Catalan’s government apply for the management of 7 “paradores”

In December 2012, the Spanish government wanted to close during a period of 5 months 6 between 7 paradores in Catalonia: Seu d’Urgell, Cardona, Vielha, Artíes, Aiguablava and Vic-Sau. The association of Paradores refused closing completely these special hotels and wanted to reduce the number of workers that was going to be hired.

The Generalitat with the majors of the villages, where are located the paradores, were negotiating with the central government to pass the ownership of them. The Catalans said that thanks to the proximity, it would be easier to assure and consolidate the viability of these kind of hotels.

The measures that Madrid imposed weren’t economically justified and will clearly affect the employment and the touristic activity of the regions. It is true that most of the paradores in Spain have deficit. However, that is not the case of Catalan paradores, which have a positive economic balance. 

Fortunately, they have reduced the closing of paradores from 5 months to 40 days of holidays. If they had made them close 5 months, it would have affected very hard in the economic activity of the village, above all the weekend tourism and the business tourism. Finally, only 350 people were hired, meanwhile the government wanted to hire 644.

Even though Madrid didn’t accept the transfer of the paradores, the General Director of Turisme de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Marian Muro, insists on the importance and need of being able to manage them from Catalonia and she assure that they will continue fighting to get their ownership.

Why does the central government want to close the catalan paradores if they are profitable? If they don't want them, why don't they give their ownership to the catalan government? Do you think it is a good idea to close them 40 days or it is better 5 monhts?

Barcelona hotels recorded occupancy record during Mobile World Congress

The hotels in Barcelona and surroundings recorded full occupancy during the Mobile World Congress, between Monday and Thursday, an "all time high".

It will have an economic impact on the area of ​​23 million euros, according to estimates of the Hotel Association of Barcelona.

Reservations made by the organization reach the 25,000 rooms, which will result in 100,000 overnight stays at an average price of 230 Euros per night, compared to 80 or 85 euros to be paid without the conclusion of the lounge.

These reserves are added the attendees do on your own, and have enabled hang the full hotels and many apartments in a radius of over 30 kilometers around Barcelona.

And is that the fair provides a record attendance in excess of 70,000 people from 200 countries and 1,500 mobile phone companies to install over 94,000 square meters of exhibition, compared to 70,500 offered Montjuïc.

But related with the strategy of the companies, we can pus as example Juan Carlos I:

As in previous years, some brands exclusively reserve a hotel, as is the case of Microsoft, which this year has hired Juan Carlos I Hotel.

The hotel has changed all the furniture in the public spaces to adapt to the event of the Mobil World Congress, explained to Europe Press facilities.

Hotel Juan Carlos I during the MWC

The money spent by credit card

Barcelona is the 20^th city more visited in the world by international tourists. Besides, Barcelona is the city of Spain where they spend more money with a credit card. For example, in 2012 the international tourists spent more or less 2384 millions of Euros, which meant a growth of 25.4%, belong Turisme de Barcelona. After Barcelona, in the second position we can find Madrid, where the international tourists spent 1005 millions of Euros, more than the half.

The third community in the ranking is Balears Islands, followed by Girona. Tarragona is situated in the 9^th position.

The money spent in Barcelona is a 26.5% of the total of money spent in Spain, a quarter; and the money spent in all Catalonia is a 37.4% of the total in Spain. As we can see, Catalonia highlights again between all the other communities in terms of tourism.

In addition, the shopping done by non-European people in Catalonia tends to rise. With the system of IVA devolution, the tourist information point of Turisme de Barcelona, has increased a 175% this devolution of IVA. Above all, we can find Russian tourists (25%), who apply for this service and an 18% are Chinese tourists.

Do you think it is a good new? Why do you think Catalonia is the most touristic place in Spain and it beats all the records or why is Catalonia always in the first position in touristic terms?

H10 Hotels and Barcelona

Do you believe that the hotels in catalonia are decline? Do you believe that nobody can out of the crisis and create new projects?

A few weeks ago, appear a good new related to the hotels in Spain, and more specicfic in Catalonia.

H10 Hotels invested 11 million in a new prject in Enrique Granados. The Espelt' Family bought the field located between the numbers 62-64 of the street in Barcelona, where they could built a new five stars hotel with 120 new and modern rooms.

Also during this year they will inaugurate 2 new stores in Barcelona, because of that, this hotel chain is becoming to be one of the top 5 hotel chains with more hotels in the capital of Catalonia.

These are the new hotels:


H10 Urquinanona Square
Located in one of the centers of the city, at 100m. Plaça Catalunya, the four-star hotel will have 80 rooms. The area is known for its modernist architecture known samples and its wide range of services.

H10 Port Vell
The hotel is located in the Port Vell, next to the sea, the Passeig Colom and cozy seaside neighborhood of Barceloneta. This is four stars and will have 58 rooms.

What do you think about this? Do you think that this hotel chain is doing their project in a good way of economy? Or do you thing that this is a good strategic in the times that we are living?


We are waiting for you comments bloggers!!!

See you soon!

Hotel Economic Situation in 2013

In 2013, according to the PWC, the hotels in Barcelona will continue going and will resist this crisis. These are good news because the employment will lightly increase, in a bad situation of the country.

The ocupation will rise a 2.7% to 75.7% and the REVPAR (revenue per available room) will increase a 1.4% to 87.32€. In 2012 the RevPar increased a 6.9% to 86.13€. As we can see, this year will increase less than last year, but taking into account the crisis, we consider that this is positive.

However, the Average Daily Rate (ADR) will decrease a 1.3%, remaining at 115.35€. In 2012, it rose a 2.6% to 116.85.

To sum up, it is real that the economic situation is really really bad, but it is proved that Barcelona has well performed during these years of crisis, and as consequence, this study of PWC say that they will be able to resist this year of crisis. We will see next year if the situation will be more positive or negative. We don’t hope so.

What do you think? The hotel situation is as good as this study says for your mind? What will happen in your opinion in 2014?

HOTELES CATALONIA made an agreement with VUELING

They have created a new concept of accommodation. A new brand has born: Vueling by HC.

The first hotel of this agreement is going to be located in the centre on Barcelona.  It will be a 4 star hotel. It is situated in Gran Via 550, Gran Via de Barcelona and it has 64 rooms distributed in 4 different kinds: standard with and without terrace, superior with and without terrace, junior suite and a huge suite with a private terrace and outdoor swimming pool.

The investment of this hotel has been of 13 million Euros.

The hotel will be managed by Hoteles Catalonia. However, both companies will do the design, the decorations, the marketing strategy, the image of the brand… The design of the hotel is inspirited in Vueling planes. This different decoration can be found in the communes areas. For example, the reception remind you to a boarding desk.

They would like to export this new and original concept to other cities, which coincide with the main destinations of the airline. In order to expand this new brand, Hoteles Catalonia may integrate it in some hotels that they already have in their portfolio and also in new openings in other cities where they don’t have hotels for the moment. They have pointed out, for example, cities like Madrid, Sevilla or Valencia. Their agreement is for 10 years.

In this strategic alliance has actively collaborated the company Take a part, who is specialized in this kind of agreements.

 Vueling wants to expand their brand to some business projects, which have to contribute  with some innovating opportunities in concepts and services for its customers.

They started building and reforming it a year ago and actually they are still finishing the last details. Before this term ends, it will be open.

What do you think about this new project? Will it succees? Would you like to stay there? 

Mobile World Congress

In a few weeks, from 25th to 28th of February, there is going to be in Barcelona the biggest exhibition of the city: the Mobile World Congress. This year will be the first time that it is taking place in the Fira de Barcelona of the Gran Via (in Hospitalet de Llobregat).

They are trying to extend the exhibition in different segments: in this new place, there will be 94,000 square meters, meanwhile last year there were 70.500 square meters in Monjuic. There will also be more than 3000 speakers, government representatives from 140 delegations and more offer of bar and restaurants, about 50. The number of the exhibitors will be more or less the same at last year, with 1500. However, their stands will be bigger.

Besides, there will be available eight pavilions of the Gran Via or outdoor for business contact and a good Wi-Fi, with 270 connection points. Another offer will be the improvement of the transport connections: bus, shuttles with hotels, airports and a better organization of taxis.

It was predicted to fill the Fira de Barcelona in Gran Via in three years, but they have realized that in the first year, they will fill it.

The hotels of Barcelona and all the cities around it will be plenty these days. The bookings that the hotels have received are 9% more than last year. It is predicted about 20,000 rooms through the booking service of the congress. We have also to take into account the direct bookings that some customers could do.

In general, it will be a good exhibition for all the city: the hotels will be full, all the world will see Barcelona in their TV, newspapers,… Since the first time that this exhibition took place in Barcelona in 2006, the number of assistants has increased until be multiplied 4 times. Barcelona is near to be the Mobile City of the World.

When do you think that it will be possible?

Do you think that we are near or far from this situation?

What do you think about the huge increase of the number of assistants? In your mind, will it continue growing like that?