Spanish hoteliers are concerned about new distribution channels and the supply from private individuals
The Congress of the Confederación Española de Hoteles y Alojamientos Turísticos (CEHAT), held in Salamanca between November 16 and 18, analyzed the challenges of the new channels and segments in hotel distribution, as well as the use of technology as a lever for change and the improvement of management. In addition, Juan Josí Hidalgo, president of Globalia, has been appointed.
According to data from a recent European study of hotel distribution in which CEHAT participated, the dominant online platforms are progressively gaining market share in travel sales, especially in Spain, while there are no signs of increased competition between them.
In this sense, the president of CEHAT, Juan Molas, explained that "in Spainña, the distribution market is dominated by professional intermediation. However, the Internet and comparators are generating a significant change in the way in which the consumer is informed and contracts, creating a new scenario that is important to continue to observe.
During his speech, Molas also called on the state administration and the autonomous communities to implement a “rigorous and effective legislation” to put an end to “the uncontrolled illegal supply of thousands and thousands of private homes”.
Also, the president of CEHAT criticizedó the positions of “tourismphobia” that “demonize tourism unfairly” by some “citizens and political forcesíticas that from their responsibilities feed and provoke adverse actions to tourism, throughés high-flown statements that are harmful to the sector”.
HOTELIER OF THE YEAR
As part of the congress, the chairman of Globalia, Juan José Hidalgo, was distinguished with the award “Hotelero de Honor”, granted by the company itself. Be Live Hotels is the hotel chain belonging to the Globalia Group. It has a network of 4 and 5-star rated accommodations and has more than 8,500 rooms in 30 establishments in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. In 2015, the company achieved a turnover of 223 million euros.