Top News

🍽 Gala de Estrellas Michelin 2025 en Murcia premió a Casa Marcial con su tercera estrella. Tres restaurantes alcanzaron dos estrellas: Alevante, Lú y Retiro da Costiña; y 32 recibieron su primera. Cinco criterios definen la concesión de estrellas: calidad de ingredientes, armonía de sabores, técnica, personalidad del chef y regularidad. Además, 9 establecimientos obtuvieron la Estrella Verde por su sostenibilidad, sumando 57 en total, y la selección Bib Gourmand creció a 213 restaurantes.

📌 Real Decreto 933/2021, mandating a traveler data registry, becomes effective on December 2, despite the tourism sector's attempts to halt or negotiate it. UNAV and CEHAT consider legal action in response. CEAV has not confirmed an extension, unlike three previous instances. The State Secretary of Security and the Director General of Coordination and Studies will address the media, potentially about non-extended application. ECTAA, collaborating with UNAV, ACAVE, and FETAVE, has alerted the European Commission about the negative implications for data protection and tourism security. The registry requires travelers to submit over 50 personal data points for accommodation and over 60 for vehicle rentals, which could deter European tourists from visiting Spain and impact privacy.

🏠 Spanish companies and establishments win big at World Travel Awards, known as the tourism Oscars. Barceló Hotel Group wins best hotel management company worldwide, with five of its hotels in Spain receiving accolades in various categories. Kaizen Hoteles, with an investment of €23 million in Andalusia, is named best independent hotel chain globally, and its 5-star GL Casa Palacio Don Ramón in Seville clinches the best boutique hotel in the world. Madrid is awarded the world's leading meetings and conferences destination for the sixth consecutive time, matching Las Vegas's record. Other winners include Hilton Diagonal Mar for best business hotel, Nuba for best luxury travel agency, and Real Madrid's Tour Premium Bernabéu for best football stadium tourist experience.

🌊 In November 2024, Spain's Alliance of Sun and Beach Municipalities (AMT) showcased innovative, sustainable coastal practices at Sun&Blue Almería Congress. Juan Antonio Amengual, president and mayor of Calvià, highlighted AMT's commitment to future generations through sustainable management. The congress, held from 20-22 November in Almería, featured global experts discussing the future of 'blue' destinations. AMT, formed in 2017 by eight pioneering Spanish tourist destinations, focuses on funding, digitalization, sustainability, accessibility, and inter-destination cooperation.

📍 Over 150 independent travel agents participated in Airmet's "Con Altura" tour stops in Sevilla and Málaga during a weekend, marking the company's 25th anniversary. Airmet's general director, Rubén Fernández, emphasized the value of unity in the industry for achieving ambitious goals. Partners like Amadeus, Bedsonline, Iberia, and others engaged in "Charlas Con Altura" talks, promoting collaboration. Andalusian tourism also featured, introducing their Andalusian Crush campaign. Following events in Santiago, Madrid, and Barcelona, the tour heads to Tenerife and Gran Canaria on November 29-30.

💻 Urban hotel chains are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) for operational enhancement, including chatbots and cancellation predictions. Noteworthy is the "La inteligencia artificial para una mejor gestión del éxito del turismo urbano" event by Hosteltur, supported by Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Turismo LPA. Casual Hoteles and Sercotel Hotel Group adopt a cautious stance towards AI deployment, focusing on organizational readiness. RIU Hotels & Resorts utilizes a chatbot for web and AI for revenue improvement, exploring AI Generative for employee needs. Data quality is deemed crucial for effective AI-based decisions. Challenges like data handling personnel and cybersecurity risks remain.

🏖️ El Palace de Barcelona, a 5-star hotel, in partnership with Palacio Domecq in Jerez de la Frontera, launches a new premium product allowing guests to immerse in an 18th-century baroque palace. The experience includes private palace tours, Andalusian breakfasts, flamenco shows, traditional Jerez dinners, wine tastings by Mora-Figueroa Domecq, and visits to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. Tailored experiences and additional visits to a private brandy collection are available.

🎭 Walt Disney World Resort, located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, features four theme parks, two water parks, over 120 attractions, 50 entertainment options, 140 restaurants, and 31 hotels. Visiting during low seasons such as January, February (except Valentine's Day), May, and September offers lower prices and shorter wait times for attractions. The best strategy to save costs includes visiting during weekdays (Monday to Thursday) and taking advantage of special offers like "buy 4 nights, get 1 free." Disney World's dynamic ticket pricing ranges between $119 and $253 per person, depending on the park and date of visit. The resort attracts over 100 million visitors annually. A minimum stay of four days is recommended to fully enjoy the parks, and Disney World now offers a Lightning Lane Premier Pass, varying from $137 to $478 per person, for expedited access to popular attractions.

💰 The Agencia Catalana de Turismo (ACT) has launched a new financial aid program offering up to 30,000 euros for SMEs and startups. This initiative, part of the European BEFuture project, supports over 80 innovative European projects, including 15 from Catalonia, to promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient solutions in the MICE tourism sector. Applications open online in the first week of December for two months, alongside a call for mentors to provide strategic advice. The program was detailed at the Global Innovation Forum in Barcelona.

🏨 Spanish hotels reached 33.9 million overnight stays in October, a 4.7% increase from 2023, with a 5.2% rise in the first ten months, driven by non-resident travelers, according to INE's Tourist Situation. Non-resident overnight stays grew by 6.7%, residents' by 0.1%. Top destinations: Andalusia (17.2%), Catalonia (12.2%), Valencian Community (11.6%) for residents; Balearic Islands (27%), Canary Islands (23.6%), Catalonia (16.7%) for non-residents. Mallorca led with over 5.7 million stays. 6.25 million foreign tourists accounted for 24.2 million stays, with UK and Germany at 25.2% and 20.7%. Hotel occupancy reached 62% in October, with weekends at 68% and Canaries the highest at 76.8%. Hotel prices rose by 5.3%, with one-star hotels increasing by 6.8%. Average Daily Rate (ADR) was €115.9, up 5.1%, and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) rose 7.5% to €82.2, with Marbella's ADR highest at €194.8 and Barcelona's RevPAR at €163.6.