Gestión Hotelera

💻 ÁgoraTech 2025 takes place on May 28-29 at Eurostars Sitges 5*, gathering over 160 hotel and tech professionals. Organized by Ágora Central de Compras of Grupo Hotusa, the event will host 75 hotel chains, including international groups. Keynote by Enrique Dans focuses on AI in the hospitality industry. Features 1to1 meetings, networking, and exclusive experiences, with EY as strategic consultant and Gold sponsorship by Semic and Omnibees. Despite being sold out, the organizers may consider new attendees if capacity allows.

🏨 Paradores, a state-run hotel network in Spain, has never been profitable nor well-managed, often serving as a refuge for politicians without tourism experience. Recently, it's been under scrutiny due to allegations involving the former Minister of Transportes, José Luis Ábalos, supposedly partying with prostitutes at the Parador in Teruel, which he denies. Paradores presidents misrepresent financial health, neglecting to disclose state aid for renovations paid by Turespaña. Currently, the network approaches 100 establishments, with past management by inexperienced figures such as Miguel Martínez or "Gela" Alarcó. Raquel Sánchez, the current president, works just three days a week, often leaving for Catalonia on Thursdays.

🏖️ The Junta de Andalucía's Consejería de Sostenibilidad Ambiental issued a favorable report for the urban planning adjustment of Globalia's tourism project in Guadalobón, Estepona, on a 333,899 square meter area. Globalia's project, led by Juan José Hidalgo, includes a low-density tourism model with a hotel, aparthotel, and 10 villas. The total investment could exceed €1 billion. The project also involves a second development in Arroyo Vaquero, spanning over 60 hectares with high-end tourist complexes and extensive sports and cultural facilities.

🏨 a&o Hostels celebrates its 25th anniversary by becoming the first global hostel chain to obtain ISO 9001 certification. The quality management system certification was awarded by TÜV Rheinland Cert GmbH after an audit covering all departments, including 37 locations and the Berlin headquarters. The certificate emphasizes the brand's international competitiveness and trust, marking a commitment to a more responsible tourism industry. Future plans include annual internal audits, three-yearly recertifications, and evaluations for new locations, replacing a previous TÜV-certified service quality certification. ISO 9001 ensures consistent, high-quality guest experiences and continual improvements within hotel operations.

🏆 PortAventura World's ~3,500 employees to strike on May 1-2 after an assembly decision; first strike saw 80% participation. Despite the strike, the park operated normally, with main attractions active. The resort's hotels were nearly full, and the company stopped selling tickets and accepting new bookings due to uncertainties. The strike followed failed negotiations for a fair agreement and was reported to involve employees performing tasks without proper qualifications, although the park operated with qualified staff and maintained safety standards.

💬 5,000 individuals protested in Tenerife's tourist area during a two-day hotel and catering sector strike, while 400 Port Aventura employees in Salou joined a UGT and CCOO-led strike from 8 a.m. Saturday. In Tarragona, 80% of the staff participated, halting ticket sales for the first time in 30 years. The Santa Cruz de Tenerife tourism sector strike, with about 70% participation according to unions and 10% according to Ashotel, demands wage increases to maintain purchasing power. PortAventura, managed by Fernando Aldecoa, faces stalled collective agreement negotiations since December 2024, with 65% of workers earning minimum wage and most on temporary 5-9 month contracts.

🏖️ The Imserso tourism program for seniors reported 343 hotels participated in the 2023/2024 season, a 23.8% increase from 277 in 2022/2023, and a notable rise from 250 post-pandemic (2021/2022) and 303 pre-Covid (2018/2019). As of January, the current season had 227 hotels, with numbers expected to rise in spring, the peak travel period for Imserso.

🍴 Munich Airport, ranked among the top ten airports globally, pioneers by hosting the first Michelin-starred restaurant on its premises. The Mountain Hub Gourmet, located at the Hilton Munich Airport, earned its Michelin star in the 2024 edition of the guide. Led by chef Marcel Tauschek, the restaurant specializes in Alpine cuisine, with reservations required for both lunch and dinner, enhancing the airport's reputation for quality and sophistication.

🛫 Imserso is addressing the decline in the quality of its tourism program by hiring a company to monitor contract execution and enhancing penalty measures for the 2025/2026 season. The state agency aims to rectify administrative malfunctions, prevent irregularities, and improve quality indicators. Users will evaluate the program, with results shared with unions and business organizations. Imserso emphasizes the need to continue bolstering human resources and committing to high-quality public service.

💸 Nuria Montes, secretary general of Hosbec, reported that absenteeism in the Valencian Community's hotel sector reached 7.5% in 2024, surpassing the hospitality industry average of 6.3%. Factors contributing include workforce aging, a new system for reporting sick leave, mental health issues, and salary supplements in collective agreements. This figure has risen sharply from 5.25% in 2019, and is above the average for all economic activities. Randstad's March 2025 report on the hospitality labor market provides these insights. The trend shows a constant rise in absenteeism since 2019, with numbers comparable to 2020, the pandemic year. Montes calls for healthcare reforms to improve recovery times for sick workers and to monitor false sick leaves.