Top News

🏨 At the 13th edition of the Traveller Review Awards 2025, held in Córdoba's Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones, the hotel sector's commitment to service excellence was highlighted, with over 360 million verified user reviews on Booking.com. Catalonia Hotels & Resorts won the title of Spain's most welcoming hotel chain, while Slow Home Apartments received the award for the accommodation with the highest ratings. Andalucía was recognized as the most welcoming region in Spain, and Fuerte Group Hotels took the award for most welcoming chain in Andalucía. Cazorla, as the second most welcoming destination globally, saw a 13% increase in national searches and over 50% in European markets post-award announcement. The "Pueblos con Alma: Ruta de Andalucía" campaign was launched to promote sustainable tourism in charming rural destinations across Andalucía.

🏖️ Between 2019 and 2024, Ibiza saw an 8.1% growth in visitors, below the Balearic average of 13.72% and the Ibiza and Formentera combined average of 10.26%. National tourism increased by 54% since 2019, while international visitors decreased by 1.3%. In 2024, nationals accounted for 24.4% (799,227 people) of visitors, with international tourists at 75.6% (2,476,352 people). TecnoHotel will attend an event on May 8, 2024, at Hotel Vibra Algarb in Ibiza to discuss hotel management and tourism challenges. The event, organized by Peldaño with Maarlab and the Federación Empresarial Hotelera de Ibiza y Formentera, is free for hotel professionals with limited capacity.

📈 Cloudbeds, la plataforma de gestión hotelera, obtuvo el Estado de Socio de Conectividad Élite de Expedia para 2025, situándose en el top 2% mundial. CEO Adam Harris destacó la importancia de esta colaboración para el éxito de los usuarios y el desarrollo conjunto de nuevas vías de crecimiento. Cloudbeds logró una tasa de éxito de integración API del 99.7%, reservas del 100% y un crecimiento del 36% en nuevas propiedades conectadas con Expedia. Fundada en 2012, Cloudbeds opera en más de 150 países y ha recibido múltiples reconocimientos, incluido el Technology Fast 500 de Deloitte en 2024.

📌 Spanish tourism business leaders in 2025 cite family travel spending decline as top concern, with 72.1% fearing "high or very high" impact. Inflation worries 43.9% of respondents, while supply chain disruptions concern 43.8%. Corporate travel spending is alarming for 43.3%, and financial factors like interest rates and dollar/euro exchange rate concern 45.3% and 30.8% respectively. Geopolitical shifts and tariff escalations add to sector uncertainty, though Spain's tourism economy remains resilient.

🏨 HM Hotels implemented an AI-powered automatic response feature from Reviewpro Reputation by Shiji to manage guest reviews more efficiently. During a two-month beta phase in two pilot hotels, the solution improved response times and interaction quality. HM Hotels operates 23 properties across Mallorca, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. One month after the trial, in February 2025, the response rate to 661 reviews reached 82%, with an average response time of three days, and under 2.7 days for negative and neutral reviews. The rate was 100% on platforms like Google, Booking.com, and Tripadvisor. The technology also allows for customized insights and direct integration with multiple platforms.

🚲 TECO Mobility and Mastercard, in collaboration with the Junta de Andalucía, the Ayuntamiento de Málaga, and Turismo y Planificación de Costa del Sol, unveiled a pilot project at the Málaga port, making it the first in Spain to offer private electric bike services for cruise passengers. With the "No app, just tap" system, bikes can be unlocked via a physical bank card or mobile device. The initiative aims to provide sustainable transportation, reduce CO2 emissions, and create positive environmental, cultural, and social impacts. According to Mastercard's "Travel Trends 2024" report, Málaga is a favorite coastal destination for Middle Eastern and African tourists. Mastercard's study reveals that 69% of travelers would pay up to 5% more for sustainable vacations.

🏨 On November 6, 2024, Grupo Luze launched Luze Castellana in Madrid, directed by Sara Martínez, with a year's experience. Sara has managed establishments like Olmedo's spa and Hotel El Toro. Luze Castellana, known for its design and personalized service, began operating with an 80% occupancy rate. During the first year, they renovated common areas and 30 rooms, involving customer feedback from over 300 clients. The hotel mainly serves corporate clients but also sees a rise in vacationers, reaching 100% occupancy during significant events. They focus on personalized customer service to foster client loyalty, leveraging a CRM system for anticipating client needs.

🏨 Cloudbeds, a leading innovator in hotel management technology, has partnered with CAOBA Hotels, enhancing support for independent hoteliers globally. The strategic alliance aims to boost direct booking opportunities, with properties using Cloudbeds experiencing up to 200% increases in reservations. CAOBA will provide specialized consultancy to maximize property visibility. An event in Ibiza from May 2-4 will celebrate the partnership, bringing together Cloudbeds representatives and industry stakeholders. Cloudbeds has been awarded the best PMS and Channel Manager (2021-2025) by Hotel Tech Report and recognized in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 in 2024.

📈 Pablo Fernández Ríos of Sercotel Hotel Group, Josep Miquel Moranta from Paraty Tech, and Maria del Mar Jiminian of Humiclima presented at Updating Hotelero 2025, organized by HOSTELTUR. They held masterclasses on hotel franchising, direct sales, and smart installations, aimed at optimizing hotel performance.