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🏖️ Riu hotels in Spain approach 70% occupancy five weeks before Easter, with a forecast of 90%. Baleares benefits from a 15% increase in bookings compared to last year, when Easter was in March. Two Mallorca hotels, Riu Bravo and Riu Playa Park, open on April 11, Riu La Mola in Formentera on April 25 after a full renovation. Key markets are Germany, UK, and a notable 11% rise in domestic bookings. Riu Plaza España expects full occupancy, attracting mainly national and European tourists, especially French and Portuguese.

🏠 Barcelona's Apartur, representing tourist-use housing, held an event in Madrid on March 18. The city, which began regulating such housing over a decade ago and maintains 10,000 tourist apartments, faces potential extinction of these dwellings due to a decree allowing license annulment by 2028. A PwC report suggests this could impact economic sectors and reduce accommodation availability, potentially affecting events like MWC. Despite evidence disassociating tourist apartments from rental inflation, Barcelona's decision raises concerns over economic and regulatory impacts.

🏡 Raquel Sánchez announced Paradores' unprecedented "Plan de Modernización", investing €250 million, alongside Turespaña and European funds (PRTR), to renovate over 50% of their network in the next five years. In 2024, Paradores achieved a record income of €347 million with historic profits of nearly €40 million and the best occupancy rate in 20 years at 73.5%. Room sales increased by 4.5% to 1.5 million, with a 67.5% occupancy from October to May, and rural areas reaching 72%. The MICE segment grew 8% in 2024, with 65,000 room occupancies. Paradores aim to attract more international tourists, especially from the UK, USA, France, and Germany, while contributing to sustainability and capturing 703 tons of CO2 over 40 years with the reforestation project in Dueñas.

📍 Ávoris Corporación Empresarial, after the CNMV approval, integrates DIT Gestión, totaling 3,000 travel agencies. In Spain, vertical groups once dominated over 50% of the business, now reduced to two groups surpassing €3 billion. Competition between hotels and tourist homes (VUTs) intensifies, particularly in urban areas, with VUTs often exceeding hotel capacity in many cities. Data from INE shows this trend across 23 major Spanish cities. 📅 March 19 – the sector's critical news summary at Hosteltur.com.

📍 Ecostars, collaborating with the Instituto de Contabilidad y Auditoría de Cuentas (ICAC), hosts a closed-door event in Madrid on a Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Hotel Fénix Gran Meliá. Key Spanish hotel chains discuss Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) strategies, featuring speakers from Meliá Hotels International, Riu Hotels & Resorts, Minor Hotels Europe & Americas, Paradores, Barceló Hotel Group, and Vincci Hoteles. The event aims to enhance sustainability practices and corporate reporting in the hospitality industry.

📖 Tourism contributed 12.3% to Spain's GDP in 2023, a 0.9 point increase from the previous year, with final tourist demand reaching €184.002 billion. Turespaña's data shows 2.72 million tourism sector workers, making up 12.7% of the national employment, exceeding the average labor market growth. Spain, exceeding 80 million tourists, registered nearly a 17% interannual increase in tourist spending by October last year. Catenon predicts a 3-5% rise in tourism salaries in Spain and Europe. During high season, tourism salaries in Spain increased by 3.1%, above other sectors' average, according to Exceltur. Hosteltur listed specialized tourism professional profiles, emphasizing the industry's broad range of jobs beyond waitstaff, with a focus on digitalization and sustainability to meet market demands.

🏖 Ibiza is promoted as a family-friendly destination with decades of history, now focusing on children with "Ibiza Family Moments," a club providing safe, inclusive, and enriching experiences. Supported by the Consell d’Eivissa and five local councils, the guide certifies member facilities for family needs, ensuring quality, safety, and sustainability. The island offers a variety of 3-5 star hotels, rural houses, farm stays, and aparthotels, catering to families with amenities such as family rooms, pools, kids' areas, and 24h services for infant care. Moreover, Ibiza has over 50 child-friendly beaches and natural routes for hiking and biking suitable for all ages. Family-oriented cultural activities, events, and gastronomy are available year-round, with highlights including the Feria Medieval d´Eivissa and Festival de Teatro Familiar Barruguet in May, showcasing Ibiza's dedication to diverse family entertainment.

📌 The Audiencia Nacional suspended a multimillion-euro fine imposed on Booking by the CNMC, which is subject to Booking providing a bank guarantee or legally admissible guarantee for the amount of the fine within two months. Tourism&Law, advising AEHM in this judicial proceeding, views the suspension as expected under such legal challenges. The CNMC's July 29, 2024 resolution issued a record-breaking 413.24 million euros in fines to Booking, the highest in the regulator's history. Booking must also adhere to new behavioral requirements towards Spanish hotel establishments. If Booking fails to verify the guarantee, the suspension won't occur, and the Administration can collect the fine.

📌 Juan Cierco, president of CEOE's Tourism Council, urges the Spanish Government to urgently review the controversial Royal Decree 933/2021, which imposes a disproportionate administrative burden by requiring tourism businesses to collect up to 43 personal data points from clients, including sensitive parental and financial details. The European Commission is investigating the decree for potential data protection violations. Cierco calls for a balanced regulation, developed in consensus with the industry, to ensure the protection of tourism activities without distorting the market.

🏠 Novotel Lavant Valencia, managed by Hesperia and owned by Grupo Pictet, seeks to become a vibrant city spot celebrating the Fallas festival, offering exclusive experiences like privileged event access and VIP services. The hotel, previously Expo Hotel, boasts 370 rooms across 11 floors, making it the largest in Valencia. Guests can enjoy immersive activities including a breakfast with Valencian cuisine, a balcony view of the Mascletà, and a visit to the Lladró workshops for a ceramic painting workshop.