Automatic

🏖 In 2024, nearly two in five (38%) British travelers booked their holidays with a travel professional, up from just over a third (34%) the previous year. Young families and 18-24-year-olds saw an increase in using travel agents, from 36% in 2019 to 55% and 48% respectively in 2024. Package holidays remain the most popular choice for Brits traveling abroad, with 62% booking this way, rising to 77% for families and 71% for young adults. Top reasons for choosing packages included cost-effectiveness (44%), time savings (38%), and organized travel (37%).

💰 Expedia, an online travel agency, reported a 40.6% surge in net profit to €871.3 million ($935 million) for the first three quarters compared to the same period in 2023. This success is attributed to a 9% increase in overnight bookings during the summer months of the third quarter. Revenue rose 5.5% to €9.373 billion, and EBITDA increased by 6.6% to €2.135 billion from January to September. In the third quarter alone, net profit jumped 61% to €684 million. Expedia has repurchased 11.2 million shares at a total cost of €1.398 billion, averaging €123.08 per share, following an executive committee's authorized buyback program in October 2023 for an intended €4.660 billion ($5 billion).

🎄 Madrid welcomes Christmas on November 28 with its iconic lighting ceremony attracting thousands. The city offers a capella choirs, gastronomic markets, and the traditional Plaza Mayor Christmas market. Visitors can enjoy selfie spots with huge Christmas trees, take the 'Christmas bus' tour, and ice skate in rinks around the city. Cirque du Soleil presents "Alegría" at Espacio Puerta del Ángel. "Circo Price en Navidad" and "Circlassica" at Ifema-Feria de Madrid provide acrobatic shows with a holiday spirit. Families can explore "El Manantial de los Sueños El Origen de la Navidad" with various Christmas activities. "Naturaleza Encendida" at Parque Enrique Tierno Galván turns into a magical landscape with illuminated sea creatures and insects. Immersive exhibitions like "La leyenda del Titanic" and "Harry Potter: The Exhibition" are perfect for family outings. BLESS Hotel Madrid and Hotel InterContinental offer Christmas-themed experiences, including meeting Santa Claus and viewing the Three Kings Parade. Other hotels like Rosewood Villa Magna provide ice skating rinks and festive lounges. Enjoy musicals like "Los pilares de la Tierra" and "Come from Away" this season.

🏖️ Melilla introduces Tourist Vouchers offering up to 75% discounts on transportation and accommodation to make the culturally rich and historically significant Spanish city in North Africa more accessible. Known for its mix of European and African influences, the city boasts a unique architectural heritage, including the second largest collection of Modernist buildings in Spain after Barcelona. The Blue Flag beaches, year-round mild climate, and the fusion of Mediterranean and Arab cuisine add to its allure. The vouchers can be obtained at bonosmelilla.es, with a limited offer suggesting prompt application.