Gestión Hotelera

📅 Cataluña's 2025 labor calendar includes 17 holidays: 10 national, 3 regional, and 4 provincial. National holidays are: New Year (Jan 1), Epiphany (Jan 6), Good Friday (Apr 18), Labor Day (May 1), Assumption (Aug 15), Hispanidad Day (Oct 12), All Saints' Day (Nov 1), Constitution Day (Dec 6), Immaculate Conception (Dec 8), and Christmas (Dec 25). Regional holidays include St. Stephen's Day (Dec 26), St. John's Day (Jun 24), and Diada de Cataluña (Sep 11). Provincial holidays are: La Mercè in Barcelona (Sep 24), San Narciso in Girona (Oct 29), Lleida Main Festivity (May 11), and Santa Tecla in Tarragona (Sep 23). The calendar presents opportunities for extended breaks like Easter (Apr 18 & 21), May Day (May 1), and a potential bridge for December holidays (Dec 6 & 8).

📌 Hosbec warns that 10,000 travelers could be affected by the first day of road transport strike on Monday, October 28, in the Valencian Community. With average occupancy rates around 80% at major destinations, the strike coincides with reduced airport connections, offering only 20% minimum services, causing potential chaos at airports and accommodations. Hosbec calls for reinforced security to ensure the provision of the limited services.

🏡 Senator Hotels & Resorts will take over management of the 4-star Hotel Spa Cádiz Plaza in Plaza Victoria, Cádiz, in November, revamping it for operation under the IHG Hotels & Resorts' Hotel Indigo brand. The property features 76 rooms, spa, gym, event facilities, and a rooftop area. Senator is expanding its portfolio with this addition, enhancing its Partner Brand Hotel Management line. The Andalusian chain currently manages 41 hotels across Spain, the Dominican Republic, and Morocco.

✈ Iberia, based in Madrid, is recruiting pilots for A320, A330, A340, or A350 aircraft due to increased flight demand. Application deadline is February 28, 2025, through the airline's employment portal. Candidates need 500+ flying hours, an EASA frozen ATPL(A), and English/Spanish language proficiency. Additional merits include aeronautical experience, university education, and an unrestricted ATPL(A). The selection process is in stages, with initial qualifiers emailed test details; foreign license holders must convert to Spanish licenses at no cost.

🏡 Viajes El Corte Inglés and Ávoris, led by Miquel Moyá and Juan Carlos González, express overall satisfaction with this year's business performance but are surprised by a recent unexpected drop in sales. Traditionally, a seasonal decline occurs in October, exacerbated this year by shorter holiday breaks in November and December, and less consumer credit availability after two years of growth. Hotel rates are also becoming less affordable for national tourists. Inflation exceeding wage growth has reduced the average citizen's purchasing power, contributing to the recent sales slowdown. Despite these challenges, both travel subsidiaries of El Corte Inglés and Grupo Barceló are set to close the year at the high end of their expectations, having successfully integrated the cultures of Logitravel, Halcón, and Travelplan. However, market prediction is becoming more challenging for these companies.

🏖️ Hyatt and Grupo Piñero have been strengthening their relationship, particularly in the Caribbean and the Dominican Republic. Both groups are highly regarded leaders in the hospitality industry, as reported by 'Desarrollo'. Chicago-based Hyatt, which includes the largest U.S. tour operator Apple Leisure Group, is looking to deepen ties with the Mallorca-based company.

💡 On October 18th, a breakdown in Cuba's main thermoelectric power plant led to a nationwide power outage. Hurricane Óscar made landfall in Baracoa, east of Cuba, without causing significant damage. The tourism sector, represented by Seto, expresses concern over unstable phone and internet services. Hotels have relocated tourists to accommodations with generators, though demand is low due to few visitors, exacerbating the country's currency shortage. The French government recommends postponing travel to Cuba, while airlines maintain regular flight schedules.

🏨 On a full moon night, the hotel staff struggled with overbooking as guests flooded in, demanding their reserved rooms. Receptionists, including a two-month new colleague, faced panic with pale faces, dark circles, and messy hair. Amidst flickering lights and a chilling draft, a sealed door opened, revealing a former manager who vanished decades ago on Halloween. He warned of the overbooking curse due to poor management, suggesting that only the right technology could save them. The staff realized their disorganization was the real terror, not witchcraft. The next morning, the hotel director recommended Noray ToBook for reservation management.

💰 Approximately 350,000 immigrants arrive in Spain annually, with about 150,000 finding employment in the tourism and hotel sector. Immigrants, especially those from outside the EU, face challenges such as opening a Spanish IBAN bank account. Money Jar, a digital bank, aids in financial integration by allowing the opening of a Spanish IBAN account even before arrival in Spain. Solutions like these benefit both immigrants and companies by improving talent attraction, retention, and overall employee well-being.

🛫 Ávoris won a public tender to manage Imserso trips, but faces penalties for alleged breaches. For coastal trips (Lot 1), it fulfilled only 54.34% (326,880) of promised plane and train seats, instead of 601,588, leading to 44.81% of pensioners traveling by bus, against the proposed 11%. In interior tourism (Lot 3), it delivered just 30.5% (105,490) of transport seats, versus the promised 345,858. Additionally, Ávoris underdelivered on hotel quality, providing only 3.6 million 4-star stays out of 6.4 million promised, and executed just 2.5% (142,955) of single-use double room stays, despite promising 5.6 million. This resulted in scores of 97.43/100 for Lot 1, 100/100 for Lot 2, and 97.82/100 for Lot 3.