Nombramientos

🏨 Javier Tausía, CEO of deluna Hotels, became president of La Alianza Hotelera on May 20 in Pamplona, succeeding Jaime Monzón from Coolrooms Hotels. The alliance ranks fifth in Spain's tourism sector and comprises 16 hotel chains, with over 150 establishments nationwide. Tausía, with 20 years of experience, aims to strengthen the presence of independent hotels, enhancing their visibility and competitiveness through strategic alliances and joint supplier negotiations.

🛫 Iberia appoints Víctor Moneo as global sales director to boost market presence. In 2025, Iberia aims for a 4% capacity increase, offering 5.5 million seats. By late 2025/early 2026, new routes to Fortaleza and Recife will enhance Brazil's connectivity. Plans include expanding connections in Peru, Chile, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Moneo previously held roles as director of alliances and Latin America commercial director.

🇧🇪 Brussels Airlines, Belgium's largest airline, has had an all-German executive team for four years under its owner, Lufthansa. Changes are afoot as Tillman Reinshagen departs, and Filip Aerts, 53, a Belgian, returns to the company as Chief Operations Officer. Aerts previously worked for Sabena, Brussels Airlines' predecessor. Dieter Vranckx, previously Brussels' Belgian CEO until February 2021, now serves as Lufthansa's Chief Commercial Officer. Despite local criticism, Brussels Airlines remains integral to Lufthansa's strategy.

💰 Kike Sarasola, focusing on Room Mate's international expansion with four mega projects, sold his stake in Be Mate to major partners Barlon Capital III SCR, Javier Rubió, and Alex García. Be Mate, founded in 2014, thrived under his leadership, even during the pandemic crisis. Cristian Flórez will replace Sarasola as president. Sarasola expressed satisfaction with Be Mate's success and emphasized the shift in the hotel sector towards serviced apartments.

📈 Kike Sarasola, founder of Be Mate in 2014, exits the company, selling his shares. ????️ In 2023, Cristian Flórez, previously CEO since 2023, will succeed him. ???? Be Mate secured €11.5M in financing led by Barlon Capital. ???? Room Mate, led by Sarasola under Angelo Gordon and Westmont, reported €28.3M profit and €128.5M revenue in 2024. ???? Be Mate operates in 8 cities across 3 countries, managing 17 apartment buildings.

🌐 Georgia withdrew support for Zurab Pololikashvili’s UNWTO Secretary-General candidacy starting in 2026, backing UAE candidate Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais instead. Pololikashvili, after two terms since January 2018, lost Georgia's support unilaterally and Spain opposed his third term. The October 2023 UNWTO Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, rejected his reappointment. UAE's Nasser, with a Business Administration degree from Zayed University and vice president at Rotana, is among six candidates, including Mexico, Greece, Ghana, and Tunisia.

💼 David Moré, CEO of Mapa Group Travel since December, emphasizes alignment with Grupo Travel Live's sustainable growth goals. Mapa Group is adapting to market dynamics, focusing on competitive pricing and operational efficiency. Recently, the group restructured its brand portfolio to enhance adaptability and process optimization. Led by Rafael García Garrido, the strategy prioritizes sustainable economic practices to maintain profitability while offering high-quality, affordable products.

🛫 Skyscanner appoints Bryan Batista as CEO on June 1, 2024, replacing John Mangelaars, who served for over four years. Batista joined Skyscanner in January 2024 as COO and previously held roles at Tesla and Booking.com. In 2024, Skyscanner achieved record results across travel products, with double-digit growth in flights, car rentals, and accommodations. The company expanded into high-growth markets like India, with plans to double its audience. Batista emphasizes enhancing travel planning with smarter tools.

🚩 Georgia, April 2025: The Georgian government has revoked its support for Zurab Pololikashvili's re-election as Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization, a position he has held since 2018. Georgia will now endorse the candidate from the United Arab Emirates. Officials assert this decision is independent and not influenced by other candidates, dismissing speculation otherwise.

✈ Vueling publicly dismissed commander Jesús Cerqueira after over a decade of service. The company recognized his dedication, experience, and passion for flying through a LinkedIn post, wishing him well in retirement. Cerqueira responded with heartfelt thanks to Vueling's staff. Colleagues praised him as an exemplary professional and a kind person. This public acknowledgment is notably uncommon in commercial aviation, where farewells are typically more private.