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📍 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.

🏨 In 2024, Spain's top ten cities for hotel stays reached 118.79 million nights, 32.67% of the national total. Barcelona led with 21.82 million stays, followed by Madrid (20.92m) and San Bartolomé de Tirajana (12.76m). International tourists dominated, with 87% of Barcelona's stays. Madrid attracted 36% domestic visitors, Benidorm 39%, and Sevilla 32%. The INE provided the data, covering domestic/international demand, occupancy rates, average stay, and hotel employment.

🏖️ Spain remains the top international destination for the German market, with Álvaro Blanco, director of OET Berlin, stating during ITB Berlin that 80% of Germans traveled last year, a historical high compared to the usual 74-76%. However, in January and February, there was a slight decrease in advance bookings, and potential travelers might be awaiting discounts amid price sensitivity. All of Spain's competitor destinations are active in the market without geopolitical instability affecting them.

📍 Airlines are set to save about €2 billion annually. The EU is processing the repeal of a regulation, in place since 2005, that compensates passengers for flight delays over three hours. Poland, currently presiding over the EU, suggests compensations should start after five hours, and up to twelve hours for long-haul flights. Last year, 2% of flights in Europe qualified for compensation under the current rule, with consumer associations warning that the proposed changes could strip 85% of currently eligible passengers of their right to compensation.