Distribución y Revenue Management

💸 Sun Bay Hotel, using Asksuite's product AskFlow, achieved an ROI of 87 times with automated follow-ups for abandoned carts. Implementation of AskFlow, which automates messages 24/7 across all communication channels including WhatsApp, resulted in a 47% response rate to automated messages from potential guests. Sun Bay, located in Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte, overcame the challenge of managing after-hours booking follow-ups, enhancing guest experience and operational efficiency.

🏦 Over 300 candidates worldwide vie for the role of hotel director at Hilton's soon-to-be-managed Palacio Godoy in Cáceres. Hiring for 50 positions, Hilton's website listed all job offers for the luxury hotel set to open in late 2024, currently in its final remodeling phase since early 2023. Financed with a €13 million investment by Scipion Perú, the 1563-built property will feature 72 rooms, a spa, and a public-access restaurant within a nearly 1,000-square-meter garden. Initial archaeological exploration concluded without significant historical findings, paving the way for new infrastructure.

🏖️ National tourists accounted for only 37% of arrivals and 26% of overnight stays on the Costa del Sol in the first eight months, with a 4.7% drop to 1.64 million Spanish tourists, losing ground to foreign visitors. In contrast, international tourists increased by 7.7%, with 2.77 million visitors and 11.41 million overnight stays. Overall, Spain's overnight stays in August reached 47.8 million, with 17.3 million by Spaniards (-1.3% vs 2023) and 30.6 million by foreigners (+4.9%). High prices may deter Spanish travel, with Marbella averaging €331.8 and Estepona €231.2 per night.

📅 Turismo Social (Ávoris) corrected previous issues in the Imserso tourism program for the 2024/2025 season, launching with the promised 886,269 spots. Sales began on September 23 for privileged clients in various Spanish regions and expanded on September 24. Asturias, Cataluña, and other regions follow on September 25-26. Reservations can be made online or at 8,893 authorized travel agencies. Four million accredited pensioners have access to three travel packages: 443,887 coastal spots, 230,039 insular, and 212,343 inland.

🏦 KKH Property Investors is set to transform the old Altadis Tobacco Factory in Sevilla into the Vera Sevilla complex, a luxury hotel and office project, with a €250 million investment. Completion is targeted for autumn 2026, featuring over 12,000 sqm of multifunctional space, a 300-meter riverside walk, and a five-hectare urban park. The Imserso travel program started reservations on September 23, offering stays at 203 hotels, a 5% increase. A new traveler registration deadline by the Ministry of Interior is extended to December 2, due to technical reasons for data transmission with regional police forces.

🚩 Hotel early bookings in Spain surged from 11% to nearly 20% year-over-year due to the conflict in the Middle East. Following the Hamás attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, early bookings at 90 days increased notably. By late August, bookings were 12%; by early September, they rose to 16%, hitting 18% mid-September and 19% by the third week. Growth in hotel reservations by destination showed increases across Spain, with País Vasco leading at +15.41%, and Aragón down by -4.99%.

🚀 Javier Hidalgo, former CEO of Globalia, stated on record he doesn't recall his actions on July 16, referencing meetings with Begoña Gómez, spouse of Pedro Sánchez, on June 24 and July 16. These meetings occurred at Globalia's Pozuelo de Alarcón headquarters. Subsequently, the government approved a €475 million bailout for Air Europa. Hidalgo admitted focusing on Globalia's €6 million daily losses rather than on cargo flights for the 'caso Koldo' mask acquisition, negotiated by Aldama who had signed two contracts with Globalia since 2018.

🏖 Inclusive Collection, part of World of Hyatt, showcases a vertical integration model and experience in vacation property conversions. It offers a powerful distribution network, including major tour operators and online agencies, as well as a loyalty program with tens of millions of users. Of the 121 hotels in its portfolio, 84 (70%) are operational conversions. Hyatt Inclusive Collection targets hoteliers looking to improve resort performance in a challenging financial climate, presenting itself as a consistent ally for resort renovations, especially for family-owned hotels seeking operational solutions or investor sourcing. The Global Head of Hyatt, Javier Coll, emphasizes the support for both maintaining family heritage and managing sales. Catering to young clients, Inclusive Collection distinguishes itself in the ‘all-inclusive’ segment, emphasizing quality in food and beverages, cost-efficient structures, and appealing to investors interested in sophisticated products with high margins.

🏨 Riu chain ended 2023 with a 24% increase in turnover, reaching €3.607 billion, and a global average occupancy of 89%. The company operates 97 hotels in 21 countries, featuring 50,088 rooms and employing 35,808 workers. In 2023, Riu hotels welcomed 6.4 million guests, with a remarkable 38% being repeat customers. Opened its first city hotel in the UK, the Riu Plaza London Victoria, and completed major renovations on four hotels. In 2024, Riu plans to open the Riu Plaza Chicago, its seventh hotel in Jamaica, and two new establishments in Mauritius. Riu also commenced construction on new hotels in Cancun, New York, Thailand, and its second hotel in Dubai. Riu owns 1.1% of TUI Group shares since 2005.

📌 The private sector has warned of issues with the technology platform for the control system, potentially affecting the marketing of Imserso travel trips, starting in some communities on Wednesday, September 25. CEOE, through its Tourism Council, and travel agencies like CEAV, UNAV, and ACAVE have expressed concern over RD 933/2021, which mandates businesses to report reservation data to the Interior. Travel platform Hospedajes, activating on October 1, could slow down agency work, especially for small businesses with limited staff. Over 886,000 Imserso travel packages could be impacted. Interior has not announced a delay as the date approaches.