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🏨 Spanish hotel chains have surpassed pre-pandemic revenue levels in 2023, averaging a 27% increase according to data from 81 companies. Room00 Hotels & Hostels saw a 640% revenue increase from €5 million in 2019 to €37 million in 2023, including acquiring competitor Bluesock in 2022 and aiming for 100 establishments by 2027. Ignacio Requena, CEO, leads this expansion, including international moves into Italy. Air Arabia Maroc launched two new routes between Spain and Morocco in October 2024, adding to its 14 routes connecting the countries.

✈ Iberia recently announced the reception of the world's first A321XLR, and Airbus released a video of the aircraft's final touches. The video includes the painting process and the design of the Spanish airline's livery. The A321XLR, with a range of up to 4,700 nautical miles, boasts 30% less fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to previous generation aircraft. Iberia plans to use this aircraft to fly from Madrid to Boston thrice weekly starting the second half of November, and to Washington DC six times a week from January 15, 2025.

🏨 Tourist volume in Spain reached a record year in 2023, with hotel stays by 112 million travelers, 3% higher than 2019, and overnight stays totaling 346.5 million, up 1%. Average revenue growth of 27% was reported by 81 hotel chains, with Room00 Hotels & Hostels and Hoteles Bestprice among those expanding significantly, by 640% and 251.25% respectively. Nine hotel chains have not yet recovered their pre-pandemic revenue, including Meliá Hotels International and Grupo Piñero (Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts).

🏨 Meliá Hotels International, led by Gabriel Escarrer, is recognized for its economic and social impact on destinations and sustainable development. The hotel chain, with a strong presence in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and southern Asia, is honored by 'Time' and 'Newsweek' for sustainability and trustworthiness. Meliá ranks as Europe's most sustainable hotelier by Standard & Poors Global and features in Time's list of the world's most sustainable companies. The 'Travel For Good' program showcases Meliá's commitment to social, environmental, ethical, and compliance initiatives. Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, who started the company in the 1950s, is acknowledged for his contributions to the hospitality industry and ethical standards. In September, he received a lifetime achievement award from King Felipe VI of Spain.

🌍 World Travel Market (WTM) in London from November 5-7, features Andalucía, Balearic Islands, and Tenerife. Andalucía's Arturo Bernal notes 50 meetings with international tourist intermediaries and a doubling of companies at their booth from the previous year. The Andalusian stand occupies 580.75 square meters, 25 more than before, housing 100 local companies and eight provinces. Balearics focus on sustainability, despite an 8% drop in British tourists this year. Their 493-square-meter stand reflects the Posidonia Oceanica theme. Tenerife targets UK air connectivity, with a 8.5% increase in British tourists in the first nine months of 2024 and 22 flights by six airline groups. British market contributed 16.4% to Spain's tourism revenue in Q1 2024.

🏨 Hyatt Hotels Corporation will invest €359 million, adding €60 million later, in a joint venture with Grupo Piñero. The U.S. chain's profits soared to $1.352 billion (€1.244 billion) by September. The partnership involves 23 resorts, including 22 Bahía Príncipe brand resorts and the exclusive Cayo Levantado Resort, totaling over 12,000 rooms in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Spain. Based in Palma de Mallorca, the 50% owned management company will own the brand and is expected to increase opportunities among North American and other key markets, boosting Hyatt's all-inclusive room portfolio by 30%.

🏖 Ignacio Poladura, president of the Canarian Association of Travel Agencies and Tour Operators (ACAVyT), highlighted the positive summer season, with growth in volume and margin compared to 2023. He emphasized the importance of the tourism industry for the Canarian economy and called for efforts to address "turismophobia" and regulate the surge in holiday rentals. Concerns were raised about the potential negative effects of tourism protests in the Canary Islands, but no short-term impacts were seen. The year 2024 is expected to outperform 2023, with anticipatory measures taken against inflation. Poladura also commented on the competition among airlines in Canarias, benefiting both the emitting and receiving sides of the business. He criticized the controversial Royal Decree 933/2021 and expressed optimism for strong sales in the final quarter of the year and into 2024.

💸 La Confederación Empresarial de Hostelería y Restauración de Cataluña (ConfeCat) rechaza la propuesta de aumento de la tasa turística por parte del presidente de la Generalitat, Salvador Illa. Santiago García-Nieto, presidente de ConfeCat, advierte contra la asfixia fiscal y el marco normativo restrictivo que amenazan la competitividad del sector turístico catalán, fundamental para el crecimiento económico, social y laboral de la región. ConfeCat demanda respeto hacia el sector que contribuye a que Cataluña sea un destino internacionalmente atractivo.

🏨 Spanish hotel brands have caught the attention of international chains, with mergers like AC Hotels and Marriott International, NH Hotel Group and Minor International, and Alúa Hotels with ALG and then Hyatt. AC Hotels by Marriott was created in 2010 as a joint venture to expand into Latin America and Europe. Nearly two years ago, Iberostar and IHG partnered to market 70 resorts with 24,300 rooms under Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, joining IHG's 260 resorts with brands such as Six Senses and InterContinental. The alliance includes a 30-year commercial contract, with an option to renew for additional 20-year periods. Grupo Piñero and Hyatt formed a strategic alliance, with Grupo Piñero owning 50% of Bahía Príncipe Hotels & Resorts, which includes 23 resorts and over 12,000 rooms in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Spain.

🏨 Mallorca's hotel sector invested over €3 billion in the past decade to upgrade its infrastructure, focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water consumption reduction. At the ITH Hotel Energy Meetings on October 29, 2024, in Palma de Mallorca, industry representatives discussed technologies to reduce operation costs, which can account for 15-20% of total expenses. The event is part of a sustainable tourism tour across seven premium locations, organized by ITH and FEHM. Hotel upgrades resulted in a quality increase with 4 and 5-star accommodations nearly doubling and a slight 5.2% rise in hotel capacity compared to a 136% increase in legal tourist rentals.