Jurídicos y Administrativos

🏠 Riu, the Spanish hotel chain, ended its legal dispute with the Ministry of Finance over a tax deduction claimed on Corporate Tax for the years 2007, 2008, and 2009, deciding not to appeal a November 2022 court ruling. The contention arose from a 5.8 million euro capital gain obtained from selling a property in Chipiona, bought in 2004 and sold in 2006. The court determined the property was not part of Riu's fixed assets, which would have qualified for the fiscal benefit. The sale yielded a roughly 40% return in just two years.

🚨 PSOE and Sumar clash over sustainable mobility law, with Sumar's leader Yolanda Díaz suggesting tax increases for airlines and cruises to match public transport's VAT. The Spanish government must pass this law by year-end to access European recovery funds. The proposal could raise VAT to 10% and significantly increase costs for international flights and cruises, currently exempt. Sumar opposes major airport expansions in Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat, labeling them economically and ecologically unsound, while advocating to reduce bus routes from 77 to 22.

🏥 Ana Maria Jaume, now owns 54.8% of voting rights in Meliá Hotels International after her husband Gabriel Escarrer's death on November 26. Control is through Hoteles Mallorquines Consolidados (24.365%), Hoteles Mallorquines Agrupados (11.290%), Hoteles Mallorquines Asociados (13.763%), and Tulipa Inversiones 2018 (5.388%). A family pact from October 2018 remains in effect, requiring an 80% majority for critical decisions for five years post-Escarrer's death, ensuring stability during succession.

🛂 A Real Decree (Real Decreto 933/2021) effective from December 2 demands extensive data collection from travelers at hotels and tourist accommodations in Spain, purportedly to enhance national security. The new protocol, criticized by the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (CEHAT), requires over 30 pieces of information from guests, which the industry views as excessive and counterproductive. The data must also be stored for three years, raising concerns about data security and the added administrative burden on tourism employees. Critics argue that true criminals will evade such measures, while regular travelers face less privacy and more delays.

✈ Boeing delivered 13 planes in November; Airbus distributed 84 to 42 customers, mostly the 320 model and its variants, crucial to manufacturers' revenue. Airbus had been delivering under 60 aircraft monthly, and will miss its annual target despite November's sharp increase, fueled by engine manufacturer CFM's raised supply. Boeing had a weak November with just 30 orders, though orders are typically irregular, unlike production. Boeing's deliveries included United, Copa, Korean, Air Lease, Allegiant, American, and WestJet. Strikes impacted Boeing's 767 and 737 production, with some finished aircraft delivered after final adjustments. Airbus's November highlights included the first A350 to Emirates and the first A321 to Icelandair, but will fall short of the estimated 770 aircraft for the year.

🏠 El Ministerio de Consumo de España, bajo la dirección de Pablo Bustinduy, ha lanzado una investigación contra gestoras de pisos turísticos por prácticas “engañosas”. Se examinan infracciones a la Ley General para la Defensa de Consumidores y Usuarios, incluyendo falsas impresiones de profesionalismo y publicación de información engañosa que afecta decisiones económicas. La investigación se enfoca en pisos turísticos con licencia pero gestionados irregularmente, afectando a miles de familias en España.

🛃 El Ministerio de Derechos Sociales, Consumo y Agenda 2030 de España investiga "prácticas engañosas" en la gestión de pisos turísticos. Empresas podrían estar cometiendo infracciones de la ley de defensa de consumidores y competencia desleal. La indagación sigue a una anterior en junio sobre anuncios de viviendas turísticas sin licencia. Se examinan también comisiones abusivas y contratos irregulares en alquileres. El ministro Bustinduy propuso que pisos turísticos paguen un 21% de IVA en el presupuesto de 2025.

🕉 Visits to Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral are fully booked, with even 6 AM slots filled and a 9-minute wait. By 8 AM, delays extend to 45 minutes. The website only allows bookings three days in advance and is currently saturated. Despite no reservations required, priority is given to those who booked online. Louvre Museum has availability for March, earlier dates are sold out. Visitor arrivals in December increased by 18% over last year, potentially influenced by the Olympics and Notre Dame's popularity, further boosted by Donald Trump's presence during the inauguration ceremony.

✈ Air Canada charges $25 for any carry-on luggage, except a purse or laptop, effective January 3. A second carry-on costs $36, or $46 if paid at the airport. This policy led to a meeting between the Transport Minister, Anita Anand, and the CEOs of Air Canada and WestJet. In the U.S., Spirit and Frontier paid $26 million to employees between 2022 and 2023 for collecting additional fees from passengers, with Frontier employees earning up to $10 per bag and Spirit employees receiving $5 per infringement. Spirit is currently bankrupt.

🗣 Javier Hidalgo, former CEO of Globalia, will not testify for alleged false testimony in the 'caso Koldo' as requested by popular accusation Liberum, decided by the National High Court's Criminal Chamber, confirming judge Ismael Moreno's decision. The Supreme Court's doctrine states false testimony requires the statements to be essential, which did not apply to Hidalgo's case. Liberum accused Hidalgo of lying in his September 12 declaration about his knowledge of a commercial relationship between Koldo García and Víctor de Aldama.