Luxury in Spain no longer sells rooms, it sells a tailor-made trip from the sofa
Read → Luxury hotels in Spain are betting on hyper-personalized experiences and digital bookings to increase guest value. Technology becomes the new concierge.
Meliá goes all in on digital check-in: its global lead explains the plan
Read → The chain accelerates the digitalization of check-in and check-out. Micaela Estevens, global project lead, details the roadmap.
Spain’s govt proposes 21% VAT on tourist flats: hit or miss?
Read → In July, the Spanish Government will take a housing package to Congress that includes raising VAT on tourist flats to 21%, from exemption or 10%. The aim is to lower rental prices and boost affordable housing supply, but the travel sector questions whether this is the right move.
IHG places three bets on Spain: Madrid, Málaga and Barcelona with Holiday Inn Express
Read → IHG strengthens its commitment to Spain with three new Holiday Inn Express hotels in Madrid, Málaga and Barcelona, all set to open between 2028 and 2029.
Civitatis Pro: 32% of its business is now B2B and they launch a platform for partners
Read → Civitatis launches Civitatis Pro, a dedicated B2B platform that already accounts for 32% of its business with 60,000 partners. If you are not selling experiences through them, maybe you should reconsider.
83% of Spaniards already planning summer 2026 despite rising prices
Read → 83% of Spaniards confirm they will travel in summer 2026, with 34.5% willing to spend more and 91.2% worried about costs. Domestic destinations and the coast dominate preferences.
Air Europa flies to Venezuela again, but landing 150 km from Caracas
Read → After the closure of Caracas Airport due to earthquakes, Air Europa has temporarily restored connectivity to Venezuela by operating from an alternate airport 150 km away.
Hotel guests want more than a bed: complete experiences rule summer
Read → Eurostars Hotel Company launched Hotel Tester and collected nearly 200 customer proposals. The result: the ideal hotel is a hub for wellness, live music and local connection. Rooftops become the new lobby.
Spain hikes VAT on tourist apartments to 21%, airports change model and Visa enters travel
Read → The Spanish government takes the VAT hike on tourist apartments to 21% to Congress, European airports admit their business model is broken and Visa launches its own travel site. Plus, hotel distribution gets a profitability reality check.
ITH launches campaign to showcase real hotel innovation in 2026
Read → The Instituto Tecnológico Hotelero kicks off 'El sector hotelero innova', a campaign that will share success stories throughout 2026 to show how technology and collaboration improve management, sustainability and guest experience.