Alex Cuenca

🚧 The Catalan business community opposes the increase in the tourist tax in Barcelona. Foment de Treball's tourism committee president, Miquel Gotanegra, expressed firm rejection and criticized the lack of constructive dialogue from the government. They demand a comprehensive economic report to assess the impact on both the tourism sector and visitor economy, warning that the measure could disadvantage residents who travel within Catalonia. The organization seeks transparency on tax revenue allocation and believes funds should enhance tourism quality and sustainability.

🛫 Boeing reassigns up to 50 planes originally sold to Chinese airlines due to a US-China trade war with tariffs of 125% on planes by China in response to 145% by the US. CEO Kelly Ortberg is negotiating with international clients to acquire these aircrafts, including 41 in production and 9 scheduled for the year. Despite the China setback, Boeing plans to increase 737 Max production to 38 units per month due to strong global demand.

📍 César Gutiérrez, presidente of Fetave, opposes the burdensome documentation registry for travel agencies, particularly impacting small businesses, with compliance being impracticable. Fetave filed a formal complaint with the European Commission in January 2023. No official notification from the Spanish Government or meetings held post-consultation period. Challenges include data protection, internal management, and operational strain, with many agencies struggling with RD 933's requirements. The market's growing consolidation, led by dominant players like VECI, Ávoris, W2M, and Travel Live, raises competition concerns, while financing options for vacations are increasingly popular for maintaining quality of life. The sector's personnel shortage persists post-pandemic, with a need for training and better working conditions. Despite external economic factors, optimism remains for 2025, with expected consolidation after surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2023 and 2024.

🏨 Spanish hotels are preparing mass lawsuits against Booking.com, with over 400 hotels coordinated by the Spanish Association of Hotel Directors. Eskariam (Spain) and Geradin Partners (France) formed an alliance to streamline legal procedures across Spain and France, with Italy and Portugal potentially joining. The European Court of Justice deemed Booking's rate parity clauses illegal. Booking faces a €413 million fine from Spain's CNMC for abuse of dominance, which is under appeal.