Guests staying in Barcelona hotels ask receptionists what they can visit, how they can get tickets for shows, and also where they can eat. They are usually more insistent with this last question because, of course, we all like to find a good table to taste the typical food of the country we are in. If the receptionists make the reservation for them from the hotel and order a taxi for them to go there, even better. And it is in this reservation made from the reception where the game begins: each reservation made to a series of restaurants in Barcelona from hotel receptions brings them benefits, which can be a fixed commission (a percentage of the final tickets or a fixed amount of money) or free meals at the same restaurant. What are the Barcelona restaurants that receptionists recommend? They tend to be those belonging to chains, those that are always full of tourists and have a high average ticket. They usually specialize in fish and seafood, seafood cuisine, also in sushi, and have a lot of service rotation. These restaurants get in touch with the receptionists of some hotels in Barcelona, especially those with between four and five stars, and propose an exchange to the receptionists. They have muscle, that is, economic power, to be able to offer this deal.One summer morning, in the middle of a heatwave, I interviewed the head of concierge and the management of a hotel in the center of Barcelona, which has other hotel establishments in the same city and also in nearby regions. I speak to them near the reception and I see the number of tourists entering with suitcases. I cannot describe the hotel in more detail because, otherwise, they warn me that it could be deduced who they are. “We consider ourselves ambassadors of the hotel, and we want tourists to get to know the city through gastronomy,” they explain without wanting to give their names. They add that both of them are up-to-date on the restaurants opening in the city because they know it is valuable information for their work. “Tourists staying in our hotels constantly ask us where they can eat paellas; it is one of the big questions.” Each of the recommendations, whether or not linked to commissions and free meals at the restaurant, they guarantee, meaning they have investigated it well. They comment that they want to give quality advice, so that when the tourist returns, they say they had a good time, that the food was good. “It’s not recommending for the sake of recommending, and we don’t always focus on whether we have a commission at that restaurant or not; if we do and we know it’s very good, perfect,” they continue explaining.Paella, sushi and Catalan cuisine

After the request for where to eat a good paella, there is a second one: where to eat sushi. In Barcelona, yes. Tourists want to eat paella and sushi. And they also want to sign up for express courses to learn how to cook paella. “We encounter this constantly, and that's why the reception dedicated to 'city experiences' is important at the hotel,” explains the Head of Concierge, who also does not want to reveal his identity. They organize the activities they want to do in one day in the city. “We also tell them the precautions they should take in the city; for example, if they want to go eat in El Raval, we recommend a door-to-door taxi and no watches on their wrists,” they state. The advice seeks the same objective as when recommending a restaurant: the safety of the people staying at their hotel. “Daily, we check how they have fared after the recommendations we have made,” because they seek for everything to go well for them, he points out.

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I interview the hotelier Cristina Cabañas (Lloret de Mar, 1974) at Guitart Grand Passage, the hotel she manages in Barcelona. Cabañas, a pharmacist by training, took over Guitart Hotels following the death of her husband, Climent Guitart. She has presided over the hotel chain for twelve years, and does so with the intention of passing the baton to her three sons, who confessed to her as children that they would like to dedicate themselves to their father's work. In parallel to her business work, she presides over the Climent Guitart Foundation, in memory of the businessman, to preserve his legacy in the world of tourism, as well as collaborating with other foundations. Through the foundation, she has managed to have over a thousand young Ukrainians visit Lloret de Mar and Catalonia so they can breathe away from the war their country is experiencing.

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The L'Azure hotel in Lloret de Mar closed its doors in 2018 as a two-star establishment, and when it reopened, more than two years and 35 million euros of investment later, it had four. It had become a high-end hotel. In the last decade, this segment of the offer has gained weight in Catalonia to become the majority, going from representing 47.41% to 56.93% of the total.

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Begur is a bucolic town with cobbled streets, restaurants, shops, and crystal-clear beaches. It has more than 4,200 registered inhabitants and, in the last ten years, has incorporated almost 4,800 tourist apartment places, practically double what it had until then. For each inhabitant, there are 2.27 beds for visitors reserved only in houses. Naut d'Aran leads the ranking of municipalities with the most tourist apartment beds per inhabitant – the proportion rises to 3.67 apartment places per inhabitant – followed by Port de la Selva (3.3) and Pals (3).

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Hotels Bestprice has culminated its incentive plan through shares, which includes chambermaids and reception and maintenance staff, in addition to executives. The Catalan hotel chain's program, which extends to practically the entire workforce, has been promoted by the board of directors "as a formula for recognizing the commitment, effort, and extraordinary contribution of professionals who have played a relevant role in the company's evolution in recent years," according to a statement. According to company sources, this measure benefits around 80% of the workforce, which is who could benefit from it. The only requirement to do so is to have been working at the company for one year or more.

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Sercortel has surpassed the barrier of one hundred managed hotels this 2026. It works to invoice 360 million in 2029, compared to the 200 with which it will close 2026. José Rodríguez (Barcelona, 1967) is the CEO of this company, which is in the hands of the Landon society, belonging to the Gallardo family, main shareholders of Almirall. It has no debt thanks to the management contract model, enjoys high occupancy rates all year round, and in 2027 will study expanding abroad. Rodríguez explains to ARA the keys to growth since before the pandemic – since then it will have multiplied turnover by 4.4 – and analyzes the challenges and strengths of the current tourism industry.

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Cuba has been immersed in a severe economic and energy crisis for months, and tourism is one of the casualties. The fuel shortage that the island has been suffering for some time due to the United States' oil strangulation has led some airlines to cancel flights to Havana. This is the case of Iberia, which since this Monday no longer operates the route between Madrid and the Cuban capital. Now, the threat of sanctions also from the United States is added regarding foreign hotels that manage assets owned by Gaesa, the Cuban army's conglomerate. Pressure that has already led different hotel firms to withdraw from the island. This Wednesday, Meliá, the hotel chain of Mallorcan origin, announced that it was ceasing operations at 15 hotels on the island, while on Tuesday the Spanish firm Iberostar did the same with 12 of its 18 establishments. The decision of both means the partial withdrawal of the most important Spanish hotel chains in Cuba.

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The Hotel Palace has an undeniable mystique, as it is a historic enclave in the city of Barcelona. For many, it will always remain the Ritz, and in fact, when you enter, you can't help but look around to see if Xavier Cugat's chihuahua is still lurking. If we are not staying there, we can access it to use its gastronomic offerings. We can go

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The imposing Hotel La Florida is now called METT. In recent years, we've seen several name changes in the city's hotel sector, and this is one of them. The METT has been completely renovated and, consequently, also boasts a new culinary offering, which we went to explore. On one side, there's Vermuteria 1925, and next to it, the Albarada restaurant. Both are located opposite the terrace with its panoramic views, as we're high up on Tibidabo mountain.

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Say goodbye to 2025 with a magical night in the incomparable setting ofHotel Palacio de Bellavista by URHLocated in a central location, the hotel is known for its magnificent panoramic views of the city of Girona, its elegant atmosphere, and its characteristic hospitality.URH HotelsAn exceptional setting to celebrate the New Year with all the comfort and good taste that such a special occasion deserves.

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The Palace Hotel in Barcelona, ​​the oldest luxury hotel in the Catalan capital, has been owned by the Algerian state for a few weeks now, it was revealed on Tuesday. The VanguardHistorically known as the Ritz, the property located on Barcelona's Gran Via had been owned by Algerian magnate Ali Haddad since 2011. However, in 2019, Haddad was imprisoned in his country for embezzlement, abuse of power, and corruption, leading the Algerian justice system to claim ownership. Despite Algeria's claim, however, the change of ownership of the Hotel Palace in Barcelona was not resolved through legal channels. According to the newspaper, the country reached an agreement with Haddad. This is evident from the fact that a "debt-for-equity swap" was presented for registration of the luxury property at the Barcelona Property Registry, rather than the execution of a court-ordered seizure. Algeria's National Investment Fund, a public financial institution directly under the head of government, received "full ownership of the property" located at 664-668 Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes in Barcelona on August 1, according to the newspaper.

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"A haven of calm and serenity." This is what a rural accommodation complex located in the heart of France's Loire region offers, featuring a swimming pool and jacuzzi. Here, guests can enjoy the facilities without hearing screaming children. The establishment clearly advertises itself as accommodation adults only, as children are prohibited from enteringA campsite in the Dordogne also prefers to exclude minors. "Unlike family campsites, popular for their constant entertainment, our child-free campsite offers a peaceful alternative," its website states.

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The town of Mollerussa is what we all know today (a regional capital with more than 15,000 inhabitants) thanks to two fundamental historical events: the construction of the Urgell Canal, which began irrigating land that had previously been a veritable desert in the mid-19th century, and the simultaneous construction of the train station and a line that would connect the town. A population boom was assured. Hundreds of farmers and merchants took advantage of this favorable economic climate, as did the most far-sighted entrepreneurs.

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After years of record-breaking growth, the tourism sector has been experiencing for months that the momentum is slowing down. More travelers returned to Catalonia in August, but they stayed for fewer days. Furthermore, prices, which had skyrocketed in recent summers, are also beginning to slow, having become unaffordable for many, with rooms costing €200 a night in the Catalan capital.

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The hotel chain Hotusa has fully repaid the loan it received from the State, through the public company SEPI, to address the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis. The company chaired by Amancio López Seijas has repaid the last 56 million of the total 241 million it received in 2021.

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With permission from the future Sagrada Família, the city's tallest building is getting a facelift. The Hotel Arts is temporarily taking this title, along with its twin neighbor, the Mapfre Tower, both at 154 meters tall. Born with the urban transformation brought about by the Olympic Games as the city's first luxury hotel, the establishment has surpassed its 30th anniversary, surrounded by more competitors, and is undergoing a comprehensive renovation of its facilities, under the new leadership of Renato de Oliveira as general manager.

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Joan Carles Casanovas (Sabadell, 1967) is the new director of the Hostal de la Gavina. He has a long career in the hotel industry and has spent the last ten years managing another iconic establishment: the Hotel Casa Fuster. Casanovas is full of energy and attentive to detail. Before entering his office, he fixes a misplaced ribbon on a chair. He professes to being a lover of art history and a true foodie. Two passions that will be reflected in this new era in S'Agaró.

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For many years, hotel breakfast has been a service that establishments would provide, but it didn't receive the same attention as other services they offered. Frozen croissants, poor-quality coffee, and a lot of food waste at the end of the service. This particular area has been the focus of many establishments, who have decided to improve it, even if only to reduce costs. Some have even brought breakfast to the culinary level of a gourmet restaurant. We analyze the changes that have occurred in recent years and which ones will take longer to arrive. In fact, according to food critic Daniel Salas in his presentation, The boundaries of the best hotel breakfast At the HIP conference held in Madrid, hotels are getting their act together, "just like when they saw that people were going out to eat at the restaurant across the street and not staying at theirs."

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The hotel sector in Barcelona is still on its honeymoon. The city's 450 hotels, with a total of 40,000 rooms on offer, have been breaking their price records for three years in a row. While in 2022 the average price of a hotel room in the Catalan capital was 152 euros – 8.6% more than in 2019, the year before the pandemic – in 2024 this figure has risen to 188 euros, which is 14.1% more than in year 2.

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That tourism has returned to Barcelona after the pandemic is evident; you only have to go out on the street to see it. But now data from the Spanish Institute of Statistics (INE) confirms it. The Catalan capital's hotel occupancy rate in May was the highest in Spain. Despite the great recovery, however, most indicators are still slightly below May 2019, the year before the arrival of covid-19.

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