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💸 40% of international travelers plan to visit Europe in the last four months of 2024, a 4% decrease from the previous year. A survey conducted between August 5-18, 2024, with 7,000 participants from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, and the USA, reveals affordability as a main barrier (44%) to visiting Europe. US travel intentions have dropped significantly by 41% compared to last year due to high travel costs (40%), interest in other regions (23%), and insufficient vacation time (17%). Security remains the top criterion for choosing a European vacation destination (52%), with a notable increase in safety concerns among travelers from Australia, Japan, China, Canada, and the USA. Additionally, 40% of tourists seek occasional interaction with locals for a more enriching experience, while 36% are looking for deeper cultural experiences.

📊 Simón Pedro Barceló, Copresidente of Grupo Barceló, projects an Ebitda of €500 million for 2024 with €300 million coming from the Americas. In 2023, Barceló Hotel Group, Spain's second-largest hotel chain by revenue, achieved a turnover of €2,000 million, with an approximate 25% profit margin. The company is now debt-free and plans further expansion in key destinations, including Mexico, Morocco, Spain, USA, the Mediterranean Europe, and Asia.

🏢 Madrid hosts the Hospitality Real Estate Forum on October 22, featuring Antonio Catalán of ACHM Hotels by Marriott for the opening speech. The event, crucial for Spain's hotel investment sector, Europe's leading destination, offers a platform for professionals to discover opportunities, analyze trends, and innovate. Networking and insights into investment assets, development, technological growth, and emerging lodging modalities are key focuses. Hosteltur readers receive a 50% discount with code HOSTELTURHREF50.

🏖️ Spain's tourism sector is undergoing a transformative shift as a tool for talent attraction, moving beyond traditional models to embrace sustainability and social balance. The complexity of managing a tourist product is highlighted, requiring alignment of public and private strategies, long-term vision, and technological infrastructure for data sharing and promotion. KPMG emphasises Spain's need for consensus on tourism management, professionalization in public sector tourism roles, and the importance of sector dialogues through initiatives like "The Future of Tourism" which aims to guide industry improvements and strategy alignment.

💰 Non-refundable rates have been on the rise in recent years. Mirai, addressing the issue of failed payments often due to insufficient funds, double authentication errors, or international payment issues, has introduced "Failed Payments Recovery" (FPR) to reclaim up to 44% of failed reservation payment attempts. FPR allows customers to retry payments within a configured timeframe using the same or a different card, or an alternative payment method. Currently, FPR works with Redsys and Addon Payments, with plans to include more platforms.

🌍 The third edition of the Sustainable Tourism Ágora takes place on October 10 in Madrid, hosted by Green & Human and Hosteltur at the Albéniz Theater from 9:30 AM to 2:15 PM. Over 20 sector leaders, including Simón Pedro Barceló of Grupo Barceló, Miguel Sanz of Turespaña, and Tomeu Bennasar of Iberostar Group, will discuss the implementation of sustainable practices and adaptation to stricter environmental regulations. Registration is available for in-person or streaming attendance.

🌳 Costa Rica has been pioneering sustainable tourism strategies since the 1970s. María Fernanda Leiton, from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, highlights that 80% of the country's hotels are micro or small businesses, offering a wide range from 1 to 5 stars. The country promotes a sustainable model, attracting tourists willing to pay for a differentiated experience. The Institute also fosters a sustainable destination management program involving 33 destinations, focusing on local communities' needs and long-term ecosystem and cultural preservation. An important event, the III Ágora de Turismo Sostenible, will take place on October 10 in Madrid's Teatro Albéniz.

🚨 Meliá and Renfe partner to promote sustainable travel through the "Reward trip: bueno para el planeta, bueno para ti" campaign, rewarding train travelers in Spain with 1,000 extra MeliáRewards points and 100 Renfecitos upon presenting their AVE, Avant, or ALVIA train tickets at Meliá hotels. The initiative, lasting three months, aims to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging eco-friendly transportation choices, with train travel emitting up to five times less carbon than other modes.

📋 Digitalizing the Finance Department is crucial for efficiency and productivity, eliminating manual errors and saving time. The transformation involves implementing tools for automated invoice data management and payroll integration. Key benefits include real-time financial reports, workflow management, future budget optimization, and indirect cost savings. Digitalization begins with assessing needs and choosing the right ERP software. Zucchetti Spain's Solmicro ERP ensures process integration, reducing manual work and enhancing efficiency. Travel management software further aids in expense control, policy adherence, and regulatory compliance. ???? October 7, 2024.

🏨 La Llave de Oro acquired the 4-star Hotel Almirante in Barcelona’s Via Laietana for €31 million. The 86-room hotel, currently rented to Ilunion Hotels, spans 3,500 sqm across 9 floors, including a restaurant space. Continuing their hotel portfolio expansion, La Llave de Oro plans a 4-star hotel in L'Hospitalet with 93 double rooms, at a cost of €16 million, aiming to open by early 2027.