Distribución y Revenue Management

🏠 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.

🏖️ Global tourism rebounded in 2024, reaching 1.4 billion international arrivals, 99% of the pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019. The Middle East, Europe, and Africa led the recovery with numbers exceeding 2019 figures. An 11% increase from 2023 signaled 140 million more travelers. Revenue from international tourism saw a significant rise, with the UK, Spain, France, and Italy experiencing strong growth. Predictions for 2025 estimate a 3-5% growth in arrivals despite economic and geopolitical challenges.

📈 Alfonso Paredes of Expedia Group's B2B division announced at Hotusa Explora, chaired by Amancio López Seijas, optimistic forecasts for 2025 after a positive 2024, aiming for B2B to constitute 50% of the company in 2-3 years. Expedia exceeded 106 million overnight stays sold in 2023 by September 2024. In the B2B segment, Asia accounts for 35% of sales, with 81% of Asians considering travel, half eyeing Europe. In the US, 50% plan to travel, favoring the Caribbean and Europe. The strong dollar is expected to boost tourism. Expedia handles over 15 billion calls daily, incorporating AI and machine learning for decision-making, hotel selection, and fraud prevention—reducing fraud by $2 billion last year from the industry's $20 billion annual loss.

🏨 Hotel bookings in Spain are increasing due to early booking, with a market share exceeding 40% for three consecutive weeks. The demand is concentrated in the Canary Islands, Catalonia, and Andalusia, which combined for almost 53% of the bookings through TravelgateX in the last week. Early bookings (over 90 days in advance) accounted for 41.2% of total bookings from January 13-19. The UK market saw a 9.4% decrease in bookings compared to the previous week. Peak early booking months are December, January, and February.

📅 Since November 15, Ávoris Corporación Empresarial has made 95% of its products available across all its tour operation brands, a milestone not achieved in previous years, as noted by commercial director Gustavo Serrano. This early availability allows travel agencies to offer options sooner, resulting in a significant increase in early bookings. Looking ahead to 2025, companies like Ávoris and World2Meet anticipate an even greater trend towards early bookings, as observed by World2Meet's Distribution Director Guillermo González. In response, Ávoris has moved up its entire product launch for 2025 to September 2024, boosting demand notably during the last part of the previous year, particularly with Black Friday sales. Spanish travelers are expected to continue this early booking trend into 2025. Soltour CEO Tomeu Bennasar confirms the positive trend, leading the company to increase capacity by 15% for Easter 2025 with diverse offerings.

🏠 The Ushuaïa Tower in Ibiza will be renamed The Unexpected Ibiza Hotel, maintaining the spirit of the original Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel. The rebranding process, culminating in 2025, will introduce 181 rooms and suites. Palladium Hotel Group, which announced the new brand in April, is expanding with The Unexpected Al Marjan Island Hotel & Residences in the United Arab Emirates, set to open in 2026 with an investment of over $100 million, featuring 422 hotel rooms and residential units located on Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah.

🌍 In 2025, Spanish travelers show a marked interest in international destinations, with Portugal, China, and Peru being the top three countries. Portugal, known for cultural and gastronomic experiences, appeals to baby boomers and champions sustainable tourism. China offers a cultural adventure with historical landmarks and modern cities. Peru attracts with its cultural and natural heritage, offering historical Incan sites and globally acclaimed cuisine. Spanish travelers are increasingly willing to spend more on life-enhancing travel experiences.

🏖️ Madrid attracted 11.2 million visitors in 2024, with 56% being international travelers, an increase from 40% in 2019. By 2025, the city aims for 60% foreign visitors and a tourism revenue of €17 billion, surpassing 2024's €16.140 billion. Tourist numbers grew by 5.5% and overnight stays by 4.7%, exceeding 23 million. International visitor spending rose by 21% to €16.141 billion. The U.S. leads the list of source countries, followed by Italy, France, and others, with a notable 78.77% increase in Chinese tourists. Madrid's Deputy Tourism Councillor Almudena Maíllo presented a new strategy focusing on year-round tourism, decentralization, innovation, and experiential tourism. Key initiatives include digital ecosystem development, carbon footprint compensation, and the "Madrid Unique Destination" luxury tourism project with 52 partners.

🚀 Ryanair led in Spanish airports with 58.2 million passengers in 2024, a 9.8% increase. Vueling grew 4.7% to 33 million users, while Iberia closely followed with 32.8 million, up 9%. Easyjet carried 17 million passengers, up 10.6%; Air Europa had 12.2 million, a 4.3% rise. Jet2, Tui, Eurowings, Wizz Air, and Binter also saw passenger increases ranging from 4.9% to 32.7%.