Nombramientos

🚩 Louise Haigh, while serving as Minister of Transport for a few months, resigned following a request from Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Her resignation stems from an incident 11 years prior, where she falsely reported her mobile phone stolen—despite it being at her home—resulting in a fraud conviction. The standards for ministerial conduct highlight the severity of lying to the police.

✈ Kenton Jarvis, soon-to-be CEO of Easyjet, criticized Ryanair in The Telegraph for its approach to holiday packages. Easyjet, like Jet2, has seen financial success with such packages on their flights. Ryanair's past partnership with Logitravel in Spain failed. Jarvis suggests Ryanair lacks the brand trust Easyjet has for holiday services. Easyjet's tour operator generated over €220 million in profits from September 2023 to the same month the following year.

🏨 Abel Matutes Juan, founder of Palladium Hotel Group, was awarded the "Campeón del Turismo Dominicana 2024" by Asonahores for his more than six decades of contribution to tourism. His son, Abel Matutes Prats, accepted the award at the Asonahores Tourism Investment Forum 2024. Palladium Hotel Group, originally Fiesta Hotels & Resorts, owns 40 hotels across six countries, including six in the Dominican Republic: TRS Turquesa Hotel, TRS Cap Cana, and four Grand Palladium resorts. The award recognizes Matutes' role in making the Caribbean a world-class destination and advancing the tourism industry.

🏖️ Pilar Sánchez Acera, with no experience in tourism, served as chief of staff at Paradores and later at the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Paradores, a public tourism company, often shelters politically affiliated individuals without industry knowledge. Board members receive over 1,000 euros per meeting, totaling nearly 12,000 euros annually. After leaking emails to Lobato, causing a crisis in PSOE Madrid, Sánchez was abruptly dismissed. The Paradores president earns 200,000 euros a year.

✈ Eduardo Aguirre Quintero, commander at Plus Ultra, retired on November 25 after a 40-year career, including time at Iberia and Etihad. He operated his last commercial flight on that Monday, receiving an emotional tribute from air traffic controllers as he approached landing. The retirement was discussed on his X account (formerly Twitter), noting his wide appreciation across airlines.

📈 Victor de Aldama revealed details of a meeting with Begoña Gómez and Javier Hidalgo on a hotel rooftop in Saint Petersburg. Discussed were topics unrelated to Air Europa's rescue, despite the company's strategic importance and risk to nearly 50,000 jobs (actual direct employees under 4,000). Aldama's account raises questions about the presence of the OMT Secretary-General and the involvement of Gómez in accelerating the airline's financial aid.

🛫 Travelance, formed by Soltour in October 2023, loses Luxotour after a year-long partnership. CEO Antonio Guerra states a strategic shift for independent growth. Luxotour, with a 45-year history, cites strong technological and commercial positioning. Travelance, an evolution of Soltour Travel Partners, still includes TUI, Europamundo, and Coming2 from Grupo Piñero.

🏩 Johan Lundgren reported Easyjet's nearly €750 million profits for the September to September year, a 34% increase from the previous year. Lundgren will step down, handing the CEO role to CFO Kenton Jarvis. Easyjet's second-highest profits ever come after a robust recovery, driven by surging aviation business and successful Airbus aircraft dealings, contrary to founder Stellios Haji Iaonnou's pandemic stance. Easyjet Holidays grew 36% in business volume and 56% in profits, expecting a 25% customer increase this year. Group turnover reached €9.3 billion, up by 14%.

💚 Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, the founder of Meliá, was honored in a funeral on Thursday at the Basilica of Sant Francesc in Palma, with a large attendance from Mallorca's society and tourism sector. Prominent figures from religious, political, business communities, and security forces participated, reflecting Escarrer's 89 years of human quality. Relatives and Meliá executives attended, with tributes highlighting his generosity and the ethical legacy left for future generations.

🏦 Nacho Giral, cofounder of Atrápalo, hands over daily management after 24+ years, with CEO role assumed by Luis Alonso, the financial director of 17 years. Atrápalo, an agency that tallied €230 million in 2023, embraces strategic shifts while founders continue influencing business direction. ????