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📈 Ingrid Graells Paul, as TTC president, participated in the 12th #ForumTurisTIC, discussing digital transformation in tourism and the value of data. The EU's 2020 strategy aims to create secure data spaces for companies to safely share information. The TTC, over 80 'traveltech' organizations in Catalonia, sees this as a strategic decision-making and growth opportunity. Cloud computing infrastructures are vital for data management and fostering innovation. The TTC is engaging in collaborations, including with Huawei Cloud. The event took place at the Paraninfo of the Diputació de Barcelona, organized by Eurecat and other local authorities.

🌏 The "Una visión del turismo sostenible en las islas" declaration, advocated by the Canary Islands Government, was unanimously approved by the CRPM Island Commission of the European Union. The meeting took place in Gozo, Malta, with the goal of integrating the proposals into the EU's new legislative roadmap. Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo highlighted the challenges of population growth and spreading tourism benefits among all residents. The region calls for an EU-wide "global plan" towards sustainable tourism, addressing land use, resource management, housing issues, transport policies, environmental protection, and energy production.

📌 Cloudbeds, a leader in hotel management software, and Mirai, a leader in hotel distribution technology and direct booking optimization, announced a strategic partnership aimed at transforming hotel reservations, distribution, and marketing initiatives. This alliance will provide advanced tools for direct booking optimization, operational streamlining, and digital marketing campaign expansion. The integration of Cloudbeds' property management system (PMS) and Mirai's technology will give Cloudbeds' properties access to Mirai's robust distribution network and marketing tools. Mirai's services will be extended to more properties, offering unique solutions for specific market needs. Cloudbeds, founded in 2012, serves tens of thousands of properties in over 150 countries, named best PMS and Channel Manager (2021-2024) by Hotel Tech Report, and best global PMS provider (2022) by World Travel Awards. It was also recognized in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 in 2023. Mirai, with over 25 years of experience and more than 3,900 hotels as clients, offers a suite of services for maximizing direct sales and reducing distribution costs.

🏖️ In Spain, more than 64 million international tourists were recorded by August, marking a Frontur record for the period and signaling another successful year for 2024. The IV Convención de Turespaña, held in Tenerife, highlighted that 2025 looks promising, yet social issues and geopolitical realities need attention. Meliá Hotels International plans to open 30 hotels annually and aims to be the top company for attracting, retaining, and training talent. Gabriel Escarrer, Meliá's CEO, highlighted the importance of sustainability, talent management, and innovation. 56 hotels were traded in Spain in the first half of the year, with an investment totaling €1.6 billion, 54% of which concentrated in Baleares and Barcelona.

🏆 Emirates pilots expertly landed an Airbus A380 at Birmingham Airport, England, despite extreme weather including hurricane-force winds and heavy rain. The remarkable landing was captured on video and showcased by YouTube's Airport Action channel.

🏖️ Spain saw an 11.2% increase in international tourists during the first eight months of the year, with over 64.3 million visitors. The UK, France, and Germany were the top sources, contributing 12.7 million, 9.2 million, and 8.0 million tourists, respectively. Tourist expenditure rose by 17.6% to €86.471 billion. Additionally, one-day visitor numbers grew by 9%, totaling 29.4 million. Combining overnight tourists and day visitors, Spain hosted 93.7 million international travelers from January to August.

📍 Marga Prohens, presidenta balear, confirmed the ecotasa (tourist tax) will increase during peak season months: June, July, August, to manage tourist flows. A decree law, to be passed in February next year, includes the increase and also a decrease in December, January, February to boost off-season tourism. Residents will be exempt from the ecotasa but can claim it back on their tax return if staying in hotels. Further, a ban on tourist rentals in multi-family houses will be pursued post-moratorium, targeting tourist saturation and aiding resident-tourist cohabitation. A water levy hike for large consumers, including hotels, is planned, with small consumers seeing a reduction.

🏖 España welcomed over 64.3 million foreign tourists in the first eight months of 2024, marking an 11.2% increase from the previous year. In August alone, 10.9 million travelers arrived—a 7.3% rise compared to August 2023. Tourist spending surged by 17.6% to €86.471 billion by August. Top sources were the UK (12.7 million, up 7.8%), France (9.2 million, up 10.1%), and Germany (8 million, up 9.3%). Catalonia, Balearic Islands, and Canary Islands were the most visited regions, with 13.7 million (up 9.7%), 11.2 million (up 6.2%), and 9.9 million tourists (up 10.3%), respectively.

📌 On October 1, 2024, at the Hotel Hábitat València, the Instituto Tecnológico Hotelero (ITH) conference focused on 360º experiences. Pedro García, from Vivood Landscape Hotels, discussed design strategies for creating lasting impressions on guests. José Manuel Picó presented a hotel project in Cádiz, while Araceli Budía of Palladium Hotel Group elaborated on personalized guest experiences. Juan Pons of Point highlighted 100+ years of innovation. During the event, running from September 30 to October 3, the ITH aimed to promote industry dialogue on technology, sustainability, and customer experience enhancement. An innovative "Hotel Hábitat" space of over 800m2 was showcased by architect Héctor Ruíz-Velázquez.

🏨 Valencia, 30 de septiembre de 2024: Inauguración del ciclo de conferencias del Instituto Tecnológico Hotelero (ITH) en “Hotel Hábitat València” de la Feria Hábitat Valencia. Tom Ito, Head of Gensler’s Hospitality, destaca la importancia del diseño sostenible y la meta de 0 emisiones de carbono para 2030. Se menciona que el 56% de la Generación Z prefiere alojamientos ecológicos. Se discuten beneficios de ITH TechYRoom 1.0 y anticipos de la ITH TechYRoom 2.0, y la subutilización de ayudas para I+D+i en turismo. La feria dura hasta el 3 de octubre.