The hotel industry in Spain is optimistic about the Christmas campaign and expects turnover growth of between 5 and 6% compared to the same period last year, in line with the sustained growth throughout throughout this year.
“We are facing a positive Christmas and we detect a great desire to enjoy and celebrate.”assured the Secretary General of Hospitality of Spain, Emilio Gallego, in statements to Servimedia.
Gallego assured that this year 2024 will be “very good” due to the growth in volume and the increase in average foreign tourism spending. “In addition, “We are observing a plateau or stabilization behavior in national demand”he assured.
Asked about reservations for Christmas dinners, he stressed that a “good pace” could already be detected in the volume of reservations. ““People know that in the end there are only a few days left and the places they want are sold out,” said Gallego, who said that hotel establishments are currently immersed in the Christmas menu preparation campaign, in which no major increase is expected compared to last year.
Average ticket
Gallego does not believe that during these holidays, hotel establishments will be penalized by the drop in the average ticket that the sector has experienced throughout the year. “It is true that frequency and attendance have not suffered, but expenses have suffered. He said, while emphasizing that “at Christmas everyone is a little more liberal and extra spending is above average.”
Regarding wine and spirits, whose consumption has declined in recent years, Gallego stressed that this trend is widespread despite the fact that these holidays represent the most important peak in the sale of these products. In this regard, he also assured that, despite the decline in sales volume, The customer demands more spirits and liqueurs from the “premium” segment every day, whose price is higher.
Finally, he stressed that the public who frequent hotel establishments demand price but, especially in this period, they demand quality. “As these are celebratory lunches and dinners, high-value products are consumed more frequently. That said, the Spanish know how to appreciate a good product and know what they have to pay for that product,” Gallego said.
