Nombramientos

🚀 Air Europa, a Spanish airline owned by the Hidalgo family, has faced tensions with the Venezuelan government after modifying their Madrid-Caracas route to avoid crew overnight stays in Caracas for safety concerns. Surprisingly, the airline amended operations to include a crew change in Gran Canaria, but recently reverted to direct flights. Madrid's Adolfo Suarez-Madrid Barajas Airport has reported no anomalies with scheduled flights. Currently, five airlines operate the Madrid-Caracas route: Iberia, Plus Ultra, Air Europa, Iberojet, and Hi Fly for Estelar and Láser.

✈ Juan José Hidalgo, owner of Air Europa, discusses the airline's future on Toro TV after a thwarted acquisition by Iberia, facing challenges without IAG support and significant pandemic debt. Despite connections, Hidalgo states no government support was received, not even from Franco, who died November 20, 1975, or subsequent Spanish governments. Hidalgo formerly worked as a driver for General Álvarez Arenas, later Army Minister under Franco.

🚨 In 2024, Mallorca has witnessed four anti-tourism protests, increasing from zero over the previous eight years under the Partido Popular's governance. Activists call for another protest on August 11, demanding limits on tourism, economic model changes, and respect for nature. Protesters' demands include access to decent housing, an end to real estate speculation, battling gentrification, improving public services, regenerating natural areas, preserving the local language, and advocating for fair and well-paid jobs.

🎰 Salvador Illa, leader of the PSC, has been inaugurated as president of the Generalitat of Catalonia with the support of Ada Colau and the comunes, directly impacting the Hard Rock project in Tarragona. The agreement between the parties includes halting the "macrocasino" despite previous commitments to the project, which was set to feature a casino, two hotels, a commercial area, dining establishments, and entertainment facilities, attracting over 15,000 people, with expectations of two million annual visitors and the creation of 11,500 jobs. The project was initially awarded in 2017. Jessica Albiach, president of the comunes, emphasizes Catalonia's refusal to become "the casino of Europe.

🏨 Juan Carlos López Vella, former controller of Soho Boutique Hoteles, was appointed as General Manager in a strategic shift aimed at stabilizing, refinancing, and preparing for future growth and expansion. He joined the company in 2018, bringing extensive financial and management control experience, and has completed an Executive Education program at San Telmo Business School. The hotel group focuses on innovation, sustainability, and quality service in the urban boutique hotel sector. The strategic plan includes financial restructuring to fully repay loans from the Solvency Support Fund for Strategic Companies managed by SEPI.

🏨 Luis Riu, CEO of Riu Hotels, calls for increased collaboration to eradicate the illegal offering of tourist homes in Spain, which causes a sense of lack of control in many destinations. In an interview with Europa Press, he highlights the need for a brave approach involving public administrations, citizens, hoteliers, restaurants, shops, car rentals, tour operators, and vacation housing sectors. Riu cites Mallorca, where some municipalities have more vacation homes than residential ones, altering local life. He urges updating "rules of the game" to ensure tourism remains a development engine for Spain.

📌 Room Mate Hotels clarified on July 11 that they have no records of contracts with Madrid's President Isabel Díaz Ayuso or her team during the 2020 pandemic. Ayuso confirmed she paid out of pocket for her stay at Be Mate Apartments, a separate entity not currently linked to Room Mate. The company requests an end to misinformation, asserting it's not their role to disclose private client data. Be Mate Apartments may verify Ayuso's billing records, but it's unknown if they've been asked to do so.

🏖️ Wolfgang Beeser, former president of Thomas Cook and former CEO of Neckermann, has passed away. His career was pivotal in European tourism, marked by a significant role at Neckermann during its prime competition with TUI and later at Thomas Cook. Fluent in Spanish and with a home in Puerto de Cruz, Tenerife, Beeser also served on the board of Grupo Iberostar and left a positive impression in the Balearic and Canary Islands.

✈️ Spanish airports and airlines are recovering from a Microsoft computer glitch that affected thousands globally, including hospitals. Aena states its main systems are restored after manual operations this morning, with airports operational despite delays and queues. As of 14:30, 3,520 flights operated, 105 cancellations reported, and many delays. Airlines are adjusting and restoring systems; passengers were advised to arrive three hours early due to the chaos.

🎶 Juan José Hidalgo, president of Globalia and Air Europa, will finance all festivities and bullfights in his hometown, Villanueva del Conde, in the coming year, fulfilling a promise made in November last year. The commitment was confirmed this week to the presenter of "Cuestión de Prioridades" and reported by Salamanca Hoy. Hidalgo had announced his intention to cover the costs if everything went as he believed.