Jurídicos y Administrativos

📌 In Santa Cruz de Tenerife province, hospitality employers and unions remain at odds over labor and economic conditions, continuing the Easter Week strike discussions. The sector employs 76,821 people: 33,633 in accommodation services and 43,188 in food and beverage services, according to Q4 2024 data from Istac. Manuel Fitas of Sindicalistas de Base states this is the third well-intentioned failure by the Canarias Government and insists the strike won’t be called off without an agreement on all terms. Ashotel and AERO propose linking wage increases to productivity and improved working conditions, but unions highlight issues like work overload and work-life balance, demanding shifts allowing for family life, eliminating split shifts, excessive work, and ensuring staff levels meet service needs without compromising workplace safety and health. They also call for replacing sick leave, aligning job categories with actual duties, and regulating temporary employment agency contracts. A salary review could avert the strike if employers accept the pre-warning points, Fitas warns. The employers seek to address economic aspects and daily operational challenges, suggesting a negotiation table for the collective agreement, with further talks planned next week.

🚀 Russian airlines are facing a deep crisis due to Western sanctions, needing to dispose of at least 200 passenger aircraft, mostly from Airbus and Boeing. Around 30% of Russia's approximately 700 Western-made aircraft will be dismantled, as sanctions from the Ukraine invasion block importation of parts for repairs and maintenance. Only 10% of flights by Russian companies use locally made planes, with hopes pinned on the MS-21 and SJ-100 models, none of which have been received by airlines yet.

🛂 ETIAS border control equipment has been unused in Spain for over a year, with operational delays now extending to late 2026. Meanwhile, the UK, as of Wednesday, requires non-national travelers to obtain electronic authorization. Tourists complete an online process, paying 12 euros, typically receiving permission within two days, then presenting it at borders. The UK's identical model to the EU's had its price pre-launch increased to 19 euros. Travelers face issues not at the border but with poorly trained transport operators who may wrongly deny entry to those without the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), valid for two years upon issuance.

📌 Jaime Concheiro, partner at CCS Abogados, addresses key queries from hoteliers about the collective lawsuit against Booking during Updating Hotelero 2025, an event organized by tourism news outlet HOSTELTUR. The video clarifies the lawsuit's connection to the CNMC fine and options for hoteliers seeking to sue Booking for damages due to parity clauses.

🏡 Starting April 3, new tourist apartment openings in Spain require three-fifths support from property owners for approval. The Organic Law 1/2025 amends the 1960 Horizontal Property Law, empowering communities to approve, limit or prohibit short-term rentals. Pre-existing tourist apartments can continue under old regulations. Also, a digital registration for legal compliance is underway, with 18,104 applications since January; 49% approved, 11% rejected. The measure aims to reduce housing pressure and ensure more long-term residential rentals.

🧙 In Spain, a scandal involving Begoña Gómez, Air Europa, the Public Prosecutor's Office, Aldama, and even the Moncloa has emerged, reflecting a normalization of corruption in the country. Despite the gravity of the allegations, life continues as usual with no significant public outrage or accountability, suggesting a deep-rooted acceptance of corruption in the tourism sector and beyond. The case highlights how controlling judges and prosecutors is seen as vital for maintaining impunity in the face of widespread corruption.

🎓 On April 2, 2025, it was highlighted that outdoor training, a technique used by HR departments to boost productivity and well-being, has become increasingly popular for talent retention plans. Unlike team building, outdoor training focuses on experiential games in nature to enhance leadership, communication, and resilience. Key benefits include improved teamwork, adaptability, creativity, interpersonal relationships, and corporate culture. The practice also impacts organizational culture by revealing hidden dynamics and areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing team performance indicators. Integrating digital tools such as Zucchetti HR software can help measure the effectiveness of outdoor training activities and contribute to the strategic development of talent within a company.

📌 Destinia, a Spanish online travel agency, joins the case against Booking.com due to a €413 million fine imposed by CNMC for abuse of dominance (Article 2 of the Spanish Competition Law & Article 102 of the TFEU). CNMC initiated the sanctioning procedure following complaints by Spanish hotel associations in 2021. In July 2024, CNMC fined Booking; in November 2024, Booking appealed. The National Court suspended the fine on March 7, pending appeal resolution. Booking vows to exhaust all legal avenues to defend its rights.

📆 Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of the UNWTO, seeks to maintain his position despite opposition and controversies including accusations related to masks in the Dominican Republic and a trip to St. Petersburg. Spain will not vote for his candidacy in May's elections. Pololikashvili has enlisted former Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to help gain China's support, which could influence African countries. The alliance between Zapatero and Pololikashvili is not new; they have a history of frequent interactions.

📌 Travel agencies led by CEAV are preparing to challenge a ministerial order that has been in effect since December 2, with no penalties yet imposed after nearly four months. CEHAT General Secretary Ramón Estalella notes companies are not providing required information without repercussions, suggesting a strategic avoidance of giving grounds for legal challenges. As of March 17, 202,664 companies, including 12,713 hotels and 5,021 travel agencies, are registered in the system, while agencies argue the regulation breaches normative hierarchy by including intermediaries not mentioned in the Organic Law of Citizen Security.