Fusiones y Adquisiciones

🏨 Bluesea Hotels acquires Meeting Point's hotel business in Spain, authorized by CNMC on April 23, 2025. FTI Group's mid-2024 collapse prompted the sale. The acquisition covers 15 hotels in the Canary Islands with 1,922 rooms and 1,500 employees. Bluesea commits to accelerated payment of €80 million in bank financing and a €20 million debt to SEPI. Backed by Portobello Capital's 93.5% stake, Bluesea aims for growth in the 3-4 star hotel segment.

💸 Simón Pedro Barceló, CEO of Barceló, announced plans to sell Ávoris due to disappointing 2022 results—€62M EBITDA, below the expected €80M. Ávoris incurred losses exceeding €300M in 2022. Despite the absence of acquisition proposals, Deloitte is exploring sale possibilities. A potential alternative is an IPO, should financial performance improve. Barceló anticipates a challenging sale, emphasizing historical versus future results. The group remains committed to further investments.

✈️ Norwegian, Q3 2025, Scandinavia, reported a profit of 21 million crowns, far below the expected 200 million and last year's 93 million. CEO Geir Karlsen is in talks with Avinor to manage costs as operating costs increased by 6% despite stable fuel prices. Despite setbacks, Norwegian plans to pay dividends due to off-season profits. The airline focuses on short-haul European flights from Scandinavian bases while acquiring 30 Boeing 737Max planes for growth.

🛩 Turkish Airlines, February 2026, unveils its 500th aircraft—TK Family—featuring 100,000 employee photos. The Turkish flag carrier plans to double its fleet to 1,000 by 2036. Aiming for 26% of Air Europa, Turkish will invest €300 million to create a dual hub in Madrid and Istanbul, enhancing connectivity between Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Air Europa's acquisition is projected for the second half of this year, subject to regulatory approvals.

💻 HBX Group and Dida Holdings, a Spanish and Shenzhen-based company, have formed a strategic partnership, integrating technology for a seven-year collaboration. The agreement, dated February 2026, enhances HBX's presence in over 170 countries and targets the Chinese "mobile-first" market. Dida utilizes HBX's global inventory for AI-driven demand management, optimizing pricing and bookings. The alliance also explores fintech solutions and payment systems to adapt to China's financial ecosystem, with plans for global scalability.

🚆 Turismo Social (Ávoris), January 2026, Spain: Railway chaos disrupts Imserso trips with speed reductions, line closures, and cancellations. Pensioners express concern, with some canceling vacations after the tragic Adamuz accident. AVE travel is now complicated, with routes like Valladolid to Santander described as outdated. Some trips switch from train to bus, extending travel times from a few hours to all-day road journeys. Pensioners without pre-arranged transport scramble for alternatives amidst ongoing train issues.

✈️ IAG aims for full control of TAP, beyond the 45% offered in the privatization process, with 4.9% for employees and 50.1% retained by the state. Competing with Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, IAG demands future control. Offers are due by April 2, with the winner announced next summer. TAP’s 45% stake is estimated at €700 million. Antitrust conditions by the EU's Directorate-General for Competition remain a concern.

✈️ GE Aerospace, 2024, detected a durability issue in the GE9X engine for Boeing 777X. Analysis underway, focusing on an internal seal. Despite this, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg still plans 777X deliveries by 2027. The program, delayed nearly six years, has cost over $15 billion. Flight tests in 2026 are limited; only 2 of 5 test planes have flown. Emirates, the main customer, has ordered 270 units.

📱 Canary Technologies has acquired OpenKey to enhance their digital guest experience solutions for hotels. Founded in 2014, OpenKey specializes in digital key technology. This acquisition aims to expand compatibility with various lock manufacturers, promoting mobile-first solutions and reducing reliance on physical key cards. The integrated platform will streamline digital access, communication, and personalization processes, addressing the increasing demand for seamless, digital-first hotel experiences globally.

📈 España y otros países europeos enfrentan una baja en reservas turísticas hacia el Caribe, principalmente por la intervención militar en Venezuela y amenazas de Donald Trump a destinos como Colombia, México, y Cuba. Un informe de Mabrian señala una caída del 7.6% en reservas desde Estados Unidos. La resiliencia de estos destinos será crucial para recuperar la demanda en un contexto de incertidumbre geopolítica que dependerá de futuras acciones de Trump.