Distribución y Revenue Management

🏨 In Spain, 1,238 hotels are listed for sale, a decrease of 108 from last year's 1,350. The top 10 provinces, led by Alicante with 103 hotels, account for 54% of the listings. Following Alicante, Málaga has 88 hotels for sale, and Baleares 84. Other notable provinces include Girona and Granada with over 70, Valencia and Asturias with over 60, and Barcelona and Pontevedra with over 40. Year-over-year, Barcelona saw the largest drop in listings with 45 fewer hotels, while Murcia experienced the highest increase with 19 additional hotels.

🏢 Ávoris, after integrating brands acquired from Globalia in December 2022, including Halcón and Travelplan, launched the Ávoris Store platform to streamline the booking process between its agencies and tour operators. The group, led by Juan Carlos González, now boasts an extensive wholesale division with over a dozen brands and a retail division led by Halcón, B travel, and Ecuador, totaling over 2,300 agencies. The platform consolidates offerings from Travelplan, Jolidey, Catai, Special Tours, and others, and is fully operational.

🏦 Raúl González acknowledges the appeal of luxury for Spanish companies, traditionally not strong in the segment, but adapting to room rates over 1,000 euros. The Royal Hideaway opening in Canfranc revives an abandoned historic building. He highlights the Spanish creativity and service in luxury hospitality, with a need for years to position their brands. González notes an increasing travel budget among consumers favoring higher-level, pricier hotels, benefiting Spain. He warns against becoming a commodity due to high labor costs, suggesting automated design hotels with AI as an alternative for those unable to pay for enhanced services.

🌎 Magí Castelltort from Turespaña presented at Overbooking Gran Canaria & Hosteltur Summit 2024 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, discussing U.S. tourism in Canary Islands. The air connectivity isn't a barrier despite distance and insularity, as Canaries are a well-established European destination with numerous routes. Americans tend to choose a single vacation spot, offering opportunities for regional specialization in Canarias. Marketing strategies include iconic imagery and unique experiences, targeting the competitive U.S. market known for its preference for well-known hotels, resorts, and cultural experiences.

🚂 SNCF, the French train operator, as of this past Monday, penalizes passengers carrying more than two bags on high-speed trains; previously, there was no strict bag limit as long as passengers could carry their luggage themselves. Contrastingly, in Spain, Renfe allows three substantially sized items per passenger, with minimal enforcement. Budget train services like Avlo and airlines such as Ryanair impose stricter limits, charging extra for baggage beyond a small backpack or cabin-sized suitcase. Ouigo and Iryo also impose baggage limitations correlated to ticket prices. These train luggage policy changes have not faced the same social opposition as in the aviation sector.

🏨 In Mallorca, the former head of the Hotel Federation highlighted the issue of supply management in the hospitality sector rather than demand, emphasizing the need for quality and reinvestment. Stating that for over fifteen years, little to no action has been taken, he argues that high prices due to low supply and the importance of offering high-quality accommodations are key to the region's tourism success.

💰 June 2024 saw a 9.1% rise in global passenger demand from June 2023, led by a 12.3% increase in international travel. Seat capacity in 2024 surpassed 2019 levels by 3%, with a 6% growth from 2023, hinting at a continued uptrend. Global hotel occupancy neared 70% by mid-2024, reflecting business travel recovery, despite a slight drop in average room rates to $182. Car rental daily rates decreased by 26% to $54. Europe's flights stagnated with a 6% reduction from 2019, and economy fares rose by 13%, while business class increased by 5%.

✈ Aena plans to invest €5 billion in Spanish airport expansions and renovations. Barcelona's T1 to receive €702 million for remodel, not capacity expansion. Barajas to get €2.4 billion for T4 and T4S expansions, aiming for 90 million annual passengers by 2031. Palma de Mallorca's €559 million upgrade began in 2022, targeting completion in three years. Tenerife Sur, Norte, and Lanzarote airports to see €300 million, €190 million, and €140 million investments, respectively. Valencia and Alicante airports to be expanded with €400 million and €600 million, as they near capacity, with Alicante’s traffic up by 19.2% to 15.7 million in 2023.

🏨 Belagua 2013, led by Antonio Catalán, operates AC Hotels in Spain, Italy, and Portugal, reported €243 million in revenue and €27 million in net profit according to the Registro Mercantil. In 2023, hotel revenue grew by 30% from the previous year, surpassing pre-pandemic figures, with €1.4 million increase in net profits. Operating income was €40 million in 2023, nearly tripling from €14 million in 2022. Long-term debt stood at €162 million, with short-term debt at €20 million. The company had 64 hotels, with plans to invest €100 million in 10 hotels in 2024, aiming to become the largest manager of Marriott International's 30+ brands in Europe.

🏡 Guia Michelin 2024 awarded Michelin Keys to hotels in Mexico, including 3 hotels with three Keys, 21 with two Keys, and 63 with one Key. The top honorees were One&Only Mandarina in Tepic-Puerto Vallarta, Hotel Esencia in Playa del Carmen, and Xinalani Hotel Boutique in Quimixto, Puerto Vallarta. The guide features over 5,000 hotels worldwide, judged in five categories: architecture and design, service quality, personality, value, and contribution to guest experience.