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📍 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.

📍 Llorenç Galmés, presidente del Consell de Mallorca, presentó el Plan de Accesibilidad Universal de Mallorca en la feria internacional de turismo ITB, orientado a todas las personas independientemente de sus necesidades especiales. El Plan, con 1 millón de euros de presupuesto provenientes de los fondos ITS, forma parte del Plan de Actuación de la Fundació Mallorca Turisme 2024-2027 y fue aprobado por unanimidad en 2024. Incluye una oficina para gestionar la inclusión, una Mesa de turismo accesible, y mejoras en la web y redes sociales, apoyándose en colaboradores como Tur4All y Impulsa Igualdad. Mallorca avanza así en su compromiso de turismo responsable y accesible.

📈 Room Mate Hotels, led by Kike Sarasola, reported a 23% revenue increase in 2024, reaching €128.5 million with an Ebitda of €28.3 million, and projects a further 18% growth to €151.8 million in 2025. The company plans annual investments of €5-10 million in expansion and renovations, including the Hôtel Marmont acquisition in Geneva's exclusive area, adding 104 rooms. It also includes renovations in Amsterdam's Room Mate Aitana (285 rooms), Florence's Room Mate Luca (55 rooms) and Isabella Room Mate Collection (22 rooms), and Granada's Room Mate Leo (67 rooms). Room Mate Leo features a rooftop heated pool, a unique city feature. The brand continues to expand, aiming to enhance guest satisfaction, reflected in a 90.5% ReviewPro score, with a focus on strengthening its European market presence.

🏨 Antonio Catalán, presidente of AC Hotels by Marriott, highlighted the tourism boom in Spain at HIP 2025, alongside Gonzalo Aguilar, CEO of Minor Hotels Europe & Americas. Marriott boasts 34 brands, targeting luxury to boutique hotels, and the rising Moxy brand via their collaboration with Ikea. Marriott's loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy, has 240 million cards. AC Hotels by Marriott operates over 100 hotels, with more than half owned or leased, proposing a sales percentage model with guaranteed minimums for property balance.

🏖️ In 2025, 52% of Spaniards plan to vacation, with an average budget of €2,006, favoring accommodation and transport. Ávoris Travel Insights' survey in January of 718 travelers identifies experiential tourism and short breaks as trends, with domestic and coastal Spanish destinations leading, followed by Asia and Japan. Approximately three trips per person are expected, combining short getaways and longer travels, with cultural visits, gastronomy, and nature excursions highlighted. Digitalization and personalization influence booking habits, with two-thirds booking online, mainly direct with companies. Sustainability interest grows but is hindered by high costs and lack of awareness. Escapades, trips of 1-3 days, are increasingly popular, with urban destinations preferred for these brief and frequent disconnects.

🏨 Hosteltur's "Updating Hotelero 2025" event will address hotel industry transformations on March 20 and 27, focusing on the economy, talent acquisition, business models, commercialization, technology, and new market players. Topics include the impact of inflation, changes in tourist consumption, talent retention, long stay and co-living trends, OTA management, AI and digitalization, and the role of investment funds. The event will convene a dozen experts and feature presentations from industry leaders Miguel Salom, Jaime Buxó, and others.

💸 Consumo de extranjeros en España en febrero 2025 creció 8.8%, 3.2 puntos menos que en enero. En 2023-2024, aumentos fueron del 18% y 27% respectivamente. Consumo doméstico de españoles subió 5.6% interanual en febrero. Gasto en comercio minorista avanzó 1.8%, pese a caída del -9.9% en electrodomésticos y tecnología. Ocio y hostelería mantuvieron un crecimiento del 7.3%, con cultura y espectáculos al 10% y hoteles al 13%.

🌞 In Spain, hotel booking growth moderated for the second consecutive week, with annual increase rates lower than the previous month. Baleares and the Comunidad Valenciana experienced robust demand, with early bookings above 30%. Annual booking rate changes (March 3-9) included Andalucía (-5.96%), Cataluña (+2.53%), and Baleares (+22.53%). Early bookings (over 90 days in advance) accounted for 32.7% of total bookings on Travelgate from March 3-9. Reservations for the upcoming Easter holidays, which in 2025 span April 13-20, highlighted a nearly 17% booking rate for the next 31-60 days.

🛠 Representatives from key technological firms in the hospitality sector met for the annual Club de Tendencias en Sostenibilidad y Eficiencia Energética on Tuesday, 4 March. The meeting, held via videoconference on 10 March 2025 in Madrid, centered on discussing advancements in energy efficiency and sustainability. The "ITHSaveHotel" program advised over 20 hotels on energy production facility renovations within the last year, with six proposals for intervention currently underway. Energy Savings Certifications (CAEs) were highlighted for their potential to reduce investment costs by up to 40%. The program aligns with the 2030 decarbonization goals and the drive for more sustainable hotel operations. Additionally, plans for the 2025 "ITH Hotel Energy Meetings" were proposed to continue promoting technical knowledge and sustainable energy management in the hotel industry.

🤖 Magic Pirates Island, a new resort at Costa Blanca, aims to redefine hotel operations using collaborative robots to improve staff and guest experience. The robots will perform tasks across restaurants, cabins, and common areas, aiding in cleaning and customer service. Positive results from trials in Magic Hotels & Resorts like Villa del Mar, Magic Natura, and Magic Robin Hood include operational efficiency improvements and over 20% increase in customer loyalty. The resort is advised by the Instituto Tecnológico Hotelero and will deploy around ten cobots.