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💸 Finn Ackermann from Iberostar Hotels & Resorts defends hotel price increases, asserting that continuing price hikes are based on customer valuation and willingness to pay for the hotel experience. At Hotel Trends during Fitur, industry experts including Fernando Vives from Minor Hotels Europe & Americas, Íñigo Onieva from Barceló Hotel Group, and Beatriz Miguel from Ilunion Hotels discussed optimizing pricing through value propositions and operational promises. Vives emphasized diversifying market strategies, targeting international clients with higher spending patterns, and utilizing revenue management to improve profitability beyond just raising prices. Ackermann suggested Spanish hotels previously undercharged compared to international counterparts. Vives highlighted the 2024 recovery in price-quality ratio and RevPAR growth due to higher ADR from quality offerings.

🏖 During the International Tourism Trade Fair (Fitur), the Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality and Sustainability (ICTES) awarded the Q Awards, recognizing tourism sector entities supporting Quality Q and Sustainable Tourism S. This year marks ICTES's 25th anniversary. Awards went to Jerez City Council, Benidorm and Costa Blanca Hotel Business Association (HOSBEC), Axarquía Routes (Málaga), and journalist Carles Lamelo. Special 25th-anniversary awards were given to Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Apartments (CEHAT), Intelier Hotels, and Astún Ski Station (Huesca). The event, attended by over a thousand professionals, was held at Madrid City Hall's Crystal Gallery. ICTES President Miguel Mirones highlighted the importance of business associations, and the minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, emphasized Spain's leading tourism role. A new EU directive for 2024 mandates certified sustainability through independent audits; over 600 Spanish companies and destinations are now certified.

🏠 In 2024, over 60% of hotel arrivals in Spain were from international guests, despite a 5% room rate increase to an average of €212, peaking at €247 in August. The high season extended with May and October arrivals at 9.39% and 9% respectively, up from 2023. Booking lead times increased by 6%, reaching 39.41 days. (Source: SiteMinder's "Hotel Booking Trends 2025").

🏨 Hotel bookings in Spain show growth with early bookings exceeding 40% market share for four consecutive weeks. The week of January 20-26 showed a 42.2% share for early bookings made over 90 days in advance. The Canary Islands, Andalusia, and Catalonia accounted for nearly 53% of hotel bookings via TravelgateX in the last week, with market shares of 18.09%, 17.60%, and 17.17% respectively.

📱 Madrid, 24 de enero de 2025, clausura de la 19ª edición de FITURTECHY. Alba Renai, influencer virtual IA, captura la atención en el evento techYfuturo, patrocinado por American Express. Participantes incluyen TikTok, Microsoft, Telefónica, Bravent, entre otros. Discusiones sobre IA, redes sociales y Smart Cities. Un 30% de usuarios cambian de destino por RRSS; más del 40% reserva tras ver TikTok. Temáticas de personalización de experiencias, integración de IA en turismo, y el auge del turismo de bienestar físico y mental destacan. TechYdestino finaliza con taller de IA para destinos.

📊 On January 23, during Fitur 2025, a panel discussion titled 'La lámpara del dinero: Revenue Management y optimización de ingresos' featured experts like Javier Ortiz (CEO of Sextaplanta), Diego Fernández Pérez de Ponga (CEO of Port Hotels), and Chema Herrero (CEO of Bedsrevenue). Key strategies for hotel profitability, distribution, and customer loyalty were discussed. Diego Fernández highlighted the potential 50% profitability increase by shifting from OTAs to direct hotel website sales. Chema Herrero emphasized proper establishment-sizing and Herrero's insight on loyalty strategies being part of a business's DNA. Javier Ortiz noted the dominance of OTA marketing budgets while advocating for strategic OTA use, and the panel agreed on the necessity of including revenue management in hotels' financial and commercial strategies to maximize Total Profit and informed decision-making for overall profitability.

🏗 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.