Nombramientos

🏖️ Javier Hidalgo resigned as board member of Madrid Playa Surf in 2024. The company, initiated by Atlético de Madrid, is building Europe's largest artificial beach next to the club's new sports city. Hidalgo, former CEO of Globalia, left due to pressure from partners over his links to the Koldo scheme. Pablo Ferre Domínguez, a trusted individual hired by Globalia in 2021, and a member of the tourism group's advisory council, replaced him. Hidalgo joined Madrid Playa Surf in 2023, owning a 25% stake, equal to Atlético de Madrid's share, with the rest split equally between Teras and Stoneweg funds.

🌊 Juan Carlos García Granda, Cuban Minister of Tourism, addresses the concerning decline in the country's tourism sector, which is essential for viability. He suggests a coherent investment plan is needed to improve the tourism product. Acknowledging issues with safety perception, loss of qualified personnel, and supply problems, García Granda highlights the centralized economic model and lack of freedom as underlying issues. He does not detail why investments are unproductive or how these fundamental problems will be addressed.

💰 Catalonia Hotels & Resorts sells its purchasing center Quantum to Avendra International, part of Aramark. Quantum has over 2,000 affiliated hotels, 600 suppliers, and operates in Spain, Mexico, Germany, and Zanzibar, with annual operations above €500 million. Catalonia projects €644 million in revenue and a €159 million pretax profit for 2024. The strategic sale aims to strengthen international expansion, while Catalonia will continue using Quantum, ensuring operational continuity. CEO Alejandro Casajuana assures no visible changes for employees, clients, or suppliers.

🏖️ Hosteltur began awarding the Tourism Personality of the Year in 2017, with the first award presented at Fitur 2018. Seven individuals and companies have been honored since then. The jury comprises Hosteltur's editorial team, including editor Manuel Molina, and leaders from CEHAT, CEAV, Mesa del Turismo, and CEOE. Awards are given to visionaries in the industry, such as Pablo Piñero, founder of Grupo Piñero, and CEOs like Steve Heapy of Jet2, who led the company to become the UK's second-largest tour operator by 2018. In 2023, Simón Pedro Barceló was recognized for leading Grupo Barceló to incorporate over 25 establishments, making it Spain's second-largest chain with over 300 hotels and 66,000 rooms. The next winner will be announced on a Wednesday at Fitur 2024.

🏨 Javier Vich, CEO of Summum Hotel Group, became the president of the Mallorca Hotel Business Federation (FEHM) on Monday, for a three-year term, succeeding María Frontera, who held the position since 2018. The inauguration occurred at the Hotel GPRO Valparaíso Palace & SPA. Vich, who has led the Hotel Association of Palma (Ashpama) since 2012, aims to focus on unity, representativeness, and diversity to ensure the sector continues to create jobs, generate wealth, and promote Mallorca as a leading destination for quality and sustainability. Vich previously served as vice-president under María Frontera and now represents the interests of the 860 hotel establishments that are members of FEHM. The new board includes Inés Batle as the first vice-president and Pedro Marín as the second vice-president, with María José Aguiló continuing as the executive vice-president.

🏖️ Lidl's travel business, active in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and France, announced its closure in France, despite maintaining operations in other countries. Previously, the company retracted plans to close its travel subsidiary in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Lidl France's area director had resigned earlier, but this did not necessitate the closure. The company handles travel sales through brochures in supermarkets and online, with the latter proceeding as normal. The fate of trips purchased in-store and not yet undertaken remains uncertain. The closure's impact is minimal due to low travel sales volume, and Lidl has begun negotiating the termination of contracts with French suppliers. Lidl Viaggi in Italy continues unaffected.

🏨 Ana María Jaume, widow of Meliá Hotels International founder Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, now controls 54.8% of the company's voting rights after his death on November 26. This stake is held through Hoteles Mallorquines Consolidados (24.365%), Hoteles Mallorquines Agrupados (11.290%), Hoteles Mallorquines Asociados (13.763%), and Tulipa Inversiones 2018 (5.388%). Despite the significant share, no public acquisition offer is mandated due to a 2018 shareholder agreement, which requires an 80% majority for certain decisions following Escarrer’s death. The Escarrer family reaffirmed their commitment to stability and trust among Meliá's stakeholders.

🏖️ Grupo Nautalia will rebrand as Travel Live, incorporating Mapa Group and Wamos Portugal, guided by CEO Rafael García Garrido. This follows Springwater's sale of Wamos Air. Travel Live will join the ranks of Spain's four major tourism businesses, alongside Grupo Viajes El Corte Inglés, Ávoris, and World2Meet (W2M). The group's wholesale division will see David Moré succeed Alberto Díaz. Travel Live will be segmented into three divisions: Nautalia Viajes, Mapa Group's tour and incoming operations, and Wamos Portugal's brands, such as Top Atlantico and Geostar.

📌 Naomi Riu, CFO of Riu Hotels and daughter of CEO Luis Riu, credits the company's success to a family business philosophy penned by her grandfather 40 years ago in 1981. Upholding these principles during a generational transition, with guidance from external advisors and a family protocol developed with lawyers' support, is critical for the company's future. Post-Carmen Riu's retirement, she chairs the Board of Directors, now including fourth-generation members, signaling a crucial step in succession.

🏖️ Gloria Guevara, former president of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), is a strong candidate to lead the United Nations' Tourism (formerly UNWTO) and replace Zurab Pololikashvili, who has held the position since 2018. With over 35 years of experience, including leading Mexico's Federal Tourism Secretariat from 2010 to 2012 and working as a senior advisor for Saudi Arabia's Tourism Ministry post-WTTC in 2021, Guevara aims to focus on sustainability, innovation, and promoting public and private investment. The election will take place in Madrid in May 2025, with 34 voting countries; Guevara will need at least 18 votes to win, competing against Harry Theoharis, former Greek Tourism Minister.