Gestión Hotelera

🏖️ Manuel Butler, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office in London, reassures that British tourists are welcome in Spain despite localized anti-tourism protests in Tenerife and Barcelona. The BBC interview highlights tourism as part of Spain's DNA, with over-tourism being addressed through measures like collaborating with UK stakeholders, promoting off-peak travel, diversifying tourism products, and investing in sustainability. Upcoming protests in Canary Islands on May 18 seek sustainable tourism models, following tensions over unchecked rental increases and incidents targeting tourists.

📅 New York City Tourism and Conventions predicts a drop in international tourism to New York by 800,000 foreign visitors by 2025 due to the "Donald Trump effect." The most affected source markets will be Canada and China. Initial forecasts for 2025 predicted 67.6 million total visitors, revised down to 64.1 million. International tourists are expected to number 12.1 million, down from 14.1 million. This decline is attributed to Trump's trade and immigration policies. Recovery is expected post-2026, with the soccer World Cup, hosted alongside Mexico and Canada, potentially marking the start of improvement. Canadian tourism to the U.S. has dropped by 7% in the first four months of the year, with airline services being reduced. The Chinese government is discouraging travel to the U.S. due to trade conflicts, but public reaction has been less extreme. The British market, New York's largest source of international tourists, is more concerned with high accommodation and transportation costs rather than Trump's policies.

🎶 By 2025, music will shape urban travel in Europe. Omio's study ranks London, Paris, and Budapest as the top musical capitals based on the number of clubs, concert venues, and outdoor festivals, with average ticket prices for events. London leads with 75 clubs, 26 concert venues, 25 festivals, but has high costs—€125 for concerts, €130 for musicals. Paris offers 53 clubs, 19 venues, 15 festivals, more affordable musical tickets. Budapest stands out for value with tickets at €80 for concerts and €33 for musicals. Spain boasts 6 cities in the top 50, while Naples is the most affordable in the top 10 with concert tickets at €43.

🚫 Yésika Aguilar from Foment del Treball highlighted increased absenteeism in tourism businesses post-pandemic, causing high costs and productivity losses. In Catalonia, economic evaluations of absenteeism's impact are crucial. About 80% of Spain's absenteeism involves common contingencies, with over 8.7 million sick leave cases in 2024 costing over €28.9 billion. A collaborative approach involving business organizations, unions, and administrations is needed to address this multifaceted issue. Adecco Group and Foment del Treball are working on a project to understand and propose solutions for absenteeism.

🏖️ Blau Hotels joins forces with Gran Caribe to manage Las Morlas hotel in Varadero, now Blau Las Morlas Varadero Beach, a 4-star beachfront property 30km from Varadero International Airport. Announced at FIT Cuba 2025, the hotel features 148 rooms, multiple restaurants, a pool, gym, game room, and nightclub. This addition marks Blau Hotels' third Cuban establishment, complementing Blau Varadero and Blau Arenal in Havana. Contract signed by Jesús Pérez Balsa of Gran Caribe and Jordi Rosselló of Blau Hotels.

🏨 Raquel Sánchez, presidenta of Paradores, highlighted in Madrid the success of their reduced working hours since 2020, featuring a 37.5-hour workweek. Contrary to many hoteliers, Paradores has over 4,500 employees, reaching nearly 5,000 during peak demand. The public hotel chain is currently amid a €250 million renovation plan and is set to open its 100th establishment, with upcoming openings including Molina de Aragón on May 14 (€22 million investment), Ibiza in October, and Veruela in Zaragoza next year.

💾 56% of global travelers prefer to book directly with hotels for a digital, smooth, personalized experience, as per a SiteMinder report. A hotel booking engine not only manages reservations on the hotel's website but also automates processes, collects customer data, and improves direct conversion. Technical, commercial, and integration with PMS and CRM systems are key considerations when choosing a booking engine. Direct booking engines reduce OTA dependency, with commission margins exceeding 20%, and when integrated with AI Reservation Agents like Asksuite's, they optimize user experience, reduce operational load, and allow 24/7 customer service with real-time quotes and information, boosting conversion rates without human intervention. Implementing an efficient, integrated, user-friendly booking engine enhances sales conversion and daily hotel operations, particularly when connected to key solutions like PMS, CRM, and omnichannel platforms, leading to error reduction, task automation, and a smoother guest experience.

🚿 GreenHouseKeeper enhances hotel management by enabling effective cleaning task planning, automatic/manual assignment based on availability, real-time room status tracking, detailed productivity and consumption reports, and seamless PMS integration. It allows issues to be communicated in seconds, reducing guest wait times and discomfort. An intuitive tool designed for housekeepers, receptionists, and maintenance teams, it promises teamwork, total visibility, and operational excellence. Request a free demo at greensoft.es/portfolio/greenhousekeeper/#contacto.

🏖️ Palladium Hotel Group announced the renovation and rebranding of Grand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa to Grand Palladium Select White Sand in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The transformation begins June 1, 2025, and completes January 1, 2026, with a $6 million investment. The resort will have 425 rooms, starting with the Junior Suite, and offer Pool Concierge, daily restocked mini bars, premium drinks, free room service for 12 hours, unlimited access to amenities, and preferential rates for gastroshows. Grand Palladium Select Collection was launched in January, adding Grand Palladium Select Costa Mujeres, Grand Palladium Select Palace Ibiza, and opening Grand Palladium Select Bávaro in December 2025.

🏨 A hotel's communication plan is the essence that ensures smooth operation, from greetings to social media posts. Good communication leads to guest satisfaction and repeat visits. It involves setting realistic goals such as increasing Instagram engagement by 20% in six months, improving TripAdvisor scores by one point, or boosting direct bookings by 15%. Understanding the target audience and choosing the right channels—Instagram, LinkedIn, blogs, email marketing—is key. Content should be well-planned, varying in theme and format. Internal communication within the hotel is crucial, as is having a crisis management strategy. Continuous measurement and adjustment are necessary for success. Remember, effective communication isn't about volume but about making an impact and how guests feel.