Jurídicos y Administrativos

🛈 El Congreso de España aprobó parte de una proposición no de ley del PP el 2 de diciembre, con 177 votos a favor y 160 en contra, para posponer la entrada en vigor de un real decreto que obliga a recopilar datos de turistas. Se excluyen los viajes corporativos y grupos, recibiendo 178 y 179 votos a favor respectivamente. Las agencias de viaje aún no han sido excluidas. Se pide un nuevo diálogo con el sector turístico hasta alcanzar un consenso, sin aplicar sanciones.

💳 The Spanish Congress approved a Non-Law Proposal (PNL) by the Popular Party to indefinitely suspend Royal Decree 933/2021 which mandates travel agencies, hoteliers, and car rental companies to collect sensitive customer data. The vote, conducted by roll call, received majority support from PP, Mixed Group, BNG, PNV, Junts, and Vox, with PSOE, Sumar, and ERC dissenting. Though non-binding, the approval signals widespread opposition to the measure, set to take effect on December 2. The controversial decree requires hotels to record 43 customer data points, up from 14 previously required.

📅 La Audiencia Nacional implica al presidente del Gobierno, Pedro Sánchez, y al exministro José Luis Ábalos en gestiones del rescate financiero de Air Europa. Una reunión clave el 16 de julio de 2020, involucrando a Sánchez, Nadia Calviño y Ábalos, señala posibles delitos de tráfico de influencias. Sánchez defiende el rescate, valorado en 475 millones de euros, formalizado por el Consejo de Ministros el 3 de noviembre de 2020, como esencial para evitar la quiebra de la aerolínea.

💰 In Castilla y León, travel agencies are challenging the Club de los 60 program for 2025, similar to the Imserso (subsidized trips for seniors). FECLAV claims large groups, not paying taxes locally, dominate the program. Ávoris won 18 of 30 lots via Halcón Viajes and B travel; Viajes El Corte Inglés got three. Over 90% of local agencies excluded, risking a loss of over 25 million euros and local jobs. FECLAV urges the Consejería de Servicios Sociales to reconsider contest conditions to support local SMEs and reduce required guarantees.

🛫 Javier Hidalgo and broker Víctor de Aldama visited José Luis Ábalos, former Minister of Transport, at his Marbella luxury villa in August 2020 amid Air Europa's negotiations for a bailout to prevent bankruptcy. The visit confirmed Ábalos's satisfaction with the accommodations, provided during a three-week stay, enhanced by a lavish dinner for 12, complete with seafood, meat, and sushi. Subsequently, Air Europa secured a €475 million rescue in November 2020.

📌 Partido Popular (PP) presented a Proposition No de Ley (PNL) to indefinitely postpone the traveler data registry mandated by Royal Decree 933/2021, fearing it will not pass after being presented on Tuesday and set for a vote on Wednesday. The PP argues the regulation is unnecessary, burdensome for tourists, could prolong check-in processes, and negatively impact Spain's tourism image. In other news, Lonely Planet's "Best in Travel 2025" includes Palma de Mallorca as one of the top global cities to visit. Meanwhile, sovereign and institutional funds are increasingly investing in Spain's hotel market, indicating a quality, albeit more expensive, market environment.

🛈 Spanish travel agencies face a potential decrease in productivity and legal uncertainty due to the data-gathering requirements of RD 933/2021. As of December 2, they will need to collect over 40 pieces of data for lodging reservations and over 80 for vehicle rentals, including sensitive information. The industry suggests a Ministerial Order to limit the data scope, fearing Spain could lose competitiveness as a tourist destination. Agencies may have to explain new data collection requirements to clients empathetically.

💰 Donald Trump's hotel charged "exorbitant prices" to Secret Service agents staying at the Trump International Hotel in Washington during his presidency, according to a House Oversight Committee report. On November 28, 2017, the Secret Service was billed $600 per night, while other clients, including a Chinese coal company, paid as low as $338. In February 2018, the Secret Service paid four times more than other customers, with two rooms costing $895, despite over a hundred rooms being sold for less on the same day. The committee deemed these charges illegal, citing the Constitution's provision that the president can only receive their salary from the federal government.

🚀 In India, a record 30 bomb threats caused chaos in aviation during the last week, with incidents escalating globally, affecting flights diverted to Canada, Germany, UK, and Singapore. Delhi police are on high alert, seeking public assistance to find the perpetrators, vowing strict penalties. Airline executives held a security meeting with authorities who reassured flying in India is safe despite these disruptions.

💰 The UCO delivered new evidence to the judge regarding the Air Europa bailout negotiations by Aldama with government connections, as reported by Vozpópuli. Conversations from mid-July 2020 reveal meetings with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and then Economy Minister Nadia Calviño focused on rescuing the airline. Key discussions involved Víctor de Aldama and Koldo García, with the bailout amounting to €475 million. Details were consistently relayed to Javier Hidalgo, culminating in a congratulatory message in September.