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💻 Phocuswright Europe 2025 in Barcelona emphasized AI's transformative impact on travel, surpassing even the rise of the Internet three decades ago. Gillian Tans of Booking.com and Mauricio Prieto of eDreams foresee AI revolutionizing bookings and traveler inspiration. Greg O'Hara predicts enhanced productivity via AI in travel back-office tasks. Investors like Toni Raurich-Marcet note increased US investment in European AI projects. Trust and data management are pivotal for brands to succeed in this evolving landscape.

🚢 Trasmed, part of the Grimaldi group, begins offering weekend ferry accommodation from Valencia to Ibiza starting June 27. The ferry will dock in Ibiza from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon, allowing passengers to stay on board. With 207 cabins and a 414-person capacity, it faces criticism from the Consell Insular as an "undercover hotel," challenging tourist saturation control. The Ibiza Hotel Federation opposes, citing competitive unfairness after eliminating 18,000 tourist places.

🌍 En Madrid, el 2023, Juan Cierco, del Consejo de Turismo de la CEOE, y Javier Vich, de la FEHM, llamaron a transformar el turismo de sol y playa en España. Toni Pérez destacó que 8 municipios aportan el 4% del PIB turístico con solo el 0.9% de la población. Rosario Sánchez Grau enfatizó la importancia de la desestacionalización. Vich instó a una acción política coordinada. Se han invertido 3,500 millones en modernizar hoteles baleares.

🏨 Hotel Innovación 2025 in Sevilla featured a presentation by Hospitalidad Emprendedora on AI's applications in the hotel industry. In March 2025, a University of California study found 70% of participants confused ChatGPT with a human. Key insights included data privacy settings in ChatGPT and distinctions between GPT-4o and specialized models. Practical AI applications were demonstrated, such as personalized assistants and agentic automations, offering accessible solutions for hotels to enhance operations and digital growth.

🖥️ 17-18 de junio, Madrid: ITH Innovation Summit 2025 by Instituto Tecnológico Hotelero. Focus on "Hotels, Technology and Sustainability". Key topics: AI, robotics, hotel intelligence, silent luxury. Speakers: Rosario Sánchez Grau, Luis Martín Izquierdo, Almudena Maíllo. Companies: ILUNION Hotels, Google, Adyen. Carbon footprint compensation via Folia Project in Torrejón de la Calzada. Tourism: €207 billion (2024), 13.1% of GDP, 72,000 jobs.

🌎 Phocuswright Europe 2025, from June 10-12, gathers global experts in Barcelona's Palau de Congressos de Catalunya. Focus: AI's disruptive impact on travel. Key topics: AI in travel phases, evolving distribution, digital identity, and hotel tech innovation. Leaders from Expedia, Google, and OAG present insights. Director Pete Comeau emphasizes informed decisions amid AI-driven industry changes. Attendees will explore strategic debates and practical cases, setting a new paradigm for digital tourism.

💻 In the hospitality industry, success is defined by more than just amenities. A warm welcome, such as recognizing returning guests or offering personalized minibars, can create memorable experiences. Personalization, ongoing staff training, and technology like chatbots enhance guest interactions. Sustainable practices are increasingly vital, while small gestures often make the biggest impact, fostering loyalty and reputation. In this industry, it's the personal touch that guests remember, not just the facilities.

📈 La octava edición de Digital Tourist, organizada por AMETIC, se realizó en Benidorm la semana pasada. Participaron Rosario Sánchez Grau, secretaria de Estado de Turismo, y otros líderes del sector. Se discutieron las plataformas PID y PIA como clave en la digitalización turística en España. La Comunidad Valenciana lanzó el sistema SIT-CV con 163 destinos miembros. Se entregaron seis premios a iniciativas innovadoras, destacando Segovia y Marbella por sus avances tecnológicos en turismo.

🏨 En el sector hotelero español, el absentismo laboral ha aumentado significativamente tras la pandemia, alcanzando tasas del 20-30% en algunas áreas. Factores como la saturación del sistema sanitario, falta de vivienda y cambios legislativos complican el manejo de las bajas, que ahora se alargan más allá de 24 meses. En 2023, el Real Decreto 1060/2022 eliminó la obligación de entregar partes de baja en mano, pero causó retrasos en la comunicación. La siniestralidad laboral bajó un 3.43% en 2024, sin embargo, las bajas injustificadas incrementan en fines de semana.

💸 Madrid, June 2025: Now Spain's top shopping destination, Madrid draws 47% of non-EU tourist spending, overtaking Barcelona by 7 percentage points. The surge is driven by Latin American and U.S. tourists, with Mexico and Argentina leading. Spain ranks third globally in VAT refund volume, aided by the 2018 elimination of the €90 minimum spend requirement. Barcelona's growth is stalled by its current reliance on Chinese tourism. Global Blue suggests focusing on Latin America, the U.S., and Gulf regions.