Distribución y Revenue Management

🏖️ European Tourism Association (ETOA) and Forwardkeys report Europe is set for an "exceptional summer" with incoming tourism expected to exceed previous records by 12% over last year. International arrivals in July and August surpass the global growth of 11%. Asia-Pacific market is rebounding with a notable increase of 11%, and the U.S. market is up by 21%. Urban destinations see the highest growth rates, with Munich (+37%), Vienna (+23%), Zurich (+23%), Prague (+22%), and Budapest (+21%) leading. Demand for economy seats has grown by 11%, while premium remains at a 1% increase. Central and Eastern Europe's incoming tourism is up by 23%, Northern Europe by 12%, and Southern Europe by 10%. China and Japan's travel to Europe is surging by 64% and 53%, respectively. Big events like the Euro 2024 and the Olympics contribute significantly to tourism, with Germany gaining a 19% increase in arrivals. Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concerts also boost city visits, such as Stockholm (+136%), Warsaw (+203%), and London (+45%).

📍 Travel wholesalers, also known as bed banks, are B2B companies that purchase hotel room inventory in bulk at discounted rates and sell it to OTAs, travel agencies, tour operators, airlines, and others. They do not sell directly to travelers. These wholesalers have unique prices for operators to participate in their programs and sell differently; some offer only rooms, while others provide packages, with some focusing on specific property types or markets. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for diversification and more agile, tech-driven business strategies became evident, changing the narrative around wholesalers. They are now seen as a viable option for hotels, with predictions that hotel room sales through bed banks will surpass $50 billion in the future. Hotel wholesalers like HPro Travel, Hotelbeds, and WebBeds are among the major players, with HPro Travel claiming to work with one million hotels in 70,000 destinations across 205 countries, Hotelbeds operating in 185 countries, and WebBeds having nearly 400,000 hotels in 14,000 destinations. Managing wholesale agreements effectively involves planning, testing, constant management, continuous analysis, partnering with like-minded companies, and taking control by insisting on dynamic rate agreements. Post-pandemic, wholesalers are adopting more responsible practices with greater transparency and less rate fragmentation, and the market is trending towards last-minute bookings. Best practices for hotels include considering demographic and guest profiles, improving distribution networks, and creating an online

🏦 Jarquil started transforming a 20th-century office building in Sevilla into a 5-star luxury hotel, set to be completed in Q1 2026. Serras Hotel Collection will manage the 45-room hotel facing the Cathedral on Avenida de la Constitución. Antonio Bignone, CEO, announced the deal with Banco Santander for a 30-year variable lease in early 2023. The property, originally Marquis of Villamarta's residence, later Banco Popular's headquarters, will feature a rooftop terrace and will preserve historical elements, redesigned by Eddea Arquitectura y Urbanismo.

📈 Abel Torres of Haven Resort in Cancún experienced a significant revenue increase due to enhanced visibility of premium services like spa treatments and exclusive dining experiences via a guest app. Jonathan Iriarite from Planet Hollywood reported a 15% revenue increase four months after implementing STAY app, attributed to service visibility and reservation convenience. Planet Hollywood processed nearly 50,000 transactions in four months, managing up to 77 concierge services, 59 sports bookings, 19 spa reservations, and 37 cabana bookings daily through the app. Vanessa Díaz Barrer of Barceló Fuerteventura in Spain saw revenues quadruple by making services more visible and accessible on the Barceló App. The app's integration reduced cancellations and attracted non-guests, enhancing operational efficiency with Spa PRO designed for resort spa needs.

🏨 Spanish hotel rates average €195 per night in the summer of 2024, increasing by 9.1% from the previous year. The report "The Hotel Pricing Outlook" by Simon-Kucher analyzed over 2,000 hotels in Spain from August 1-6, 2024, compared to 2023. Baleares tops with €276 per night, followed by Barcelona at €219, and Alicante records a 6% decrease to €185. Luxury hotels in Baleares witnessed a 15% hike, while budget hotels rose by 25%. Madrid and Sevilla offer stays up to 90% cheaper on average.

🏨 Cristina López and Neil James discuss hotel reputation leadership and tech trends in Shiji Insights' first podcast episode. Episode 2 features Alejandro García of Duetto discussing the influence of reviews on hotel revenue and occupancy. Fernando Vives talks about Minor Hotels' rebranding and its impact on revenue in Episode 3, highlighting the link between online reputation and revenue management.

🏨 Over 90% of travelers read online reviews before booking a hotel room. Key strategies for online reputation management in hotels include: constant monitoring and responding to reviews on platforms like TripAdvisor and Google Reviews; engaging with guests on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter); maintaining an attractive and informative hotel website optimized for mobile devices; collaborating with travel bloggers and influencers; providing prompt online customer service; offering loyalty program benefits; and analyzing competitors to adapt successful strategies. These efforts ensure a positive perception among guests and contribute to a hotel's success.

💰 Lastminute and Ryanair have signed a three-year partnership, allowing the online travel agency Lastminute.com to offer Ryanair's low-fare flights as part of its services. This historic partnership contrasts sharply with unauthorized OTAs that overcharge customers. The agreement provides Lastminute.com's customers with easy access to Ryanair flights, benefits like deferred payment plans, package protection, and last-minute deals, and promises better customer collaboration between Lastminute.com and Ryanair. Luca Concone, the CEO of Lastminute.com, is looking forward to a close working relationship with Ryanair.

💸 Revenue Management began in the U.S. transportation sector in the 1970s. By 2004, it started to impact the Spanish hotel sector, marking a digital shift from the traditional three-rate system based on seasons. The emergence of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) revolutionized hotel distribution and marketing. Early Revenue Managers relied on Excel for Yield Management, but today’s automated systems include Channel Managers, Rate Shoppers, and Revenue Management Systems (RMS), which have transformed market analysis and pricing strategies.

La final de la Eurocopa de fútbol en Alemania se celebrará el domingo 14 de julio en Berlín, donde los vuelos desde España han experimentado un aumento del 53%, situándose en 174 euros por trayecto. Mientras tanto, las tarifas desde Reino Unido son las más elevadas alcanzando 572 euros por trayecto, con un aumento del triple en tan solo 48 horas antes del evento.