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🏨 Hotel bookings in Spain saw a double-digit growth during the last week, with a market share of 33% for early bookings coinciding with Black Friday week. TravelgateX data from November 25 to December 2, 2024, shows a significant increase in bookings, with the central day of sales on November 29. Baleares experienced an 80% increase compared to the previous week and a 56% rise year-over-year. Early booking rates, over 90 days in advance, were up from 24% to 33%. Increases in bookings from the UK (37%), Germany (60%), the US (35%), and Italy (64%) were notable, with Thailand at the top with a 110% surge.

🏠 Torre Melina Gran Meliá, a renovated urban resort with over 30 years of history, is located in Barcelona near Diagonal avenue and the Real Club de Polo. It features 25,000 m² of gardens, two outdoor pools, exclusive lounge, modern gym, wellness center with indoor pool, rooftop for events with 360° views, three high cuisine restaurants, and 17 versatile meeting rooms. Meliá Hotels International also offers Casa de las Artes Meliá Collection in Madrid's literary Barrio de las Letras, highlighting art with restaurant Maché, an exclusive library, and Cinema Miró in a 1913 palatial building. INNSiDE Madrid Valdebebas, near Madrid-Barajas Airport, is a four-star hotel with 273 rooms, 24-hour gym, outdoor pool, airport shuttle, private parking, and a conference center with over 3,200 m² of space including 18 modulable meeting rooms. Meliá PRO ensures best rates and conditions for travel agent bookings.

🏨 Hotel transactions in Spain are projected to reach €3,000 million by the end of 2024, down from €4,200 million in the previous year. The third quarter ended with €440 million across 18 transactions, with significant deals in Madrid and Barcelona. Notable is the pending sale of the Four Seasons Madrid, valued at €900 million. Market trends include value-add operations (92% of cases), luxury segment growth (53% more attractive post-pandemic), and increased investor interest in ESG-certified assets (90%). Locations like Valencia, Granada, Alicante, Córdoba, and Bilbao are witnessing substantial RevPAR growth, attracting French Socimis. Benidorm and Costa de la Luz are highlighted as emerging vacation destinations with brand affiliation and growth potential.

🏖️ In Madrid, on December 17, the Tourism Council of CEOE and the Tourism Board, with Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) participation, will host an event at CEOE headquarters to discuss sustainable, competitive, and inclusive tourism. Key figures include CEOE President Antonio Garamendi, Minister of Industry and Tourism Jordi Hereu, and State Secretary for Tourism Rosario Sánchez Grau. The event features roundtables, talks, and success stories, emphasizing collaboration for an improved tourism sector.

✈ Ryanair is well-placed to enter Ukraine with up to 10 aircraft post-conflict, targeting market opportunities. Wizz Air, the Hungarian airline, is also interested but faces delays as part of its fleet undergoes Pratt & Whitney engine checks. Analysts predict a lucrative market following peace due to a tourism boom and Ukrainian returnees, alongside an influx for country reconstruction. Michael O’Leary of Ryanair visited Kiev in July last year, ready to reopen bases in Kiev and Lviv, contingent on peace assurances.

🏃 Eurostars Torre Sevilla 5* hosted a new edition of its Vertical Race with a record 550+ registrations that sold out in under 48 hours. Over 200 runners climbed 37 floors and roughly 1,000 steps. José Manuel García Luna won the men's category in 5:12, followed by Javier Aycart Lazo and Alejandro Campoy López. Mar Aguirre Plans led the women's group, finishing in 6:36, ahead of Gloria Elena Galeano González and Inmaculada López Hidalgo. Prizes included a Junior Suite stay, tasting menu dinner, and thermal circuit.

🔔 Implemented on Monday, the traveler registration mandated by Minister Marlaska affects hotels, travel agencies, and car rental companies. It requires up to 42 traveler and booking details, despite tourism sector protests. Infringements lead to fines between 100 to 30,000 euros. The system aided in locating over 15,000 fugitives with the help of the tourism sector.

📅 Andrea Pfeiffer leads TUI Spain, Portugal & Americas since October, aiming to optimize operational efficiency and leverage existing synergies. TUI's integration of Spain and Portugal businesses, with over 20 years in the market, aims to consolidate a competitive, agile offer, with a diversified product portfolio. TUI Spain specializes in medium and long-distance destinations, while TUI Portugal is a leader in Maldives, Mauritius, and Thailand sales. The digital platform facilitates personalized travel packages to international destinations. In 2024, TUI experienced a 34% growth over 2023, with the summer season bookings increasing over 30%. River cruises grew by 42% compared to 2023. With the new fiscal year starting in October, TUI looks to 2024-2025 with optimism, focusing on authentic, personalized travel experiences. Digital infrastructure and strategic alliances in Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, and Colombia help expansion. In Spain, 90% of their portfolio, including over 1000 programs, is available online, with 60% of bookings made via their website.

🌃 Spanish travelers, for the December 6-8, 2024 bridge holiday, overwhelmingly choose European destinations, with 95% favoring cities rich in history and culture. Amsterdam leads with over 5.5% of bookings, followed by Rome and London, each capturing more than 4%. Italy and France collectively account for 25% of reservations after Spain. In contrast, only a small fraction ventures to America (1.2%), Asia (1.5%), or Africa (2.3%), with Morocco being the most popular in Africa. Domestically, Madrid tops with 2.5% of bookings, with Toledo and Granada being favored for their historical and cultural wealth. Andalusia shines as four of its provincial capitals make the national top 10, offering a mix of history, architecture, and gastronomy.

🏨 En 2025, Talentchef pronostica un crecimiento del 55% en branded residences, una tendencia liderada por marcas como Four Seasons y The Ritz-Carlton. Se anticipa un aumento del 50% en la adopción de IA en la industria hotelera, según McKinsey & Company. La personalización extrema y tecnologías como IA revolucionarán la experiencia hotelera, con propuestas como microhoteles de lujo y menús basados en datos biométricos. La sostenibilidad seguirá siendo fundamental en el desarrollo de hoteles y restaurantes.