Nombramientos

🏨 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.

💰 David Moré Pacheco exits his nearly nine-year tenure as head of Grupo Nautalia's business and events division to become CEO of Mapa Group, part of the same business conglomerate. Grupo Nautalia's division has grown significantly over the decade, now accounting for about 39% of the company's turnover, reaching its best fiscal year. Moré's successors, Cecilio Martell and Rosa María Martín Núñez, will lead with the current team and new talent. Alberto Díaz, former CEO of Mapa Group, supports Moré until June for a smooth transition, while Carlos Díaz remains as operations director. This change follows two months after the conglomerate's formation, which includes Nautalia Viajes, Wamos Portugal, and others in Europe, and the debt clearance with SEPI due to Wamos Air's sale to Grupo Abra.

📝 Rosario Sánchez, Spain's Secretary General of Tourism, highlights in an interview with Palma's newspaper "Última Hora" the shift of her rivals, the Partido Popular (PP), to support socialist policies aimed at curbing tourism growth. While the PP, now leading Govern and Consell, has authority over tourism regulation, Sánchez credits the PP's adoption of a Sustainable Tourism Tax, initially initiated by Antich, the first socialist president of the Balearic Islands. The Balearic Govern's dialogue table faces setbacks as key environmental groups withdraw, with the significant GOB being the latest to exit, citing unproductive meetings.

🏩 The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) welcomed 37 new members and elected new board members for 2025, marking a historic moment with Ivar Yuste of PHG Hotels & Resorts becoming the first Spaniard appointed as vice president. Kristie Dickinson, president of ISHC's board, highlighted the strategic growth and diverse global perspectives brought by the new members. ISHC aims to advance the hospitality industry, emphasizing collaboration, professional development, knowledge sharing, and thought leadership. Membership to ISHC is by invitation, and members are recognized leaders in their fields, subject to a rigorous selection process. The 2025 board features professionals from CHMWarnick, Hotelogy, Wits End Productions, HVS, Greenberg Traurig LLP, fsSTRATEGY, Solutions dot WG GmbH, The Gettys Group, and Russell Partnership Technology.

🏖️ Viajes El Corte Inglés has removed incentives for travel agents selling Ávoris' wholesaler products, including Travelplan, Catai, Special Tours, Rhodasol, and Jolidey (to disappear on December 10). Instead, agents receive 1%-1.20% for selling Tourmundial and Club de Vacaciones packages, as well as Muchosol accommodations. This move aims to boost sales of own-brand products over competitor Ávoris, which runs more than 540 outlets in Spain.