Iniciativas Eco-responsables y RSE

🗺️ Viajeros españoles de hoteles económicos, encuestados por easyHotel, priorizan experiencias únicas y sostenibles para 2026. Eventos culturales y deportivos motivan el 20% de reservas. Estrategic location (31%) surpasses pure price (23%) in hotel choice. Interest in lesser-known destinations rises; Rotterdam, Maastricht, and La Haya see over 50% growth. Solo travel searches increase by 39%, with individual stays up 7.58%. Sustainability is key, with 90% seeking eco-friendly options by 2026.

🗺 Iñaki Garmendia highlights growing social demands in tourism, with increased scrutiny on its consequences, like overcrowding and housing pressure. Economic arguments no longer suffice to offset criticism. Garmendia calls for revising socio-sectoral dynamics towards novel competitiveness, integrating public and private strategies. He emphasizes cooperation, avoiding burdens shifting from one sector to another. The sector faces challenges in establishing stabilizing linkages and adopting new governance approaches, aiming for positive structural impacts in shared public spaces.

📅 Las Illes Balears invest in year-round tourism via 50 projects totaling €130 million, focusing on hiking, cycling, culture, gastronomy, health, and wellness. Notable projects: "Caixa de Música" in Mallorca receives €15.89 million (€13.63 million from ITS) for cultural activities; Ibiza's Congress Palace II phase at €33.79 million (€15.02 million from ITS) expands MICE capacity; Menorca's Centre Thalassa, funded at €748,022.87 by ITS, revitalizes cultural heritage. These initiatives strengthen sustainable, non-seasonal economic opportunities.

🏨 Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, 2023, renovó el Bahia Principe Grand Punta Cana en República Dominicana con 820 habitaciones, actualizando 288 este año tras 532 en 2024. Inauguraron el Bahia Principe Grand Tequila, un resort solo para adultos, en Riviera Maya, México. Ambas iniciativas marcan el 50 aniversario del Grupo Piñero y el 30 de la marca, impulsando crecimiento y sostenibilidad en el Caribe.

🏨 Celebrated 40th birthday recently at La Judería de Vejer in Vejer de la Frontera, a storybook-like town. Stayed in Casas La Judería de Vejer, where personalized touches like a bottle of manzanilla and gifts for our baby Julen and pet Soto were presented. Dinner at Taberna La Judería de Vejer included a personalized gift, showing seamless coordination. Ana, Joaquín, and Mario focus on emotion-driven guest experiences, ensuring guests feel at home. Ana Poley’s exceptional service was memorable.

🏨 Villa España, part of Magic Hotel Group, launched the "Habitación Solidaria" in December 2025, channeling all booking proceeds to Cáritas, supporting vulnerable families. Inspired by sustainable chains like Artiem Hotels, this initiative aligns with their Making a Magic Planet strategy. Partnering with NGO Rafiki, Magic Hotel Group converted food savings into over 300,000 meals for African children. Located in Benidorm, they urge other hotels to adopt similar social impact projects, expanding opportunities for those in need.

🚴 Navarra, 2025: The strategic plan aims to make the region a sustainable tourism leader in Europe. The "Navarra en Bici" club, launched at Fitur 2024, includes 70 entities to boost cycling tourism with routes and services. Supported by EU and Spanish government funds, the initiative enhances professionalization and digitalization. Additionally, Navarra focuses on enogastronomy and exclusive experiences through new product clubs, promoting identity, sustainability, and public-private collaboration.

📈 In an annual assembly, José Guillermo Díaz Montañés of Thinktur highlights the tourism industry's paradox: strengths hinder adaptability, risking irrelevance like Blockbuster and Nokia. Álvaro Carrillo of ITH emphasizes AI's transformative potential. Inmaculada Benito of CEOE points to unresolved structural issues, with Segittur's data-driven management seen as a hopeful path. Talent management and ethical data use are emphasized by Mano Soler and Leire Bilbao. Sustainability and responsible leadership are recurrent themes throughout the discussions.

💼 Presidenta Marga Prohens of the Balearic Government announced at the Forbes Illes Balears Tourist Summit that the islands aim to lead in regenerative tourism. This initiative, supported by the Pacto por la Sostenibilidad, emphasizes innovation, digitalization, and culture. The approach, supported by both the Popular Party and socialists, focuses on avoiding negative impacts, enhancing ecosystems, and promoting a circular economy. Achieving international certification could mark a new era for Balearic tourism.

📆 Fundación Intermundial, part of Atlantigo, collaborates with Fitur and UNWTO for the 9th Responsible Tourism Award. Open to Fitur 2026 exhibitors, the award has five categories: Hospitality, Transport/Services, Destination, Social Media, and Media. Submissions are from December 5 to January 7, with a maximum of three actions per participant. The awards ceremony will be on January 21 at Ifema Madrid, within Fitur. The awards recognize sustainable tourism practices.