Aperturas de hoteles

📍 Pangea, led by David Hernández, announces the opening of 10 new sales outlets in Spain during the fall. The travel company aims for a total of 19 stores across the country, adding to the existing 4 flagship stores in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, and Valencia, plus 5 new travel stores in Valladolid, Oviedo, Girona, Córdoba, and Tenerife. Celebrating its 10th anniversary next year, Pangea's first franchise in Valladolid saw a 44% increase in turnover, a 31% rise in average ticket, a 56% increase in margin percentage, and a 124% growth in total margin in its first year. Hernández critiques rival franchise models as outdated compared to Pangea's focus on quality over quantity.

🏨 Marriott opens Moxy Barcelona in Sants neighborhood, next to AVE station, featuring 414 rooms. The hotel offers a rooftop with a pool, chill-out cabanas, a bar, and pop-up food stands with city views. Moxy, launched by Marriott in 2013, emphasizes larger, dynamic common areas over room size, with check-in at the bar and communal work-relaxation spaces.

🏨 Javier Isidro Mosquera, general director of Ibervalles, announced the transformation of an office building at 27 General Perón Avenue, Madrid, into a 5-star hotel. The property, owned by Allianz until 2023, is contracted with CBRE to find a hotel operator, aiming to meet the booming hotel demand in Madrid driven by urban and tourism renewal. Proximity to Bernabéu Stadium is seen as a benefit, impacting hotel prices during major events. ????

🏡 Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra, acquired by Blasson Property in November 2021, is set to open in Mallorca's second quarter of 2025. The resort, initially scheduled to launch this year, postponed its full luxury renovation completion to the second half of 2024. It will offer 131 rooms including 44 suites and nine bungalows by the sea in Costa d’en Blanes (Calviá). Currently, 18 job vacancies are available, ranging from finance to engineering and marketing. This will be the brand's first European resort and third in Spain, joining Madrid and Barcelona.

🏨 Ferrer Hotels will manage a new 4-star asset with 163 rooms in Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, Mallorca, starting in the 2026 season, after renovations to meet the group's standards. The hotel, first of the chain in the municipality, is located 5 minutes from the sea and features a gym, pools, and a pool bar. Currently, Ferrer Hotels operates 6 assets in Mallorca and Menorca, with Alejandro Coll as the Director of Expansion since January. The other part of the Hotel Mariant Park complex will remain under the Pascual Femenías family.

✈️ Julianna Marshall of the International Drivers Association advises avoiding airplane seats 11A and 11F for a pleasant flight experience. British flight attendants' study highlights these seats' disadvantages, such as reduced legroom despite proximity to emergency exits and sometimes lacking a window. Additionally, these seats often experience cooler temperatures and increased noise levels near exits, kitchens, or bathrooms. Experts suggest checking seat maps on airline websites and consulting airline staff at check-in for better seating options.

✈️ Vueling, led by Carolina Martinoli, is launching a new route to Istanbul on October 29 with three weekly flights from Barcelona on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Plans to increase to seven weekly flights by March 2025 are in place. The IAG low-cost carrier could operate up to ten weekly flights, competing with Turkish Airlines, which runs 2-4 daily flights on this route. Vueling offers more affordable pricing, with tickets already on sale, challenging Turkish Airlines and Pegasus, which operates weekly.

🏠 The Eurostars Winter Heaven, a 4-star hotel designed by Albert Anis in 1939, is situated on Ocean Drive and features 70 rooms, two event spaces, an Italian restaurant named Il Bolognese, and a lobby bar. Amancio López, president of Grupo Hotusa, emphasizes the company's expansion policy and growth in international markets, aiming to strengthen business in the United States, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Eurostars Hotel Company, with 260 hotels across 19 countries, includes 120 high-end Eurostars Hotels, 10 unique Áurea Hotels, 90 modern Exe Hotels, and further brands like Ikonik Hotels, Crisol Hotels, and Tandem Suites.

🏨 Vibra Hotels to open the new 4-star Vibra Yamm hotel in Ibiza in 2025, following a €15.8 million investment starting in 2023. Renovations for Apartamentos Jabeque Blue, part of a strategic property repositioning plan, will start in October with a €6 million budget. Vibra Yamm will have 113 rooms across Yamm Sunset and Yamm Urban, creating roughly 200 jobs through local companies. Vibra Jabeque Blue will be upgraded to 4 keys, offering 75 one-bedroom apartments.

🌍 Soltour adds four new destinations and enhances its offerings in Maldives with more flight, accommodation, and activity options. A 17-day cultural immersion circuit in China covers Beijing, the Great Wall, Terracotta Army, Luoyang, Chengdu, Guilin, Canton, Macao, and Hong Kong. South Korea’s circuit lasts six days, while Thailand offers a nine-day journey through Bangkok, Phitsanulok, Chiang Rai, and Chiang Mai. The expanded Asian operations aim to meet the growing demand from Spanish travelers, with selected departures to strategic Asian markets, as emphasized by Luis Santos, Soltour’s Commercial Director for Spain and Portugal.