaches, after complaints from IATA, ERA, and A4E. Spain has ten weeks to respond under the "EU Pilot" mechanism, then the Commission has ten more weeks to decide on formal proceedings. Sanctions imposed in November in Spain marked the first severe penalties by the State Administration for consumer affairs, with the ministry gaining sanctioning powers in June 2022. Airlines are fined for charging for carry-on luggage, assigning seats for minors and dependents, and not accepting cash payments at Spanish airports. Fines include Ryanair (€107.8M), Vueling (€39.3M), EasyJet (€29.1M), Norwegian (€1.6M), and Volotea (€1.2M).