Distribución y Revenue Management

✈ IAG has completed a €70 million share repurchase program to acquire 27,064,575 shares, representing 0.5% of its capital, to cover the share delivery obligation to the owners of the 80% of Air Europa not yet owned by IAG. The program started on July 1. The acquisition is pending approval by the European Commission, with a definitive ruling due by August 20. If rejected, the shares may be distributed to executives or employees as part of incentive plans.

🏖 Viajes El Corte Inglés announces 'Special Days' campaign from July 11-17, offering up to 20% off on last-minute travel deals including coasts, islands, the Caribbean, cruises, theme parks, and tours for July and August. The initiative aims to boost bookings amidst a tourism slowdown, also featuring free or discounted rates for children and a price-match guarantee.

🏨 IHG Hotels & Resorts announces the signing of four new hotels in Spain, adding over 500 rooms across the Luxury & Lifestyle (Hotel Indigo), Premium (voco hotels), and Essentials (Holiday Inn Express) collections. The expansion, expected to increase room numbers by 10% in the Iberian Peninsula, comprises: 82-room Hotel Indigo in Jerez de la Frontera expected to open in Spring 2026; 167-room voco Granada slated for Spring 2026; 148-room Holiday Inn Express Sevilla - City, and 130-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sabadell, including 20 suites, joining by the end of 2025. Currently, IHG operates 55 hotels in Spain and has opened 10 in the last five years.

📌 Globales, a hotel chain based in Mallorca with 54 properties, has adopted SiteMinder's technology to manage bookings, expecting an 8% increase in international travelers to Spain compared to last year's record season. Federico Crudo, Globales' Commercial and Marketing Director, anticipates a strong travel period, noting a demand rise and improved net revenue results since the technology's implementation. SiteMinder's Álvaro Rubio highlights that booking volumes in Spain currently surpass 2023, a record year. Globales, established in 1967, employs 3,000 people globally and operates in the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Costa del Sol, Belgium, Nicaragua, and Argentina. SiteMinder, founded in Sydney with offices worldwide, facilitates over 120 million bookings annually, valued at $50 billion.

🏖️ 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.