Distribución y Revenue Management

📆 Early hotel bookings in Spain for the upcoming three months hit 21%, suggesting a highly positive winter for the Spanish tourism sector amid escalating military tensions in the Middle East. A year ago, early bookings for the same period accounted for 11% but surged following a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and subsequent conflict in Gaza. The upward trend in advance bookings, which has been rising since early September, reoccurs despite the ongoing conflict spreading to Lebanon. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares on September 30 urged Spaniards in Lebanon to leave the country. Regional booking increases over the last year include Catalonia at +18%, Canarias +20.9%, and País Vasco +36%, while Andalucía saw a slight decline of -0.5%.

📱 LiveChat 2.0, a real-time customer service platform by Asksuite, integrates all contact channels for the hotel industry into a single platform, enhancing customer experience and increasing direct bookings. The platform allows hotel teams to manage assistance, quotes, and follow-ups efficiently, offering an improved customer service experience with more agility and customizable messaging. It features WhatsApp assistance improvements, quick quote sending, and new smart filters for conversation categorization. LiveChat 2.0's omnichannel view includes email, website, phone, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, aiming to provide more relevant interactions and increase conversion possibilities. WhatsApp, with over 2 billion active users, is highlighted as the most popular communication channel. Hotel chains can monitor assistance across multiple properties, ensuring a comprehensive operational view.

🏨 Antonio Catalán opened his first hotel in 1978, leading to the start of NH, which he led until its sale in 1997. Hotels 30 years ago focused on business travelers, offering a standardized product regardless of the destination. In 2013, Palladium Hotel Group's Only You aimed to mix clients with locals. Kike Sarasola, in 2014, launched his Be Mate apartments, attracting industry criticism then later adoption. The pandemic accelerated trends like "bleisure" and the development of "urban resorts". New models like coliving, flex living, and hybrid accommodations emerged, catering to more segmented demand. Luxury and lifestyle hotels are now distancing from standardization, focusing on local authenticity and sustainability. Investors are increasingly interested in new urban models like branded residences and student accommodations, with over €4 billion invested in 2023, 67% in vacation hotels. The article is from HOSTELTUR magazine's June 2024 issue, celebrating 30 years of publication.

✈ Southwest, the world's largest low-cost carrier, faces internal crisis and operational challenges. Two years ago, a major system failure caused chaos and significant costs. Key investor, Elliot Investment, publicly attacked CEO Bob Jordan but lacks support to dismiss him. Southwest plans to overhaul its seating policy, introducing paid seat selection and maintaining two free carry-on bags. The airline is selling part of its 694-aircraft fleet, all Boeings, due to excess capacity and awaiting 737 Max 7 certification affecting Hawaii routes. Financial performance is weak, with 497 firm aircraft orders exceeding needs.

🏖️ Las reservas de viajes del Imserso para la temporada 2024-2025 comenzaron el 23 de septiembre en varias comunidades autónomas de España, ampliándose a todas el 25 de septiembre. Casi 900.000 turistas senior se beneficiarán del programa, con opciones de cancelación y reembolso completos bajo ciertas condiciones. Imserso envió 2.853.985 cartas de acreditación y ofrece 443.887 plazas para turismo de costa peninsular, 230.039 para turismo de costa insular y 212.343 para circuitos culturales y naturaleza, así como viajes a destinos europeos. Los gastos de gestión por cancelación son del 6,20%, y hay tarifas de cancelación escalonadas desde el 5% al 100% del precio, dependiendo de la antelación de la cancelación.

🌍 World2Fly and Onlinetours launched a joint travel agency in Milan, Italy (Vía Lunigiana, 15) to promote Cuba, with flights from Madrid to Havana four times weekly (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) and a fifth flight during summer. Onlinetours CEO Javier Leal expressed his satisfaction at the inauguration, marking a significant milestone in the company's history and international expansion. World2Fly offers four direct flights weekly from Madrid to Havana, increasing to five in summer, and direct connections from Lisbon to Cayo Coco and Varadero in the summer season.

🏠 José Andrés Group and Thor Equities will launch the first The Bazaar House by José Andrés hotel in Washington D.C., expected to open in 2027. The luxury establishment will feature 67 rooms and a gastronomy-focused concept. José Andrés, an influential chef in the U.S., expressed his excitement on Instagram. The hotel will also include a private club, event space, wellness area, and multiple dining venues. Andrés' business portfolio includes 20 brands and 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges.

🏖️ Imserso's Senior Travel Program for the 2024-2025 season began sales on September 23, offering 886,269 spots, starting the trips 40 days earlier than the previous season on October 6. Prices range from €124.68 to €435.95 but can increase due to additional charges such as supplement for individual rooms (€22/night in Baleares and Peninsula, €24/night in Canary Islands, €26/night in inland tourism), special holiday meals (€20/person), and a deposit not exceeding 20% of the total price, paid 45 days prior to departure. Participants are exempt from the tourist tax.

🏠 En España, National Geographic recomienda diez hoteles para diversos tipos de viajeros: el Marbella Club para familias con lujos y entretenimiento como dos piscinas y un club infantil; Gran Hotel Mas d'en Bruno en Tarragona para aficionados al vino con catas y vinoterapia; Faro Punta Cumplida en La Palma con tres suites y un faro del siglo XIX; Hotel Palace en Barcelona, un ícono cultural con galería de arte; Grand Hotel Son Net en Mallorca para escapadas románticas en una casa señorial del siglo XVII; Casa Beatnik en A Coruña con diseño inspirado en Marruecos, Francia e Italia; Finca La Donaira en Málaga, un retiro ecológico con granja biodinámica y centro ecuestre; Mandarin Oriental Ritz en Madrid con restaurantes supervisados por el chef Quique Dacosta con tres estrellas Michelin; Palacio de Villapanés en Sevilla, un palacio barroco del siglo XVIII protegido como Bien de Interés Cultural; y The Artist - Grand Hotel of Art en Bilbao, cerca del Museo Guggenheim y decorado con obras de Javier Mariscal.

🏖️ In Baleares, Imserso travel demand surged 15-20% this year, with most cultural circuits sold out and few coastal packages remaining. Sales began on September 25 for priority pensioners, and continued on September 26 for other accredited individuals. As of 9:00 AM today, remaining packages are on sale, with very few left according to AVIBA President Pedro Fiol.