Iniciativas Eco-responsables y RSE

📍 Travelance, an alliance of independent operators, expands its network in January with Jumbo Tours, Dimensiones Club, Itinae, and announced in November, Flexible Autos. After Luxotour's November exit, the alliance included Europamundo, Soltour, Coming2, TUI, Guest Incoming, and Intermundial. The new members aim to enhance the travel agency offer. At Fitur, Travelance introduced its new partners and announced the March launch of Travelance Rewards, offering up to €200 Amazon gift cards for bookings with alliance partners.

💰 Grupo Iberostar closed 2024 with 4.468 billion euros in managed revenue, a 17% increase from the previous year. The hotel division, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, saw an 8% increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR) and managed total revenues of 2.180 billion euros, an 8% rise from 2023, with Ebitda growing 13%. They plan to invest 210 million euros in 2025 and open five new seafront establishments. Their flagship responsible tourism initiative, Iberostar Wave of Change, expanded its 3R department to 250 people, served over 90% responsibly sourced seafood, and continued a multinational coral reef program.

🏡 U-Sense, part of Landmar Hotels, has expanded its presence in Granada with the U-Sense Granada Gran Vía Apartments, housed in a late 19th-century building previously abandoned and now renovated. The brand operates nine establishments in Madrid, Sevilla, and Granada. The refurbished building features original elements like hydraulic tiles and wood joinery, emulating a boutique hotel with a homey feel. Sustainability efforts include 90% waste management and energy-saving technologies like presence detectors and regional intensity regulators. Arvo Arquitectura handled architecture and licensing, with construction by Argonsa and interior design by Cotta Studio.

🏖️ Fitur 2025, taking place in Madrid from January 22-26, will see the Dominican Republic making a significant presence, highlighting a record 11.19 million visitors in 2024, marking a 9% increase from 2023 and 48% from 2019. The previous edition concluded with $3.5 billion in investment deals and participation from 58 Dominican companies. The 50th anniversary of Grupo Piñero will be celebrated, and new tourism projects like Punta Bergantín and developments in Miches, Pedernales, and Las Terrenas will be announced. The 'Ventanilla Fitur' initiative is launched to facilitate Schengen visa applications for Dominicans attending the fair.

📱 Riu Hotels & Resorts enhances customer service and embraces technology with a visually intuitive and content-rich new website, following Atomic Design methodology. Leveraging advanced technologies and a microservices architecture, the site offers real-time room availability, pricing updates, and integrates experiences like Elite Club and Riu Party. Concurrently, Riu's mobile app for iOS and Android, with 2.5 million downloads and a 4.8/5 rating on Apple Store, now boasts improved navigation, hotel and destination sections, and increased visibility of their loyalty program, Riu Class, with over 5 million members.

💸 ACAVyT contributed €5,650 to support Valencian travel agencies affected by the DANA event in October. Managed through CEAV and the CEOE Foundation, the funds aim to alleviate economic and labor losses. Ignacio Poladura, president of ACAVyT, expressed solidarity with Miguel Jiménez of AEVAV, highlighting sector unity and pledging support including financial, advisory, and emotional aid. Notable supporting agencies include Viajes Divertour, Viajes 5 Océanos, and wholesalers Canarias Viaja and Beway.

🏨 On January 10, Paris tops European cities in Airbnb density with 45 listings per 1,000 inhabitants in 2024. Valencia, Barcelona, Sevilla, and Madrid also rank high. HBX Group, formerly Hotelbeds, founded in Palma de Mallorca, was bought for €1.2 billion in 2016 and is now preparing for a €5 billion IPO. José Ángel Preciados, CEO of Ilunion Hotels, emphasizes sustainability as a non-optional core strategy, highlighting the award-winning Campus Mijas project for social inclusion and professional development.

🏖️ Ilunion Hotels focuses on sustainability as its core strategy, aiming for 60% of its workforce to come from vulnerable groups by 2027. They are implementing photovoltaic panels, water-saving systems, and partnering with Too Good To Go to reduce food waste. Additionally, they are working towards BREEAM and B Corp certifications to validate their sustainable commitment. The tourism industry considers sustainability integration essential for survival, with progress made but more work needed.

🚿 Resuinsa's 5th edition professional catalog is now available, containing updates for bath and room textiles, catering, and decorative items essential for hospitality professionals globally. The guide, first published in 2000, has evolved to meet hoteliers' needs and is accessible via Resuinsa's website. It provides technical details on internationally used textile products and epitomizes the company's 50-year commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation. Director General Félix Martí highlights its significance for equipping new establishments and restocking, serving 8,000 clients worldwide.

🌎 Open Cosmos, based in Mallorca, will manufacture and operate the first satellite for the Balearic Islands, to be launched in Q4 2025, funded by European funds and the Balearic government. The satellite aims to support sustainable economic models and manage tourism saturation, providing key data for decision-making in climate change management and sustainable tourism. Partners include Wireless DNA, the University of the Balearic Islands, Garden Hotels, and FEHM. Eight hotel chains will collaborate by sharing knowledge.