Top News

📆 En diciembre de 2024, el puente se reduce a tres días, frente a los cinco de 2023. Destinia reporta una caída del 5% en reservas año tras año, pero un aumento del 5% en las reservas para Navidad y Año Nuevo. Los precios medios por noche han bajado un 7% a 50 euros. Kiwi observa un repunte del 41,6% en reservas para diciembre, mientras Barcelona ve caídas de precios del 40%. Comunidad Valenciana sufre una baja del 50% en reservas tras DANA. Madrid sigue siendo destino popular en diciembre. FEMAV señala que un 85,8% de madrileños viajará en Navidad, un incremento del 3,5%. La ocupación media de alojamientos rurales se estima en un 60%, con Huelva liderando con un 82%.

🏡 Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced over 50 luxury and lifestyle hotels set to open globally by 2026 at ILTM Cannes, the world's leading luxury travel fair. Demand for luxury travel skyrocketed in 2023; Hyatt, with 70% of its global rooms being upscale, expanded its portfolio by 28 new hotels and resorts in the last three years and doubled its luxury room count since 2017. The company recently acquired Standard International's brands, bolstering its lifestyle segment, which has seen a fivefold increase in rooms since 2017. The group, led by Amar Lalvani, former CEO of Standard International, emphasizes luxury and lifestyle offerings, with anticipated openings such as Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur and Andaz Miami Beach.

🏗️ Cabot Hotels has invested 3 million euros in the complete renovation of Cabot Las Velas Apartments in Puerto Pollensa, upgrading it to a 3-key superior category. The renovation, led by interior designer Felip Polar and architect Antoni Canaves, expanded the number of apartments from 28 to 51, including 45 studios and 6 apartments, and introduced sustainability-focused features such as renewable energy use and a low-water Mediterranean garden. The resort now offers 33 studios with private terraces and jacuzzis, two pools, a playground, and will remain open year-round to contribute to local economic and social fabric.

🏨 Javier de la Lastra, from Mews, presented on the impact of AI in the hotel industry at TecnoHotel OnTour Benidorm, on November 21 at Gran Hotel Bali. He emphasized AI's role in personalizing guest interactions, citing an eDreams study showing that 83% of users in Spain use AI on their platform. De la Lastra outlined AI benefits for optimizing hotel operations and mentioned chatbots, which can handle 90% of hotel tasks, enhancing efficiency and revenue.

🏖️ On December 4th, Spain's tourism agencies, ACAVE and AVIBA, voiced concerns about new documentation regulations hindering the profitability of national travel sales, including Imserso trips. Spain welcomed 82.9 million visitors from January to October 2024, a 10.8% increase from 2023, with total spending up by 16.8%, reaching €110.984 billion, while average spending per tourist rose to €1,339 (+5.4%). Italy introduced mandatory in-person identification for tourist rental guests, aiming to enhance security for the 2025 Jubilee, expected to attract 35 million tourists.

💰 La demanda de viajes en España ha visto una reactivación significativa desde septiembre, con un breve estancamiento debido a la DANA. Las ventas anticipadas para el verano de 2025 están superando los niveles del año anterior, con crecimientos de doble dígito y una OTA destacando aumentos superiores al 50%. Este auge se atribuye al cambio de comportamiento del consumidor español, que ahora reserva con más antelación para evitar el incremento de precios.

📝 Sara Sánchez, CEO of Rusticae, emphasized women's role in travel decision-making at Interihotel, an event in Ifema Madrid. Women, not only traveling more but also leading in travel decisions, demand new hotel models. The roundtable, moderated by Helena Burstedt of Hyatt, discussed the influence of female presence in hospitality. Key points include the transformation of hotel design towards flexibility and sustainability, and the significant role of women in all phases of hotel projects. Rusticae, a company with 90% female ownership and 60% female staff, reflects this with over half of their accommodations managed by women.

🏨 Hotel businesses often have high seasons marked by increased demand, which can cause occupancy and revenue per available square meter (RevPAM) to soar. High season usually aligns with summer months, particularly school holidays, and can be influenced by local events such as sports competitions, week-long shows like Eurovision, or major concerts. Strategies for managing properties during high season include automated rate adjustments, self-service check-in/out systems, intuitive booking panels, mobile updates for housekeeping, quick staff onboarding, digital upselling, intuitive booking engines, and secure, integrated payment systems. Mews offers functions that save time, boost revenue, and enhance guest experiences during peak times.

🏨 Westmont Hospitality and Grupo Lar have formed an alliance to develop and operate hotels in Spain, committing an initial investment of €350 million. The partnership aims to open 12 "select service" hotels with around 2,500 rooms over a six-year period, focusing initially on Spain's major cities. The plan emphasizes "responsible and sustainable growth" with adherence to ESG criteria. Westmont co-owns Room Mate in Spain with Angelo Gordon and is connected to major hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott.

🏨 Hotel bookings in Spain saw a double-digit growth during the last week, with a market share of 33% for early bookings coinciding with Black Friday week. TravelgateX data from November 25 to December 2, 2024, shows a significant increase in bookings, with the central day of sales on November 29. Baleares experienced an 80% increase compared to the previous week and a 56% rise year-over-year. Early booking rates, over 90 days in advance, were up from 24% to 33%. Increases in bookings from the UK (37%), Germany (60%), the US (35%), and Italy (64%) were notable, with Thailand at the top with a 110% surge.