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🎾 Abel Matutes and Rafa Nadal, through their new company Palya Invest, plan to construct 100 luxury 'branded residences' in Costa del Sol, associated with a luxury brand. They've allocated approximately €200 million for land costs and construction. Branded residences offer exclusive services and are considered secure luxury market investments. Nadal has also partnered with Meliá Hotels International on a new hotel brand, Zel.

🏡 Starting in 2026, EU member states will issue the official EU Digital Identity Wallet, designed to provide a reliable and secure digital identity, as announced at Phocuswright Europe 2024 in Barcelona. Annet Steenberg of the EU Digital Identity Wallet Consortium emphasized its potential to change the tourism industry's rules, allowing citizens to control their data. Alongside travel benefits, experts highlight trust as a key factor for its success.

🚢 La 37ª edición de la Copa América de Vela comienza el 22 de agosto en Barcelona, durando hasta finales de octubre. La ciudad, destacándose en turismo de lujo, alojará a los visitantes en 23 hoteles de cinco estrellas Gran Lujo, con un total de 3.676 habitaciones. Además, hay otros 24 hoteles cinco estrellas sumando 3.360 habitaciones. Los eventos incluyen regatas preliminares (22-25 agosto), competición Double Round Robin (29 agosto-8 septiembre), semifinales de la Copa Louis Vuitton (14-19 septiembre), y la UniCredit Youth America’s Cup (17-26 septiembre). La final se disputará entre el 12 y el 21 de octubre, con reserva hasta el 27 de octubre por condiciones meteorológicas.

🏨 Meliá reports a positive season for its vacation hotels in Spain, with occupancy rates 2 points above last year's, reaching 88% in July and an expected 90% for August. Prices are also on the rise. Key locations include Calviá, Torremolinos, Marbella, and the Canary Islands. The trend remains positive, particularly in the Balearic Islands, with no short-term demand slowdown observed. The luxury segment continues to drive much of the demand.

🌊 España anticipa la llegada de 41 millones de turistas entre junio y septiembre, generando ingresos superiores a 59.000 millones de euros. Para manejar este flujo, el país desarrolla 'Smart Beaches', equipadas con tecnologías IoT para monitorizar la calidad del agua, la afluencia y seguridad en tiempo real. Canarias y la Comunidad Valenciana implementan drones y sistemas de videometría para la gestión sostenible de las playas. Palma ofrecerá Wifi y reserva de servicios de playa vía app a partir del verano de 2025.

🏖 Forum TurisTIC 2024, to be held on October 3rd at the Paraninfo de la Diputación de Barcelona, will address key challenges in sustainable tourism such as water and waste management, decarbonization, and digital transformation. The congress is organized by Eurecat and supported by the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Barcelona City Council, and the Barcelona Provincial Council. Attendees will include experts like Jeremy Smith, co-author of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, and meteorologist Francesc Mauri, alongside organizations with over 850 signatories committed to reducing tourism's emissions by half within the next decade.

🏖️ En España, el informe de Simon-Kucher prevé una caída presupuestaria cercana al 4% en mercados emisores como Alemania y Francia, pero un aumento del 15% en EE.UU. y del 10% en el mercado español. Baby Boomers lideran el gasto en viajes con un aumento del 20%, seguidos por Millennials con un 10%, y la Generación Z con un 1%. Aproximadamente el 30% de jóvenes reservan viajes con menos de 15 días de anticipación, y el 40% valora nuevas experiencias como factor decisivo, comparado con el 20% de generaciones mayores. Turismo de lujo experimenta un crecimiento excepcional, y el 70% de los encuestados optan por destinos menos masificados.

🥞 A hotel breakfast significantly influences guest perception, enhancing mood and energy for the day. Key elements include variety, quality ingredients, presentation, and service. The breakfast buffet is popular, offering a mix of hot and cold options, while a la carte provides a more personalized experience. Types of hotel breakfasts range from continental, buffet, American, English, Mediterranean, Japanese, to vegan. Ensuring freshness, accommodating dietary needs, trained staff, and a pleasant atmosphere are essential to an outstanding hotel breakfast service. 🛎️

🌀 DANA impacting Baleares, Cataluña, and Comunidad Valenciana with significant airport operational disruptions expected, particularly at El Prat (Barcelona) and Sant Joan (Mallorca). Eurocontrol predicts major delays due to intense storms amidst August holiday traffic. Aemet issues an orange alert for heavy rains and storms in Eastern Spain and Baleares, warning of intense downpours, strong winds, and hail.

💰 Chinese tourists are expected to spend 11% to 20% more in Spain in 2024 than in 2023. About 47% of Chinese and 46% of American tourists will spend over €3,000 per person, with 22% of Chinese and 21% of Americans willing to spend over €5,000. Madrid, Catalonia, Andalusia, Canary Islands, and Balearic Islands are top regions, with 50% of foreign tourists returning this summer. Accommodations take up 21% of their budget, followed by transport at 19%, and dining at 16%. Chinese tourists allocate 14% to cultural and leisure activities, above the 11% average, with 16% towards shopping.