Top News

🔍 British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Vueling will soon use Apple's "Find My" app to track lost luggage. Annalisa Gigante, IAG's Head of Innovation, confirms its integration for customer peace of mind. AirTags cost about €40 and utilize Bluetooth to allow iPhone users to track luggage on a map. Up to 100,000 bags are misplaced daily worldwide, and airline cooperation is necessary for tracking effectiveness.

🏖 Numerous vacancies remain for the Imserso social tourism program from Ávoris for January and February, specifically on the coveted Madrid-Balearic Islands itinerary, with available dates including January 5, 15, 18, 20, 21, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and February 1, 2, 5, 6, 12. Other itineraries are full, but cultural circuits have some availability, with waitlists for Madrid-Valencian Community, Madrid-Andalusia, and Madrid-Catalonia. March, April, and May are fully booked, despite complaints from retirees about the rapid unavailability of spots after sales opening.

🍴 Definir una propuesta gastronómica clara y conocer al público objetivo son claves para gestionar un restaurante de hotel. La contratación de personal capacitado y un liderazgo sólido son esenciales para mantener una experiencia positiva del cliente. Implementar control de inventarios eficiente y tecnología en la gestión como POS y CRM mejora operaciones y toma de decisiones. Es vital aprovechar el feedback de los clientes, adoptar marketing efectivo, diseñar ambientes y menús atractivos, y capacitar al personal. Controlar costos, gestionar reseñas online y implementar prácticas sostenibles fortalecen la reputación. Ofrecer servicios de take away e innovar tecnológicamente puede diferenciar al restaurante en el mercado.

🏠 Manuel Fragero, an agricultural engineer turned hotelier and president of AEHCOR, leads a group managing hotels, tourist apartments, and housing in Córdoba, Spain. Since 2010, he pivoted to tourism when a new decree (194/2010) stimulated the transformation of a family-inherited house into tourist apartments. Córdoba now boasts 91 hotel establishments, 3,819 rooms, and 7,544 beds as of October 2024, reflecting continuous industry growth. The city's tourist profile mainly comprises domestic visitors from Madrid, Catalonia, Basque Country, and Valencia, with a significant increase in Asian and American tourists due to improved air connectivity. Challenges include competition from unauthorized tourist housing, promoting longer stays over transient visits, and leveraging Córdoba's four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Eventual goals highlight sustainable tourism, better international access, and preserving local culture and identity, aiming to increase the current average stay of 1.8 nights.

🏨 Spanish hotels welcomed 7.17 million travelers and exceeded 20 million overnight stays in November, marking a 5.4% increase compared to the previous year, and achieving a 5.2% growth since January. Resident travelers accounted for 7.64 million overnight stays, up by 9.8%, while non-residents contributed 12.41 million, a rise of 2.9%. Top destinations for residents included Andalusia, Madrid, and Valencia, while non-residents favored the Canary Islands, Catalonia, and Andalusia. Tenerife led with nearly 2.2 million overnight stays. UK and German visitors represented nearly 40% of non-resident overnight stays, with 2.81 million and 2.06 million respectively. Hotel occupancy reached 53.7%, with the Canary Islands at 75.5%. The hotel price index rose by 7.4% in November from a year earlier. Average Daily Rate (ADR) was €113.7, up 8.4%, while Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) increased by 10.5% to €74.

🏨 Small hotel chains in Spain boast over 67,000 open rooms, with 97% located domestically, including 3,600 new rooms in the last year. The Top 10 chains account for 9,065 rooms across 74 hotels. Aubamar Hotels leads with 991 rooms. Barcelona's city council approved fiscal ordinances for 2025, impacting tourism with tax hikes. 208 hotels with a cadastral value over €5.2 million will see property tax increase from 1% to 1.17%. Líbere Hospitality Group will open a new aparthotel in Porto in the second half of 2026, a €12 million investment for 57 apartments, adding to their 1,700 units across Spain, Portugal, and Greece.

🎄 Hotel bookings in Spain for Christmas period (from December 21 to 25) increased by 15% compared to last year. Domestic tourism accounts for 49% of total bookings, marking a 32% increase from 2023, while international bookings fell by 18%. The average stay is 2.65 days with bookings made 60.32 days in advance. The average daily rate (ADR) rose by 7%, from €187.31 in 2023 to an expected €200.73 in 2024. Globally, Germany, the UK, and the US saw booking increases of 43%, 24%, and 22%, respectively.

🏖️ Mallorca is reinventing its tourism strategy with a focus on responsibility, coexistence, and authenticity, aiming to be a home for residents and a leading destination for travelers. Over 100 interviews with locals have shaped this vision, promoting a model of responsible tourism where visitors engage as temporary residents. This approach is expected to enhance both the visitor experience and the quality of life for the islanders, integrating tradition with innovation while preserving Mallorca's Mediterranean heritage and natural environment.

📅 Yolanda Díaz, ministra de Trabajo, ignora las reivindicaciones turísticas y cierra un pacto con los sindicatos UGT y CCOO para reducir la jornada laboral a 37,5 horas sin disminuir los salarios. Tras casi un año de negociaciones, el acuerdo se firmará hoy y se aplicará el 31 de diciembre de 2025. Exceltur advierte que la medida costará 2.348 millones de euros anuales al sector turístico, afectando sobre todo a las pymes.

🏖 Global tourism sector adapts to new traveler priorities amid economic uncertainty, highlighted in the Winter Travel Trends Study 2024 by Simon-Kucher, surveying over 7,200 respondents across eight key markets, including the US, Middle East, and major European countries. Leisure travel budgets are growing globally by just 1%, with France at -2% and Italy at -1%, while the UAE, US, and Spain exceed 2% growth. Cost-saving strategies include choosing cheaper accommodations (42%), shorter trips (33%), and less frequent travel (30%), yet group travel for holiday gatherings has risen by 35%. Younger generations prefer affordable lodging and transport, particularly in Germany and Spain. Sports events motivate up to 31% more spending on travel and accommodation; concertgoers spend 25% more. Over 25% favor national or nearby destinations, while over 50% are concerned about overtourism, with 20% canceling trips for this reason. Sustainability gains importance with nearly 43% willing to pay up to 43% more for eco-friendly stays, and 35% willing to spend up to 27% more on sustainable flights, notably in the US, UK, and Germany. The luxury segment sees dynamic growth in exclusive travel in the UAE, UK, and US.