Nombramientos

🛩️ Frontier Airlines, a low-cost carrier in the U.S., faces internal turmoil as its CEO, Barry Biffle, was ousted by the board on Monday. He remains an advisor until December 31 while James Dempsey becomes interim CEO. Previously thriving, Frontier now struggles with cost management, a crucial aspect of low-cost airlines. Biffle's strategy of selling and leasing back planes increased liquidity but weakened assets. Frontier seeks a leader akin to Ryanair's Michael O'Leary to control costs effectively.

🏨 Elisa Barral appointed first female general manager of The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid, in its 113-year history since opening in 1912. With over 25 years in luxury hotel management, she aims to elevate the hotel's status. Previously senior VP of Operations at L+R Hotels, she managed properties in Spain, Monaco, and Italy. Her strategic vision and leadership are expected to enhance the hotel's excellence and international prestige.

✈ Carolina Herrero will become the new manager of the Association of Airlines (ALA) in February 2025, replacing Agapito Maricalva. She will enhance communication with public administrations and regulators, organize meetings with president Javier Gándara, and coordinate work committees. Herrero will also lead the AOC España, strengthening coordination with Aena and related entities. The transition marks a strategic shift in ALA's leadership and representation in the aviation sector.

✈️ Ryanair's CEO plans to leave before 2035. His contract ends in 2028, at age 67. Talks are ongoing to extend it by 3-5 years. The CEO emphasizes internal succession, suggesting 3-4 young managers from within. He acknowledges succession risks, stating the current team could manage for a year if needed. He characterizes his future departure as beneficial, predicting a better Ryanair without his intense management style.

🏨 Beatriz Miguel becomes the new General Director of Ilunion Hotels, succeeding José Ángel Preciados, who remains CEO. With 20 years at Ilunion Hotels, Miguel has been pivotal in strategic and operational roles. The company, part of Grupo Social ONCE, operates 32 hotels across Spain. It emphasizes a unique business model combining economic profitability with social impact, supported by new management roles for Manuel Jiménez Pulgar and David López Flores.

📈 Guillermo González Vallina dejará World2Meet el 31 de enero, tras 3.5 años como director general de distribución. Se unió en junio de 2022 bajo la dirección de Gabriel Subías. Anteriormente, trabajó más de 6 años en Iberia como director de ventas para España, Portugal y Norte de África. Antes de eso, pasó más de 8 años en Alsa tras su paso por Viajes El Corte Inglés. Su salida no implicará nuevas contrataciones externas.

✈️ Jens Bischof will step down as CEO of Eurowings at the end of 2025 after five years of leadership. Max Kownatzki, currently CEO of Sun Express, will replace him, with Marcus Schnabel stepping in as Sun Express's new director. Both appointments take effect on February 1, 2026. Eurowings, a low-cost subsidiary of Lufthansa, was established to capture Air Berlin's market share post-collapse. Kownatzki previously served as Eurowings' commercial director.

📈 Pierre & Vacances appointed Nicolas Lleixà as Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer for its Spanish subsidiary. With over 20 years of experience in the travel and hospitality sector, Lleixà has worked with companies like Selenta Group and Sercotel Hotel Group. Known for leading strategic transformations, he aims to strengthen strategic alliances and expand to new markets, including recent entries into Switzerland and Italy, with plans to enter another Southern European market soon.

💻 Christian Fleck has been appointed as CEO of Mapal, a leading European hospitality operations platform. Previously, Fleck held senior roles at The Access Group and LexisNexis. Jorge Lurueña, Mapal's founder, becomes President, focusing on long-term strategy and product innovation. Backed by Eurazeo and PSG, Mapal aims to expand internationally and enhance its AI-driven hospitality solutions, solidifying its leadership in the sector. This leadership transition supports Mapal's growth and global expansion plans.

🏠 Leo Messi, in early 2025, transitioned the management of his MiM hotel chain to The Meliá Collection. Previously managed by Majestic Hotel Group, Messi's decision was strategic, aligning with the creation of a SOCIMI for his hotels, aiming for stock market entry. SOCIMIs offer tax benefits, requiring assets like hotels to be rental properties, conflicting with Majestic's management-centric approach. The MiM Andorra, opened in 2022, was the last under Majestic's management. Despite changes, relations remain amicable.