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🏗 In the latest Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS) in Sevilla, 400 companies competed with 40 finalists presenting to investors, resulting in nine winners. Key awards included Aumentur for PCT Cartuja, NaviSavi for Nebext, Turbosuite for La Fábrica de Sevilla, Takyon for Turijobs, SwiftOn for the WTTC sustainability award, and Hack Packing for Turismo Melilla. Thinktur's annual assembly featured five tech startups such as Effiwaste, WeSpeak, Destinno, Nommon, and Smartwaterhotel by AonChip. The V CETT Smart Tourism Congress Barcelona hosted its first hackathon with projects like Wiaura, Ecomove, and Ases Tech focusing on AI for user experience, sustainable mobility, and tracking lost luggage.

📑 Expedia TAAP reports a surge in all-inclusive vacations, driven by higher quality offerings, attracting new traveler groups. Since 2019, demand for all-inclusive packages on Expedia and Hotels.com has increased by 70%, with top destinations being Mexico, the Caribbean, and Turkey. Bookings for 5-star inclusive resorts grew by 125%, with European travelers up 65% and Americans by 110%. Young travelers, particularly Gen Z, show a strong preference for this type of holiday, with 42% favoring all-inclusive resorts. Marriott and Hyatt, with its Hyatt Inclusive Collection, are investing in premium all-inclusive experiences, aligning with Spanish hotel operator Grupo Piñero.

🏠 SLS Hotels & Residences, part of Ennismore, to open SLS Madrid Infantas Residences in 2025 with 33 luxury residences in a historic 1920s building. Unicorn Royal Emirates invested €40 million in an Estepona hotel, planning an additional €150 million investment for a summer 2027 completion. Higuerón Developments announced a €26 million Leiro Residences project. Caledonia to build the first St. Regis residences by Marriott in Spain for 2026 with 46 homes. Four Seasons opened a luxury hotel in Mallorca in summer and plans further branded residences. Banyan Tree's first Madrid project set for 24 premium homes. Rafa Nadal and Abel Matutes' company Palya Invest to invest €200 million in Costa del Sol luxury residences. Palladium Hotel Group to debut branded residences in the Middle East.

🎄 Spaniards are favoring festive experiences, cultural traditions, and Christmas lights in major European capitals and domestic charming cities for the 2024 New Year's Eve celebrations. Flight searches have increased by 16%, and hotel searches by 19% compared to 2023. The top 10 destinations include London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Tenerife, New York, Brussels, Prague, Amsterdam, and Barcelona. Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza are particularly popular among both Spanish and European travelers.

🏡 By 2025, Belmond to underscore "slow luxury" with initiatives like England and Wales' first luxury sleeper train, Britannic Explorer, launching in July with three-night and six-night journeys, Michelin-starred gastronomy by Simon Rogan, and summer private residence Villa Beatrice in Portofino. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express adds artist-designed carriage L'Observatoire in March. Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, reopens in June after refurbishment, featuring a Dior spa.

🏨 TUI, the world's largest tour operator, expects hotel prices to rise by at least 3% in 2025, following a 42% increase in Spain in recent years. Luis Riu, CEO of Riu, suggests that high prices may deter guests unless decreased. The average room price in Spain reached €163 in 2024, up from €115 in 2019, with Marbella and Ibiza averaging €317 and €277, respectively. Spanish hotels saw 82 million tourists from January to October 2024, and investment in hotels is projected to exceed €3,000 million by the end of 2024.

🏖️ In 2024, the most searched destinations on Hosteltur included the Canary Islands, Sevilla, Valencia, Baleares, Tenerife, Costa Rica, Cuba, Argentina, Italy, Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Almería, Huelva, and Ibiza. These locations were popular for their cultural and gastronomic offerings, as well as sun-and-beach and event tourism. Major cities like Madrid and Barcelona were favored for their cultural vibrancy and tourism services, while Bilbao, Almería, and Huelva saw growth with design, gastronomy, and sustainable tourism options.

🔍 British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Vueling will soon use Apple's "Find My" app to track lost luggage. Annalisa Gigante, IAG's Head of Innovation, confirms its integration for customer peace of mind. AirTags cost about €40 and utilize Bluetooth to allow iPhone users to track luggage on a map. Up to 100,000 bags are misplaced daily worldwide, and airline cooperation is necessary for tracking effectiveness.

🏖 Numerous vacancies remain for the Imserso social tourism program from Ávoris for January and February, specifically on the coveted Madrid-Balearic Islands itinerary, with available dates including January 5, 15, 18, 20, 21, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and February 1, 2, 5, 6, 12. Other itineraries are full, but cultural circuits have some availability, with waitlists for Madrid-Valencian Community, Madrid-Andalusia, and Madrid-Catalonia. March, April, and May are fully booked, despite complaints from retirees about the rapid unavailability of spots after sales opening.

🍴 Definir una propuesta gastronómica clara y conocer al público objetivo son claves para gestionar un restaurante de hotel. La contratación de personal capacitado y un liderazgo sólido son esenciales para mantener una experiencia positiva del cliente. Implementar control de inventarios eficiente y tecnología en la gestión como POS y CRM mejora operaciones y toma de decisiones. Es vital aprovechar el feedback de los clientes, adoptar marketing efectivo, diseñar ambientes y menús atractivos, y capacitar al personal. Controlar costos, gestionar reseñas online y implementar prácticas sostenibles fortalecen la reputación. Ofrecer servicios de take away e innovar tecnológicamente puede diferenciar al restaurante en el mercado.