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🏕️; SiteMinder's "Changing Traveller Report 2024" based on a survey of 12,000 travelers from 14 countries, reports an 11.2% increase in international tourism in Spain and a 44% increase in tourist spending over the end of 2019. Tourism contributes to over 13% of Spain's national GDP. Popular Spanish destinations include Andalusia (27%), Galicia (26.5%), and Madrid (26%), while internationally, France (18%) and Italy (14.5%) lead. A notable 72% of global travelers plan international visits in 2025, with Japan emerging as a top destination. The "all-terrain traveler" represents a new, versatile traveler profile; 44% of Spaniards plan to travel with partners, whereas only 7% will travel alone. The report highlights a 10% annual increase in online accommodation searches and a preference for sustainable stays, with 62% of Spanish and 70% of global travelers willing to pay more. Economic pressure directs 59% of Spaniards towards standard rooms, with 86% willing to spend on extras. A growing trend is travel for events, with 69% of young Spaniards ready to travel for concerts or festivals. Remote work considerations and pet-friendly options are increasingly important, with 39% of Spanish travelers choosing pet-friendly hotels.

🏨 During the III International Meeting of Hotel Directors organized by the Spanish Association of Hotel Directors (AEDH), a legal battle against Booking for abuse of dominant position and anti-competitive practices was discussed. Alicia Reina expressed concerns about potential retaliation affecting visibility on Booking's algorithm. Booking has been designated as a "gatekeeper" under the EU Digital Markets Act, facing serious sanctions for abusive practices. Hotels may claim compensation for losses due to Booking's rate parity clauses, with potential claims up to 1.8 million euros for a hotel with an annual turnover of 4 million euros since 2010. Eskariam, working on a success basis, charges 25% of the recovered amount. The debate highlighted the heavy reliance of some hotels on Booking for room sales, and the possibility of similar claims against other OTAs like Expedia was suggested.

🏠 The 17th edition of FITURTECHY, organized by FITUR and the Hotel Technological Institute (ITH), is scheduled from January 22 to 24, 2025, in Pavilion 10 of IFEMA MADRID. Themed 'The Thousand and One Journeys,' the event will focus on technology, Artificial Intelligence, and sustainability in tourism. The section includes four forums and a #techYhotel showroom supported by entities like Cajamar, AdQuiver, Maarlab, American Express, Veolia, and energy partner Enovam. Veolia, with 218,000 employees worldwide, supplied drinking water to over 13.5 million people, treated 794,657 tons of waste, and reduced 70,220 tons of CO2 in Spain in 2023. Enovam manages energy for over 1,000 hotels and has participated in over 250 energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

🌍 En el III Encuentro Internacional de Directivos de Hostelería y Turismo, líderes hoteleros debaten sobre turismo sostenible. Juan Carlos Sanjuan de Casual Hotels menciona prácticas sostenibles como la reforestación de un bosque en Teruel, equivalente a 50 campos de pádel. José Ángel Preciados de ILUNION Hotels enfatiza la sostenibilidad como eje estratégico y destaca la coherencia cultural interna. ILUNION Hotels gana "Premio al hotel más innovador 2024" de hotelkit. Jaime Monzón de CoolRooms y Diego Fernández Pérez de Ponga de Port Hotels resaltan la importancia de una cultura organizacional sostenible. Monzón sugiere menos turistas pero con mayor gasto, destacando calidad y prácticas responsables. Fernández anticipa una demanda creciente por prácticas sostenibles de futuras generaciones. La sostenibilidad es vista como necesidad imperante y estrategia transversal en el turismo.

💰 Minor Hotels Europe & Americas reported exceptional financial results for the first nine months of 2024, with revenues of €1.789 billion, a 10.9% increase from the same period in 2023. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) rose by 6.2% year-on-year to €146, with Spain and Central Europe leading the portfolio's performance. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) grew by 8% to €101. The recurring EBITDA increased by 11.3% to €498 million, and the net recurrent profit surged by 52% to €141 million. In the third quarter alone, revenue was up by 10% to €644 million, with occupancy surpassing pre-pandemic levels at 72.3% in Southern Europe. Net financial debt stood at €313 million in September, with liquidity remaining solid at €461 million. Regional gains included a 75% occupancy rate in Spain and an 8% revenue increase in Central Europe, partly thanks to the UEFA Euro 2024.

🚂 Renfe resumes full high-speed train service between Madrid and València on November 14, after repairs by Adif due to October 29 weather damages. The route now offers 199 weekly trips with a capacity of 80,000 seats: 30 daily trains on weekdays, 15 each way, and 49 on weekends—12 to València and 11 to Madrid on Saturdays; 13 each way on Sundays. Renfe sent 687,132 notifications to passengers regarding the disruption.

🏨 Check In Jobs Madrid has advanced the careers of over 18,400 tourism professionals since its launch, fostered by AEHM, the Community of Madrid, and the Instituto Tecnológico Hotelero (ITH). The platform, featuring machine learning and AI, connects specialized profiles with the hospitality industry in Madrid and includes 10 participating universities and business schools. It addresses challenges such as the demand for digital skills and customer service expertise. On November 7, a session titled “Check In Jobs Madrid: impulsando el talento en el sector hotelero” was held to discuss the project's progress and benefits. Notably, 22% of candidates have over five years of experience, mainly interested in reception, cleaning, customer service, cuisine, and events.

🏨 In Spain, hotel chains saw substantial growth over the last decade, driven by expansion into Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, and increased rates due to high demand. Riu Hotels & Resorts led in revenue in 2022, generating over €600 million more than Meliá, which previously topped earnings until 2020. Meliá Hotels International's net result improved by 28.3% to €139.4 million by September 2023, with Ebitda reaching €425.9 million, up 10.1%. ONU Turismo projects international arrivals to fully recover by 2024, exceeding 2019 levels by 3%.

💰 Meliá Hotels International reports a 28.3% net result improvement to €139.4 million for the nine months ending in September. EBITDA without capital gains increased by 10.1% to €425.9 million. Revenues rose by 4.5% to €1,544.1 million, with EBITDA margin improving by 146 basis points. RevPAR improved by 11.9% thanks to higher average rates. The pipeline includes 71 new hotels, with an operating portfolio of 357 hotels focusing on premium and luxury segments. Meliá's net financial debt/EBITDA ratio has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

📍 At the III International Meeting of Hospitality and Tourism Executives hosted by AEDH, CEOs of Ilunion Hotels, Casual Hoteles, CoolRooms, and Port Hotels discussed the integration of sustainability into their strategies. José Ángel Preciados of Ilunion Hotels emphasized sustainability as a core company strategy aimed at positively impacting society and the environment, with an approach that must be economically viable without a short-term perspective. The CEOs highlighted sustainability as an ongoing process that requires consistent employee training and alignment with company values. They also recognized the increasing demand from responsible consumers, especially the international guests, for sustainable practices.