Hosteltur

📌 In Santa Cruz de Tenerife province, hospitality employers and unions remain at odds over labor and economic conditions, continuing the Easter Week strike discussions. The sector employs 76,821 people: 33,633 in accommodation services and 43,188 in food and beverage services, according to Q4 2024 data from Istac. Manuel Fitas of Sindicalistas de Base states this is the third well-intentioned failure by the Canarias Government and insists the strike won’t be called off without an agreement on all terms. Ashotel and AERO propose linking wage increases to productivity and improved working conditions, but unions highlight issues like work overload and work-life balance, demanding shifts allowing for family life, eliminating split shifts, excessive work, and ensuring staff levels meet service needs without compromising workplace safety and health. They also call for replacing sick leave, aligning job categories with actual duties, and regulating temporary employment agency contracts. A salary review could avert the strike if employers accept the pre-warning points, Fitas warns. The employers seek to address economic aspects and daily operational challenges, suggesting a negotiation table for the collective agreement, with further talks planned next week.

📌 Jaime Concheiro, partner at CCS Abogados, addresses key queries from hoteliers about the collective lawsuit against Booking during Updating Hotelero 2025, an event organized by tourism news outlet HOSTELTUR. The video clarifies the lawsuit's connection to the CNMC fine and options for hoteliers seeking to sue Booking for damages due to parity clauses.

🏡 Starting April 3, new tourist apartment openings in Spain require three-fifths support from property owners for approval. The Organic Law 1/2025 amends the 1960 Horizontal Property Law, empowering communities to approve, limit or prohibit short-term rentals. Pre-existing tourist apartments can continue under old regulations. Also, a digital registration for legal compliance is underway, with 18,104 applications since January; 49% approved, 11% rejected. The measure aims to reduce housing pressure and ensure more long-term residential rentals.

📌 Destinia, a Spanish online travel agency, joins the case against Booking.com due to a €413 million fine imposed by CNMC for abuse of dominance (Article 2 of the Spanish Competition Law & Article 102 of the TFEU). CNMC initiated the sanctioning procedure following complaints by Spanish hotel associations in 2021. In July 2024, CNMC fined Booking; in November 2024, Booking appealed. The National Court suspended the fine on March 7, pending appeal resolution. Booking vows to exhaust all legal avenues to defend its rights.