Nombramientos

🏨 Riu Hotels & Resorts began its generational handover after Carmen Riu's retirement in July 2024. CEO Luis Riu initiated a new phase involving the fourth generation of the Riu family. Roberto Riu Rodríguez, 31, joins as executive director, overseeing the Design and Construction department and the Commercial and Marketing area. Naomi Riu Rodríguez, 32, combines her CFO role with responsibilities in EMEA Purchasing and Corporate Social Responsibility, overseeing operations in the Indian Ocean and Riu Plaza hotels in Madrid, London, and Dublin. Luis Riu Rodríguez, 33, also from Design and Construction, becomes executive director for Atlantic zone operations and will manage the SAT engineering and maintenance area. Lola Trian Riu, 40, shifts from Sustainability to managing the family's philanthropic funds, including the Joan Riu Foundation. Joan Trian Riu, 41, as executive director, will lead Operations in America and Riu Plaza hotels in the USA, Toronto, Guadalajara, Panama, and Berlin. They aim to strengthen executive roles while maintaining the family management's balance and understanding, contributing to the company's 70-year history.

🏨 Riu announces internal changes involving a new generation, with the family's fourth generation taking on key executive roles to strengthen the company's over 70-year history. Luis Riu remains CEO, overseeing expansion, construction, and product design. Roberto Riu Rodríguez joins as Executive Director, handling Commercial and Marketing. Naomi Riu Rodríguez, the CFO, adds EMEA Purchases and CSR to her duties and oversees Operations in the Indian Ocean region and Riu Plaza hotels in Madrid, London, and Dublin. Luis Riu Rodríguez becomes Executive Director for Operations in the Atlantic zone and SAT engineering and maintenance. Lola Trian Riu shifts focus to manage family philanthropic funds, including the Joan Riu Foundation. Joan Trian Riu, as Executive Director, covers Operations in America and Riu Plaza hotels in the USA, Toronto, Guadalajara, Panama, and Berlin, maintaining his institutional representation of the company.

📌 Mayte García, previously Secretary General, now holds the position of Executive Director, responsible for services to associates, innovation, technology, quality, sustainability, health, and public administration relations as per the 2-year transparency law. Nuria Montes resumes her previous role as Secretary General, managing institutional, administrative, labor tasks, accounts, reports, territorial coordination, and communication and big data policies. Hosbec, led by president Fede Fuster, experiences restructuring to cater to growth in membership and territorial presence across three provinces. The organization gains 9 new members (1 in Castellón, 4 in Valencia, 4 in Alicante), totaling 368 associates and nearly 116,000 represented lodging options. The General Assembly of HOSBEC will formally approve the statutory modifications, although the directive committee's decision is already effective.

🛫 Charles Cartier is no longer leading Air Mauritius as of this Thursday, with a trio of directors taking over amidst chaos, including accusations, resignations, and various anomalies. The airline is facing internal divisions, political battles, consistent aircraft malfunctions, delays, cancellations, and frequent luggage losses. Air Mauritius, publicly owned and operating to 30 destinations with a fleet of 10 planes, including four Airbus A330 and A350 each, survived bankruptcy during the pandemic with public aid. IAG owns 10% of the airline. The turmoil started last year when employees sent a letter to the Parliament exposing unjust dismissals and authority abuses, leading to the recent dismissal of Cartier by the board.

📌 Ana Belén Prim, with over 20 years of experience, including 17 years at Petit Palace and 3 years at Sonder, has joined Sercotel Hotel Group as the new Head of Expansion. She is part of YPO, a global leadership community with over 34,000 CEOs in 150 countries, and has been a partner of Women in Hospitality for four years. Sercotel Hotel Group, under Francisco Marco's leadership, has recently strengthened its Expansion team with new hires such as Jaume Sans, Silvia Pizarro, and Jesús Moreno, indicating a strategic focus on their expansion efforts.

📅 Luca Angiolani has been promoted to the position of Commercial Director at Jumbo Tours after over seven years with the company, reporting directly to General Director Emilio Rivas, who took over in September. Angiolani succeeds Amadeu Franquet, who retires after more than eight years with Jumbo Tours. Previously, Angiolani worked at Viajes Olympia, Tour10, Sehrs Tourism, Keytel, and Avis.

🏨 Extendam and Continuum Hospitality Group to transform a 3-star independent hotel in Santander into an ibis Styles, the first for the brand in the city. Opened in July 2022, the 93-room facility will undergo a minor construction program for the rebranding. It's strategically located near the city center, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, industrial port, and airport, serving hospital, business, and leisure travelers. This venture strengthens the hospitality offering in a market dominated by independent establishments.

🏩 Juan José Hidalgo, presidente de Air Europa, claims success stems from "not lying" and emphasizes punctual payments to employees and suppliers. Despite his assertions, Hidalgo has been accused of deceiving media, betraying Spanish colleagues, and facing multiple legal disputes in the Dominican Republic. His business dealings extend beyond aviation to football, bullfighting, and livestock, with a strategic focus on retaining control while negotiating with potential company investors.

🏖️ Spain welcomed 93.8 million tourists in 2024, with international visitors spending €126.282 billion—a 16.1% increase from 2023. The UK, France, and Germany were the top source markets, while Asian tourists saw the highest growth. Catalunya was the most visited destination, followed by the Balearic and Canary Islands. Spanish hotel chains expanded into 68 countries with over 280,000 rooms; Meliá focused on Cuba and Vietnam, Minor Hotels on Germany and Italy, Barceló on the US and Mexico, Riu on Mexico and Cabo Verde, and Iberostar on the Caribbean and Mediterranean. The Hotel Golf Santa Ponsa in Mallorca is set to open in 2026 under The Meliá Collection luxury brand, marking the fourth Meliá-Summum collaboration on the island, featuring 88 rooms, a gastronomic restaurant, rooftop bar, and modern spa.

💷 Ryanair, responding to Denmark's new €50 air passenger tax effective January 1st, has cut flights to Billund and ceased flights to Aalborg. Despite not reaching pre-pandemic 2019 air traffic levels by 2025, Denmark, like Germany, France, and Spain before, faces Ryanair's exit. Billund-based staff were offered relocation within Ryanair's European bases.