Nombramientos

🏢 Jaime García-Calzada, aged 67, president of the FER and head of the La Rioja Chamber of Commerce, has passed away. He was deeply connected to the tourism sector, holding positions in CEOE and CEPYME executive boards and the Spanish Tourism Council. García-Calzada led FER, comprising 74 business organizations, into his third term in 2021. FER and the Chamber expressed profound sorrow on behalf of La Rioja's business community. The regional government conveyed condolences, highlighting his decades-long commitment to the regional and national tourism industry.

✈ Christine Ourmieres Widener, former CEO of TAP of Portugal, was dismissed from leading the aviation division of French group Dubreuil, including Air Caraibes and French Bee, after previously being ousted from TAP due to scandals. The announcement of her immediate termination was made this week. Air Caraibes operates a fleet of 13 aircraft serving French Caribbean islands, French Guiana, and France. French Bee, based in Orly, flies A350 planes to the US, French Polynesia, and Reunion. Concerns over discrepancies between reported and actual results may have influenced her dismissal. Prior to TAP, Ouirmieres Widener led the now-bankrupt FlyBe in Britain and worked with CityJet in France.

🏖 Ámsterdam, with 23 million annual visitors, faces local animosity towards tourism, despite various anti-tourism campaigns and measures like regulating sex establishments, discouraging young British tourists, and enforcing strict vacation rental laws. The city aims to reduce visitor numbers to 20 million. A recent protest occurred a month ago against the new Diamond hotel in Leidseplein Square, rallying under the slogan "Enough is enough." Housing prices in the city have also skyrocketed due to high demand.

🛫 Luis Gallego, IAG president, stated opposition to expanding London Heathrow Airport, Europe's most congested, on the grounds of high fees and taxes. British Airways, based at Heathrow, has long sought expansion due to congestion. Recent Labour Party support for expansion has not swayed Gallego, who criticizes the current high-cost model that impacts travelers without enhancing experience.

📍 Grupo Preferente held a tribute for Gabriel Escarrer Juliá during their awards, highlighting his legacy as a patriarch in the hotel industry. The event took place at Fitur, where Ifema organizers failed to acknowledge Escarrer's recent passing. Despite the absence of recognition from Ifema and Spanish tourism officials like Minister Jordi Hereu and Secretary Rosario Sánchez, the private ceremony led by Rafael Caballero was lauded as significant for the Spanish and Caribbean tourism sector. Notably, the president of Meliá, Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, along with other prominent figures like Miguel Fluxá and Frank Rainieri, attended. Baleares President Marga Prohens also praised Escarrer's global leadership and impact on the Balearic Islands.

🏥 Ignacio Ayala del Valle joins IAG7 Viajes as the new director of franchises and associates, bringing extensive experience from his over nine years at Nautalia Viajes leading the franchise department and implementing Wamos Group's air consolidator, Magnet España Viajes. Ayala also held a similar role at Barceló Viajes for two years, helping to add 130 sales points, and spent over 17 years at the now-defunct Marsans group. His appointment aims to enhance IAG7's integration with other travel agencies and provide advanced technological tools, supplier agreements, and services for business travel, MICE, and vacation travel.

🏥 José Lorenzo Mulet, former vice president of Barceló for 20 years, passed away on a Monday in Mallorca. Mulet began his career at Barceló in 1970, was the general director from 1970 to 1985, and then became the executive vice president of Barceló Hotels. He retired in 2005 at 59 and was once named "Empresario del Futuro" by Actualidad Económica magazine. His death was announced by Raúl González, an executive of the hotel chain.

🏆 Gabriel Escarrer Juliá to receive tribute at Grupo Preferente awards during Fitur. His son, CEO of Meliá Hotels, will accept an artistic piece by painter Joan Ramis Sineu, signed by tourism colleagues. Event is set for around 1 PM at IFEMA's Sala Neptuno, showcasing the Spanish and Latin American tourism elite in honor of Spain's most universal tourism figure.

🏢 Agustina Salord has been appointed as the new General Director of tourism technology company Dingus, aiming to align internal and external client needs to enhance customer service. Previously the Director of Customer Service at Dingus, Salord plans to take customer attention to the next level. Paula Servera and Milena Galindo, VP Strategy & Growth and VP Strategy & Partnerships respectively, will focus on market opportunities, product development, business growth, and strategic alliances post-appointment.

📍 Tensions arise between the Italian Government, majority partner of ITA, and Lufthansa, which acquired 41% of ITA's capital. Antonino Turicchi resigned as ITA's non-executive president, replaced by Sandro Pappalardo. Joerg Eberhart, ex-chief of Strategy for Lufthansa and head of Air Dolomiti from 2014-2021, becomes ITA's top executive. Despite ITA's significant losses in 2021 and 2022, the airline lost only five million in 2023 and achieved a positive Ebit of 20 million in 2024. The finalization of the operation and leadership transition occurred recently.