Top News

🏗 Vicente Fenollar, president of Ávoris Corporación Empresarial, and Tomeu Bennasar, CEO of Soltour, discussed the resilience and innovation of the tour operator sector during Soltour Talks at the International Tourism Trade Fair (Fitur). They emphasized the added value and organized approach of their businesses to tourism, which contrasts with more chaotic models. Soltour, an independent operator, collaborates with others like Travelance and shares common elements with Ávoris, such as family ties and hotel providers like Barceló Hotels and Resorts. Ávoris operates its own airline, Iberojet, and will add a second weekly flight to Bangkok in April, envisioning the city as a hub for further Asian destinations. Soltour, without an airline, takes advantage of market connectivity and enriches trips with value-added products.

🌎 Mallorca redefines tourism by emphasizing sustainability, innovation, and technology. In 2025, focus shifts from 26 fairs to 11 strategic events aligned with these objectives. The island showcases at the Mobile World Congress, highlighting technology and entrepreneurship. The UIB attracts global students, fostering tourism education. Initiatives promote circular economy, local gastronomy, and sustainable practices, inviting tourists to join in preserving Mallorca's environment and traditions.

🏢 Tourism in Spain boosts HORECA sector with a 15.6% CAGR in bars, restaurants, and nightlife spending from 2022 to 2024. Total tourist expenditure increased by 20% in 2022-2023 and 17% in 2024. Accommodations grew by 15.4%, restaurants by 14.9%, with 50% of annual spending from June to September. Notably, October to February spending rose by 22%, with the Canary Islands attracting tourists in colder months. The top-spending provinces, accumulating 65% of the expense, are the Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Málaga, Las Palmas, and Madrid. Card payments accounted for 65% of 2023 transactions, up 8.8% from the previous year.

🏖️ Spain's travel experience sector leads the global market, with a more positive growth outlook for 2024 compared to Europe and the world. Arival's Global Operator Landscape survey included 7,000 global operators, 600 from Spain, showing half of the Spanish operators reported growth in 2024 over 2023, compared to 38% globally. 74% of Spanish operators are optimistic for 2025, against a 62% global average. In Spain, 58% of bookings are online, with operators working with an average of 10 partners, versus 8 globally. Spanish operators lead in technology, with 68% using a modern booking system, 46% connecting to distributors via API, and 43% actively using or experimenting with AI. Arival 360 Valencia event is sponsored by Civitatis, highlighting Spain and Latin America's potential in the evolving travel experience market.

🌊 Island destinations, pioneers in sustainable tourism strategies, discussed at Fitur 2025 in the "Think Tank Blue Islands: Islas Azules y Circulares" forum by HIC Summit. Measures include vehicle restrictions in Ibiza effective June 2025, tripled tourist tax in New Zealand for conservation funding, and expanding Marine Protected Areas in Seychelles. Baleares introduced ecotax, New Zealand aims for "Zero Waste by 2050", and Cabo Verde targets a 50% renewable energy contribution by 2050. Seychelles emphasizes development balanced with natural conservation, with tourism employing 70% of the working population. Spain promotes over 600 sustainability plans, backed by European funds, for its island destinations.

🏨 Independent hotels in Spain offer a 6.9% higher average salary compared to hotel chains, with an annual gross income of €22,711, based on an analysis of over 20,000 job offers on Turijobs presented at Fitur. Other accommodations such as rural tourism and tourist apartments offer annual salaries of €20,575 and €19,271 respectively, while hostels offer €18,178. The overall salary average in Spain's job market was €21,000 annually, a 5% increase, yet -26.32% lower than the national average (€2,354 per month) but 29% higher than the hospitality sector average (€16,275 annually).

🏖 Lonely Planet lists Ses Illetes Beach in Formentera as the 10th best in the world for 2025. FITUR 2025, hosted in Ifema Madrid from January 22-26, expects 250,000 attendees, including 150,000 professionals, 9,500 companies, and representatives from over 156 countries, with an estimated economic impact of €445 million. Air Europa launches a new route from Madrid to Istanbul starting May 12, with four flights a week, increasing to daily in July. Palladium Hotel Group introduces a new luxury brand, The Unexpected Hotels, to Ibiza's Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel. Cabo de Gata will feature a new luxury hotel inspired by "Lawrence of Arabia" with 54 rooms, involving over €10 million investment. Grupo Barceló surpasses €6.5 billion in turnover for 2024, with the hotel sector contributing €2.122 billion. Post-FITUR activities in Madrid are expected to result in 232,000 night outings, generating €18.4 million for the leisure industry. Spain hit 94 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, facing challenges such as destination saturation and environmental impact. Javier Águila to lead Hyatt's global All-Inclusive portfolio, in addition to his current role.

🏖 Fundación Intermundial, in collaboration with Fitur and ONU Turismo, awarded the Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Prize, highlighting tourism companies' commitment to the environment and societal benefit. The event, marking the award's eighth edition, featured six categories: Hospitality, Transport, Tourism Products and Services, Destination, Social Media, and Special Solidarity DANA Prize. Notable winners include Minor Hotels Europe & Americas for their Founder's Day initiative, Vueling for their Optipath project aimed at CO2 reduction, TUR4all Travel for promoting accessibility, Gijón for its sustainability plan, Japonismo for sustainable travel to Japan, and Civitatis for raising 38,530 euros to aid DANA victims.

🏡 Ramón Aragonés, recognized for over three decades in the hospitality sector, received the Premio Hosteltur a la Personalidad Turística 2024, paying tribute to his career and personal values. Esteemed by industry leaders like Rosario Sánchez Grau and Hugo Rovira, Aragonés was praised for his role in the rapid recovery of NH Hotel Group post-COVID, with its swift reopening of hotels in Europe. His journey began with practical learning in all hotel departments, rising to prominence by age 31 at Hesperia de Javier Illa. His intuition and family background in hotels were highlighted as key factors in his successful career.

🏖️ Jordi Hereu inaugurated FITURTECHY25, organized by ITH and FITUR, emphasizing sustainability for Spain, with 94 million tourists. Jorge Marichal (CEHAT) urged for a Housing Pact for worker and resident wellbeing. Javier García Cuenca (ITH) supported unique, sustainable tourism experiences via innovative technologies. The event covered sustainability, digitalization, innovation, and business challenges in tourism, including AI for de-seasonalization, energy and water management, and waste reduction, with 14% of Spain's food waste from hotels.