Distribución y Revenue Management

📆 Google Hotel Ads will end its commission-based bidding model on February 20, 2025. Hotels that shifted from this model before it was mandatory have seen up to tripled metasearch revenue. Google launched the commission-based bidding model (CPA) in 2020, which required payment only after a guest booked. Alternatives include Target ROAS, Performance Max for Travel Goals (PMTG), and cost-per-click (CPC) bidding. Collaborating with a hotel marketing specialist offering commission-based bidding is recommended for those without an initial ad budget.

🏗 Ávoris seeks to improve relations with Viajes El Corte Inglés early this year, aiming to reverse mutually withdrawn incentives due to a commercial disagreement linked to Imserso. Ávoris' operators experienced a significant sales drop in Spain's largest agency network following the incentive removal, indirectly benefiting their rival W2M. They intend to negotiate a new commercial agreement to restore travel agents' sales incentives for Travelplan, Catai, and Special Tours products.

🏖️ Barcelona—a family-friendly destination pairing history, culture, beaches, and green spaces—requires careful planning for an optimal, hiccup-free trip. Reserving accommodation, attractions tickets like the Sagrada Familia, Parque Güell, and the Aquarium de Barcelona, and transportation well in advance saves time and costs. The city's public transport is accessible, yet buses may be more convenient than the metro for strollers. Parking at Barcelona Airport ensures a worry-free trip start. Utilize apps like TMB App, Google Maps, Citymapper, and Moovit for real-time transport updates and itinerary planning. For savings, consider combined attraction tickets, free activities, family meal deals, and fixed-price unlimited travel cards like T-casual or Hola Barcelona Travel Card.

🏖️ Costa del Sol hotels began 2025 with a January occupancy rate of 60.58%, slightly above the previous year's 58.23%. International tourists made up about 80% of visitors, while domestic travellers accounted for 20%. Nerja topped the demand with a 76.91% occupancy rate, followed by Frigiliana-Torrox at 68%, Benalmádena at 54.47%, and Mijas at 50.98%. However, the Average Gross Impact per Guest per Night (IBCA) fell from €110.54 in January 2024 to €88.73 in January 2025. February projections anticipate a 73.26% occupancy rate, with Frigiliana-Torrox expected to lead at 83%. March estimates suggest a 75.47% rate, with Frigiliana-Torrox again in the lead, projected at around 81%.

✈ Jerez Airport will have a direct flight to Warsaw during spring and summer, operated by TUI Poland. The route, announced by Mayor María José García-Pelayo, will run from April to October with a weekly flight expected to carry over 5,300 passengers. This new market opportunity enhances Jerez Airport's potential. Additionally, over 5,000 seats will be added towards Andalusia for the summer season, and Gaditan hotels will be featured in TUI's catalogs, promising increased destination marketing.

🌎 Santorini, Greece faced earthquakes leading to mass evacuations; the strongest quake measured 4.9. The seismic activity increased since January 24, causing panic. Viajes El Corte Inglés (VECI) is focusing on digitalization and NDC for personalized customer experiences in travel, with Toni Cortès emphasizing its benefits. Palladium Hotel Group plans a €650 million investment over three years for global expansion, with interest in Southeast Asia and major cities in Europe and America, following record revenues in 2024. Abel Matutes Prats announced at Fitur 2025 that new operations are expected soon.

✈ Ryanair is restructuring in Spain, removing aircraft from Santiago de Compostela, Sevilla, and Valencia, cutting over 800,000 seats, a capacity reduction of 18%, and eliminating 12 routes. The airline is negotiating with Aena for lower airport fees. 90 employees, including pilots and cabin crew, are being relocated. Santiago de Compostela's base now risks closure with only two planes remaining. No operation cuts are planned for Madrid or Málaga, but growth is expected in Alicante and Reus, with a 1.5 million seat increase in summer 2025.

🏠 Viajes El Corte Inglés has a decade-long partnership with Sabre, integrating technology from Logitravel after a merger. Emphasis is on omnichannel customer service, operational digitalization, and online-offline synergy. Over 10 NDC integrations, 3 GDS, and low-cost airline integrations offer comprehensive content. NDC's dynamic pricing is highlighted as a key differentiator. Collaboration with Google focuses on AI and Machine Learning for product development, targeting efficiency and automation. Post-sale services have been automated to reduce human intervention. The transformation from GDS to technological partners reflects the shift towards a more integrated, content-rich travel experience.

🏡 Tourists from Imserso experienced a shocking surprise upon arrival at their hotel in s'Illot, Mallorca, with unprepared and dirty accommodations. The hotel, which opened the same morning to start the season, had unfinished renovation and cleaning work. The tourists, coming from Barcelona and Bilbao, landed around 10 a.m. and faced hours of waiting due to unready rooms. They found beds unmade and hallways cluttered upon entry. Their complaints were only addressed to a new receptionist, as the hotel director was absent and no police assistance was provided.

💸 Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair, confirmed alliances with Viajes El Corte Inglés (including Logitravel) and Destinia, making them the first authorized Spanish travel agencies to distribute Ryanair tickets. Viajes El Corte Inglés led the initiative after Ryanair's January 2024 blackout of sales through intermediaries. By March 2024, they were the first in Spain to partner with Ryanair. Destinia followed in October 2024 via Travelfusion, an OTA aggregator. Other leading Spanish travel agencies are seeking similar agreements with Europe's top airline.