Automatic

🏖️‍♂️ Hosteltur's Annual Travel Agent Congress, held on November 13 and the following Wednesday, features over 25 speakers addressing travel intermediation challenges online. The senior tourism industry, redefined post-pandemic, highlights value propositions over price, as discussed by IAG7, Nautalia, and Mundiplan. Lopesan Hotel Group and Stoneweg Hospitality acquired Madrid's Hotel Miguel Ángel, a transaction previously valued around €200 million, marking Lopesan's entry into Madrid and second urban tourism investment after the AC Hotel Iberia in Las Palmas. French pilots plan a strike against a proposed tripling of aviation tax, fearing job losses and weakened competitiveness.

📆 The Congreso Anual del Agente de Viajes de Hosteltur has been connecting travel agents with new industry challenges and strategies since 2021. In its latest edition, there's a focus on 30-minute workshops to improve retail work and profitability. Today's event, November 13, includes a contest with exclusive prizes for active participants. Sessions cover topics from new compensation models to AI in travel design, featuring speakers from Iberia, Costa Cruceros, Deloitte, and more.

🏩 Mujeres en Hospitality hosted a panel featuring José Ángel Preciados of Ilunion Hotels, Raúl González of Barceló Hotel Group, Gonzalo García-Lago of Azora, and Cristina Fernández of Covivio to discuss “The new era of tourism in Spain: revolutionizing the model for a bright future”. They analyzed challenges, including the paradox of rising prices, mentioned by Fernández, despite increasing rates not causing a recession in bookings. González noted RevPAR growth in the US at 2.5%-3%, and prices rising less. García-Lago revealed a 30%-35% price increase from 2019-2024, with further growth expected due to demand outpacing supply growth (1% vs. 3%-5%). The panel highlighted the potential growth in niches like Asian and US markets rediscovering Europe, and mentioned sustainability as a growing concern, though not the top priority for most customers. Strategies for the future include serious ESG consideration, more marketing, dignifying the sector, and unity among stakeholders.

🛫 SiteMinder's "Changing Traveller Report 2025" reveals the rise of the "everything traveller". Surveying over 12,000 travelers from 14 countries, including 870 Spaniards with a 25-questionnaire on travel and accommodation behavior. In Spain, 59% prefer cheaper rooms to allocate funds elsewhere, and 86% would spend more on extras like breakfast. Spanish travelers prioritize human contact, with 60% returning to hotels for personal experiences, and 70% willing to pay more for eco-friendly experiences.