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.
Ibis Styles lands in the Basque Country: design and local gastronomy in Zumaia-Zestoa
Read → Accor opens the first ibis Styles in the Basque Country, a design hotel banking on cultural identity and locally sourced products.
Carlos Garrido on cruise tax: shortsighted and dangerous
Read → The Tourism Board, led by Carlos Garrido, warns against raising the municipal surcharge on cruise passengers in Barcelona. If approved, the measure could seriously hurt the port and the destination.
Hereu closes the second edition of ‘Spain is (Much) More’
Read → The Minister of Industry and Tourism wrapped up Turespaña and Paradores’ initiative that gathered 30 international content creators to showcase rural and sustainable Spain.
Europe holds its own despite the global drop in long-haul travel
Read → Safety is now the top factor when choosing a European destination, according to a recent survey.
Brussels blocks Spain's guest registry, Flybondi collapses, Air Europa opens Barranquilla
Read → The European Commission questions Spain's mandatory guest data collection rule. Flybondi cancels all flights. Air Europa bets on Colombia. And OTAs rethink their relationship with content creators.
Riyadh Air advances Spain launch, Ilunion posts record results, air demand jumps 8.7%
Read → Peak summer bookings intensify: Riyadh Air lands in Malaga on July 14, Ilunion Hotels closes 2025 with record revenue, and Spain expects 8.7% more international air passengers. Plus Etihad's massive expansion and new routes to Israel and Venezuela.
Spain Living Lab wraps up initial phase with 450 tourism innovation labs
Read → The innovation ecosystem driven by Canarias Living Lab and Next Generation EU funds concludes its first stage with 450 Living Labs, integrating AI and virtual reality into tourism.