Nombramientos

🛈 The Instituto de Mayores y Servicios Sociales (Imserso) is sanctioning Turismo social (Ávoris) for breaches during the last travel program season, as announced by the government in response to a query by Agustín Almodóbar, the Popular Party's tourism spokesperson in the Senate. Mayte Sancho, director of Imserso, acknowledged issues with fulfillment, specifically concerning three and four-star hotels. Complaints from pensioners reduced satisfaction and impacted travel agencies' operations and image. Imserso, under the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda, will not renew Ávoris's contract nor activate the second extension, opting for a new public tender.

📍 Virginia Blasco, Luis Dupuy de Lôme, and Teresa García join the Mesa del Turismo as full members. Cinco Estrellas Club, with over 30 years of experience, specializes in cultural trips to destinations like Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey. GEBTA Spain, managing 80% of Spain's corporate business travel, welcomes new companies. Mindhead joins as a Collaborative Company, offering strategic consulting and business growth through innovative proposals. 🧳

🏨 Emilio Rivas, formerly of Globalia for nearly a decade, appointed General Manager and board member of Jumbo Tours, a subsidiary of Alpitour World. Ginés Martínez shifts focus to Vice Presidency of Global Alliances and International Development at Alpitour, reporting to Gabrielle Burgio. Carlos Fernández joins as Corporate Director, reporting to Rivas. Rivas joined Alpitour in January 2023 as Director of Strategy and Business Development. Alpitour World, based in Italy, boasts annual revenues exceeding €2 billion, over 2,500 travel agencies, Voi Hotels, and Neos airline.

📅 Apostolos Tzitzikostas, appointed European Commissioner for Transport and Tourism, replacing Adina Valean. Tzitzikostas, Central Macedonia's governor since 2013 and president of the Association of Greek Regions, was chosen by Ursula Von der Leyen for her 27-member team. His appointment, celebrated by Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, aims to enhance Greece's sustainable tourism and infrastructure, reflecting its leadership in the sector and impact on Balkan connectivity.

✈️ Rafael Jiménez Hoyos to lead Level as CEO starting October 1. International Airlines Group (IAG) forms Fly Level Barcelona, a new entity with €3,000 capital and 60 employees, to operate independently post-AOC approval, started in November 2023. Level to expand its fleet to eight A330s from the current six. IAG aims to transform Barcelona's El Prat into a major intercontinental hub, where it currently holds a 46% market share.

📅 Ramiro Sequeira to succeed Rafael Jiménez Hoyos as CEO of Level on October 1. Jiménez Hoyos ends his 11-year tenure at Iberia. Sequeira, with past roles at TAP, Iberia (2014-2018), Iberia Express, and Vueling, is praised by Hoyos in a farewell letter for his expertise and character.

📈 Javier Arévalo, with over 30 years of experience in the travel and tourism sector, has been appointed by GoNexus Group as the General Director of two new divisions: Global DMC Network and Hospitality Partnerships. Previously, Arévalo held top executive positions at HBX Group for more than 20 years and had significant roles at Barceló, TUI, and First Choice. He has transitioned from a non-executive role on the GoNexus Group's board since 2023 to an executive position, reporting directly to Rubén Gutiérrez, president of GoNexus Group. Arévalo's leadership aims to enhance the company's global presence, market share, and strategic partnerships, focusing on delivering cutting-edge solutions and services in the travel industry. Further details about the divisions will be announced soon, with a focus on streamlining destination management services and forming strategic hospitality service partnerships.

🏨 Aurelio Vázquez, former face of Baleares hoteliers, blames political mismanagement for the region's tourism saturation. Emphasizing the need for supply transformation over managing demand, he advocates for investment incentives like the Delgado law. Vázquez highlights that the issue isn't the number of tourists, but the untransformed supply, which could lead to decreased productivity and sustainability issues. He recently joined Summum Hotels, which focuses on "white label" management.

✈ EasyJet planned to close its Toulouse, France base, with two airplanes, in March 2025 after 13 years. UNAC, the aviation union, called for an indefinite strike in response, beginning on a Monday coinciding with new agreement negotiations. The Toulouse base employs 125 workers, covering 20 destinations, which will be served from other bases, offering workers relocation to any of the six other French cities where EasyJet operates: Nice, Paris (two airports), Bordeaux, Nantes, and Lyon.

✈ Rafael Jiménez Hoyos appointed as new CEO of IAG's long-haul airline Level, effective October 1. Outgoing CEO Fernando Candela, former Iberia president and Iberia Express CEO, retires. Level aims to grow, connects Barcelona globally. Jiménez previously Iberia's production director, holds A320 commander training, has piloted within the group. Amidst growth, Level seeks AOC, plans to expand fleet to 8 aircraft by 2026 after strong 2023 performance, boosts US routes, and strengthens Latin American presence.