Distribución y Revenue Management

🏨 In Spain, 2024 set a record in hospitality with Spain becoming the second most visited country globally. Over 125 million online hotel bookings marked an increase, with international travelers accounting for over 60%. Hotel rates rose by 5% to an average of 212 euros per night, peaking at 247 euros in August. High season extended to May and October, with bookings 9.39% and 9% higher than in 2023, respectively. The average booking lead time grew by 6% to 39.41 days. Direct bookings averaged 519 dollars per reservation, outperforming OTAs, GDS, and wholesalers. Booking.com was the top revenue-generating channel, followed by hotel websites for direct booking. Agoda re-entered the Top 12 due to increased Asian tourism.

🏖️ Grupo Magic Hotels & Resorts announced at FITUR in Madrid three tourism projects in the Valencian Community with an investment over €80 million, set for completion in 2025. Magic Pirates Island, opening late April 2025 in Benidorm, will feature thematic accommodations and free access to Terra Natura and Aqua Natura. Villa España Hotel, opening June 2025, boasts Benidorm's first suspended pool and a large spa. Pontiana Thalasso Hotel, opening May 31, 2025, in Oropesa del Mar, will become Europe's largest thalasso center, with a €13 million investment including €4 million in room renovations.

✈️ Easyjet reported results for the final three months of 2024, reducing losses by 52% to £61 million. Ticket revenue increased by 13%, with 21.2 million customers flown. Easyjet Holidays earned £43 million, a £12 million increase from the previous year. The decline in fuel prices positively impacted airlines. Easyjet benefits from reliable Airbus deliveries and CFM engines, unlike its competitors Ryanair and Wizz Air who face issues with Boeing and Pratt & Whitney engines, respectively.

📈 Los precios dinámicos ajustan tarifas de habitaciones en tiempo real según demanda, datos y tendencias de mercado; si se aplican bien, pueden aumentar ingresos manteniendo la fidelidad de los clientes. La investigación de la ZHAW School of Management and Law muestra que no afectan significativamente la satisfacción o la percepción de justicia. Ejemplos de dos hoteles en Ronda (Andalucía) demuestran que con precios dinámicos bien implementados, los ingresos y la percepción del valor pueden aumentar sin deteriorar las opiniones de los huéspedes. RoomPriceGenie y TrustYou presentarán estrategias de precios en FITUR en el stand 8D46.

🏖 Ávoris, led by Juan Carlos González, aims to integrate 800 offices from Dit Gestión, pending approval from CNMC. Geomoon, under Ávoris, offers 'zero fee' to new agencies selling over €50,000 annually from Ávoris tour operators. Geomoon, with around 500 points of sale, promises to refund monthly fees of €50 if targets are met. Ávoris acquired Gea in July 2023, now has a total of approx. 1,200 agencies including Halcón Viajes, B travel, Viajes Ecuador, BCD Travel, and RACC Travel. Geomoon was launched in 2016 by the Hidalgos and acquired by Barceló in 2022.

🏖 DRV forecasts Germans will spend €85 billion on travel in 2025, a 6% increase from the previous year. Early booking offers are popular, especially among families during summer holidays. Combined travel packages account for 50% of Germany's tourist expenditure, preferred for their flexibility and legal protection. Germany has around 8,000 physical travel agencies offering personalized services complemented by online and mobile services. Peak booking season for summer vacations begins early in the year, with discounts valid until late March. Preferred destinations include Mediterranean beaches, ocean cruises, and warm winter spots like the Canary Islands and Egypt.

📈 During Donald Trump’s presidency (January 2017 - January 2021), the US saw a steady increase in foreign tourists, from 77.1 million in 2017 to 79.4 million in 2018, stabilizing in 2019. Hotel revenue in the US grew from $78.47 billion in 2017 to $87 billion in 2019. However, the pandemic in 2020 severely impacted tourism, leading to a $25 billion government rescue for US airlines. The US recorded 2,272 hotel construction projects in Q1 2024. Trump’s policies may affect tourism, with 7% of hospitality workers being undocumented immigrants and potential tariff hikes could increase travel costs and impact hotel development.

🚀 World2Meet (W2M) closed 2024 with an Ebitda of nearly €20 million, after achieving its first break-even in 2023. CEO Gabriel Subías forecasts a 2025 Ebitda of "between €25 and €30 million." W2M, owned by Iberostar, reached a record €2.753 billion in volume, a 27% increase from 2023, and aims to exceed €3 billion (€3.196 billion) in 2025. World2Fly hit one million passengers in 2024, with a 91% occupancy rate, exceeding the projected 658,000. The airline, with six aircraft, will add a seventh (A330) in March. Subías highlighted the integration of Azul Marino and Viajes Eroski and the digitalization project across the retail network, which has just under 200 points of sale.

🏠 On the eve of Fitur 2025, Hosteltur hosted the V Noche del Agente de Viajes at the Hotel Eurostars Madrid Tower, attended by 450 industry professionals. Since 2019, this event has become a networking occasion prior to FITUR. On January 21, sponsors awarded one of 8-10 selected travel agents per table and held gift raffles with a minimum value of €600. Overall, 34 brands recognized travel agencies for their contributions to Spanish tourism.

💰 SmartRental Group (SRG) closed 2024 with a record performance: revenues, RevPAR, and EBITDA grew by 44%, 30%, and 33% respectively from the previous year. They expanded into the UK with Malacuna brand and signed three assets there. New projects are underway in Portugal including Smartr Porto Bonfim and more in Lisbon and Oporto. In Spain, SRG launched seven new assets in 2024, and globally, negotiations are ongoing to include properties in Germany, France, Italy, and the UK. Two new brands were introduced: Evoca Living and Lemonade, with the latter's first asset in Santiago de Compostela nearing 1,000 rooms. SRG's portfolio now manages 4,373 rooms and 5,031 beds. For 2025, SRG forecasts a 27% growth in RevPAR and a 73% increase in EBITDA compared to 2024.