Distribución y Revenue Management

🏨 Riu Group initiated a merger between Riu Hotels S.A. and Hotel San Francisco S.A. in March, set to complete in summer. Post-merger, Riu Hotels will own 51 hotels in 15 countries with 26,051 rooms, employ over 16,900 staff, and manage a business volume of €1.8 billion in 2024, with projected revenue exceeding €2 billion in 2025. The merger, enhancing organization and cost efficiency, follows the Riu family's 2021 acquisition of a 49% stake from German group Tui. Operational management remains with RIUSA II, jointly owned by the Riu family and Tui.

💾 Duetto, a revenue management software provider, acquired financial benchmarking company HotStats, expanding its hotel industry solutions. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The entire HotStats team will join Duetto following the acquisition. This move follows last year's acquisition of GrowthCurve Capital by Duetto, marking its expansion strategy. The addition of HotStats aims to unify revenue sources into one platform, providing hoteliers with clear, actionable insights for total earnings optimization. David Woolenberg, CEO of Duetto, and Michael Grove, CEO of HotStats, anticipate enhancing revenue and profit optimization for hotels. Financial advisor Houlihan Lokey and legal advisor Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe represented Duetto, while Gately plc was the legal advisor for HotStats.

📈 In March of the current year, 846,000 European airport travelers arrived in the U.S., marking a 17.4% decrease from the previous year—a difference of 178,000 people. French travelers dropped by 5%, Germans by 29%, and Britons by 15%. Easter's shift from March in 2024 to April this year is a factor. Air France's Ben Smith acknowledged the significant decline and planned an 8-11.5% increase in their U.S. seat offerings this summer. Overall, commercial aviation will offer 4.2% more seats between Western Europe and the U.S. during the summer, while American airlines have not altered their programs.

✈ Greek air traffic controllers strike for 24 hours; no flights landing or taking off in Greece. British Airways cleaning staff and mobility assistance personnel strike at Heathrow, London, today; airport operations not halted but impacted. Easyjet staff in Italy, including flights with Spain, halt for four hours today, with more protests ahead. French railway workers set strikes from April 17 to June 2, potentially disrupting service among 8,000 employees during Easter. Airlines and railways obliged to provide care, food, and lodging if needed, but no compensation due to non-company related causes.

📈 Cloudbeds' 2025 report on hostel trends, based on data from 2,300 hostels in 62 countries with nearly 11 million bookings (2022-2024), indicates a shift towards optimizing performance due to labor shortages and price-sensitive travelers. Key findings include a rise in shared dorm occupancy and a decline in private room occupancy from the previous year; a 1.7% decrease in shared dorm ADR and a 4% drop in private room ADR; OTAs accounting for 74% of bookings; long stays of over 14 nights comprising 11% of dorm reservations; weekends being peak times with 35% of bookings; and OTA bookings having the highest cancellation rate at 19%. Emerging trends for 2025 include a focus on value, additional revenue streams, rising costs, labor reductions, staff turnover, and widespread adoption of AI in hostel operations. For more details, visit Cloudbeds at www.cloudbeds.com.

🛫 Viajes El Corte Inglés gears up for Semana Santa with a 'last minute' campaign, offering up to 50% discounts and a price match promise if a lower price is found with the same conditions. They have also waived cancellation fees, except for special condition products, and provide free or heavily discounted offers for children. The campaign sets them apart from other leading Spanish travel agencies, which lack specific promotions for the holiday period.

🏢 Over 1,000 tourism and hospitality professionals attended Turijobs Talent Meetup on April 1st, where 38 companies conducted an average of 60 interviews each, offering more than a thousand job openings. Companies like Meliá Hotels International and Marriott were present. The event included expert talks on employability and professional development, as well as a CV photography service for attendees.

🏨 Despite the challenge of direct sales, travel agencies in Spain persist, as evidenced by AON data showing an average of 3.5 surety policies issued annually, indicating a growth in new agency openings. At the FAAV's second convention, April 3-6 in Morocco, it was noted that agencies account for about 40% of air ticket sales, 30% in the hotel sector, and 20-25% in rail transportation. Even amidst increased travel costs post-pandemic, agencies maintain an essential role, with sales margins remaining tight. Notably, agencies have not declined since the late 90s, holding a steady 30% share in trip bookings. Key players like Iberia Cards and Binter affirm their commitment to intermediary channels, with Binter distribution through agents reaching up to 80% on some routes.

🏨 TecnoHotel magazine, issue 504, explores the digital era's challenges for the hotel industry, including AI's impact on search and booking, featuring insights from experts such as Carlos Bello, Toni Mascaró, and Albert Pérez. Inhala Hotel Garden in Madrid, previously Hotel Santo Domingo, reveals its rebranding focused on sustainability and will host the TH Awards 2025 gala on June 19. Submission for awards is open until April 16. The itinerant event TecnoHotel OnTour will next be in Ibiza on May 8.

🎄 Semana Santa 2025 in Spain saw a notable rise in tourism, with coastal destinations and islands leading the growth: coastal areas +26%, islands +47% compared to the previous year. International tourism played a key role with significant increases from France (+109%), the UK (+43%), and the USA (+28%). Mallorca (+94%) and Gran Canaria (+55%) topped the list. Overall Spanish night sales rose by 29%. The average daily rate (ADR) increased by 8%, with Costa del Sol and Fuerteventura witnessing the highest rise (+26%). Reservation anticipation grew, with Mallorca and Costa Barcelona leading at +28%. The national average stay length increased slightly by +2%.