Latest news with #sostenibilidad
Hospitality Net
5 hours ago
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Meliá Hotels & Resorts to Remove over 20 Tons of Plastic from the Mediterranean in 2025
As part of the Travel for Good program, through which Meliá Hotels International defines its responsible business strategy, the Meliá Hotels & Resorts brand reinforces its environmental commitment. Meliá Hotels & Resorts and Gravity Wave strengthen their 'MELIÁ FOR THE OCEANS' alliance, aiming to clean up the Mediterranean and help restore its iconic blue The collaboration, which began last year with the opening of Meliá Ibiza, led to the collection of over 3,000 kg of waste from the sea and ports, repurposing it into new materials This initiative is part of Meliá Hotels & Resorts' holistic approach— as a brand of the hotel group recognized as the most sustainable in Europe — to well-being, where sustainability and environmental awareness are essential pillars of its experiential offering. In celebration of World Oceans Day, Meliá Hotels & Resorts—the signature brand of Meliá Hotels International, renowned for its holistic wellbeing philosophy and unmistakable Spanish flair—reaffirms its environmental commitment with a new edition of the 'MELIÁ FOR THE OCEANS" program. In partnership with Gravity Wave, a social enterprise dedicated to cleaning and regenerating the seas, the initiative aims to remove more than 20,000 kg of plastic waste from the Mediterranean's waters and ports throughout 2025. The project is a key part of the brand's sustainability strategy, grounded in circular economy principles, responsible design, and environmental awareness. The partnership began in 2024 on the coast of Ibiza with the launch of the new Meliá Ibiza. In its first season, Meliá Hotels & Resorts and Gravity Wave removed over 3,000 kg of plastic from the Mediterranean. The recovered waste was transformed into functional and sustainable items for the hotel, such as furniture, signage, and giveaways for guests. This initiative marked not only a strong environmental commitment but also the beginning of a long-term collaboration focused on circularity and marine conservation. Inspired by the success of the initial project, the initiative will expand this year to include over 20 hotels across key locations in Spain and Europe, such as Mallorca, Sitges, Cádiz, Tenerife, Albania, Madrid, and Barcelona. This year, the target is even more ambitious, with the goal of collecting up to 20 tons of plastic and waste. These materials will be given a second life, turned into meaningful items for the hotels—such as furniture, eco-friendly signage, 3D logos, sustainable gifts, and artwork. Not only will the recovered plastics be kept out of marine ecosystems, but they will also become part of the guest experience, reinforcing the brand's sustainability message to both guests and team members. Purpose-driven Wellbeing 'MELIÁ FOR THE OCEANS" is a concrete expression of the Meliá Hotels & Resorts philosophy, where sustainability is not an isolated initiative but one of the main pillars of its wellbeing offering. For the brand, wellbeing is a holistic concept that encompasses conscious nutrition, mindfulness, experiential sustainability, and a healthy lifestyle. This vision responds to the growing demand from travelers seeking transformative and responsible experiences, and it is fully aligned with Meliá Hotels International's strong commitment to responsible tourism. As María Romero, Marketing Director of Premium Brands at Meliá, highlights: For Meliá Hotels & Resorts, sustainability is not a trend but a genuine commitment to the present and future of our destinations. Guided by the Travel for Good program, which defines Meliá Hotels International's responsible business strategy, the brand and its hotels actively seek to generate a positive impact. Through initiatives like MELIÁ FOR THE OCEANS, we take care of every part of the environment and turn waste into transformative experiences, aligned with a new way of traveling: more conscious, more human, and more connected to the wellbeing of the planet. Gravity Wave is a social impact company founded in 2020 by siblings Amaia and Julen Rodríguez, with the mission to free the oceans from plastic and transform marine waste into valuable resources. Following a circular economy model, this Spanish organization collaborates with fishermen, ports, and businesses to remove plastic waste from the Mediterranean and repurpose it into sustainable products. Together with Meliá Hotels & Resorts, these materials are turned into functional pieces integrated into hotel operations—making the brand's sustainability commitment tangible and consistent with its wellbeing philosophy. We're truly grateful to have a partner like Meliá Hotels & Resorts, whose vision and environmental responsibility allow us to keep moving forward toward a cleaner, healthier Mediterranean. This project is far more than a one-off sustainability action; it's a clear, long-term example of circular economy in action. We're confident it will inspire not only the tourism industry but many other sectors as well. Partnering with one of Spain's most recognized brands gives us hope and proves that protecting our oceans is increasingly possible when we join forces. Álvaro García Artiñano, Head of Partnerships at Gravity Wave Art as a Vehicle for Awareness A major new element of the project this year is the collaboration with visual artist @chafer.j, who will transform some of the recovered marine waste into artworks. These pieces will be showcased in hotel common areas and incorporated into the properties' design. To help amplify the project's reach and impact, Meliá is also partnering with ocean and environmental influencers such as @gadormunta and @mads_ocean, who will help raise awareness and connect with eco-conscious audiences. Through this initiative, Meliá Hotels & Resorts continues to lead the way in responsible tourism—protecting the Mediterranean while offering meaningful, sustainable guest experiences. The partnership with Gravity Wave promotes a circular economy model that turns marine waste into valuable elements, engaging guests and employees alike in the importance of caring for our natural world. About Melia Hotels International Founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International has more than 400 hotels open or in the process of opening, in more than 40 countries, and a portfolio of ten brands: Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ME by Meliá, The Meliá Collection, Paradisus by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ZEL, INNSiDE by Meliá, Falcon's Resorts by Meliá, Sol by Meliá, and Affiliated by Meliá. The Company is one of the world's leading hotel chains in the leisure segment and its experience in this area has allowed it to consolidate itself in the growing market of urban hotels inspired by leisure. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led it to be recognised as the world's most sustainable hotel in 2022 according to S&P Global's Corporate Sustainability Assessment, as well as being a "Top Employer 2023" brand in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Italy and Germany. Meliá Hotels International is also part of the IBEX 35. For more information, please visit
Travel Daily News
10 hours ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
AI and virtual influencers: Tourism enters a new era
Tourism contributes 10% to EU GDP. DES2025 in Malaga will showcase how AI and tech enhance operations, personalization, sustainability, and data security in tourism. MADRID – According to WTTC data, tourism represents 10% of the European Union's GDP, contributing 1.5 billion euros a year to its economy and employing around 23 million people. These figures highlight the importance of the industry in the social development and growth of the EU territory, being one of the main drivers of its progress. However, in order to maintain its leadership and respond to new consumer demands, the sector is embracing the digital revolution with which it is creating more personalized experiences, improving management, increasing the well-being of teams and stimulating the quality of destinations. In this sense, DES – Digital Enterprise Show 2025, the reference event in Europe on exponential technologies to be held from June 10 to 12 in Malaga, Spain, will present the latest innovations like AI, that are transforming the field of travel and that allow automating processes, raising the quality of services, forecasting demand or increasing energy efficiency, among other possibilities. Mateo Ramón Sastre, Chief Technology & Transformation at Grupo Piñero, and Luis Miguel Martín, CIO at Sercotel Hotel Group, will discuss the capabilities of these technological tools. Both leaders will share real cases of how they have incorporated intelligent solutions that have allowed them to optimize operations and improve travelers' experiences in their respective accommodations. Along the same lines, Marc Planas, CIO at Catalonia Hotels & Resorts; Lucía Martínez, CIO at AR Hotels and Resorts; Joaquín Janer, CEO at BlueBay Hotels & Resorts Group; and Diego Rodríguez, Business Leader Automation & AI at IBM, will share the digital trends, such as AI or chatbots, that are redrawing the way in which customers are being attracted and retained. In turn, Lukas Schack, Principal Machine Learning Engineer at TUI; Isabel Járrega, Director of Customer Experience and Business Transformation at Toyota; Nanes Martínez, Director at the Association for the Development of Customer Experience; and Federico López, Head of AI at VoiceMOD, a company that has developed a real-time voice modulator using artificial intelligence, will analyze the opportunities arising from AI in the way brands interact with their consumers. Similarly, this issue will be addressed by Enrique Ruiz, Global CMO at Turespaña, who will also explore sustainable technological practices, the rise of immersive experiences with Virtual and Augmented Reality, the emergence of digital influencers or the metaverse as new promotional channels. Ruiz will also unveil the potential of innovation to reinforce the image of destinations. Ethics and safety The rapid advent and democratization of artificial intelligence in tourism has brought with it new ethical challenges. Therefore, DES2025 will look at the balance that TUI and Beko Europe are making to incorporate AI, among other exponential technologies, without compromising data security and ensuring social responsibility. In parallel, leaders from the same company providing tourism services, Westcon Iberia, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and the Observatory of Military Life of the Congress of Deputies will discuss the relevance of cybersecurity solutions today to preserve the protection of sensitive information in the face of cyber offensives led by AI or quantum computing. The tourism industry at the Retail Tech Fest This new edition of DES2025 will host the Retail Tech Fest, the space dedicated to the retail and ecommerce ecosystem. In it, executives from well-known brands in the industry will discuss AI and technological innovation to build a more resilient, efficient and competitive environment. César Tello, CEO at Adigital; and Ricardo Fernández, CEO at Destinia, will present the keys to build a tourism model better prepared for the future, taking into account the saturation of destinations, the environmental impact and the need to personalize experiences. Likewise, Cristina Cartes, Public Policy Manager at Amazon, and Lucía Martínez, CIO at AR Hotels and Resorts, will explore strategies to combine service automation without losing human authenticity in a world of increasingly intelligent customer interaction.
Trade Arabia
15-05-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
FITUR 2026 launches Knowledge Hub for tourism's future
FITUR, the International Tourism Fair, will take place from January 21 to 25, 2026 at IFEMA MADRID. The event aims to define the foundations of a sustainable tourism sector that generates wealth and employment. FITUR 2026 has announced the creation of the Knowledge Hub, which will be located in Hall 12 at the Madrid venue. During professional days, experts from around the world will gather to present proposals, share experiences, and disseminate best practices in the tourism industry. The Knowledge Hub will have direct access from IFEMA MADRID's South Entrance and will be interconnected with other pavilions through Hall 4. It will host sections such as FITUR TechY, FITUR Know-How & Export, FITUR Sports, the FITURNEXT Observatory, and the Travel Technology area. María Valcarce, Director of FITUR, emphasised that 'after a 2025 edition in which the Fair exceeded expectations with record figures, in 2026, with Mexico as Partner Country, we are taking a new step that will reinforce FITUR's global leadership; its relevance in activating the global tourism market; and its role in promoting knowledge and innovation oriented toward a renewed and sustainable tourism model.'
Travel Daily News
15-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
FITUR 2026 announces the new Knowledge Hub
FITUR strengthens its contribution to the competitiveness and sustainability of the tourism industry with the Knowledge Hub. MADRID – FITUR, the International Tourism Fair, convenes the global tourism market from January 21 to 25, 2026 at IFEMA MADRID, in a context of growth that enables the definition of the foundations of a tourism sector that generates wealth and employment within a sustainable framework. In this context, FITUR 2026 announces the creation of the Knowledge Hub, which strengthens its leadership with the addition of Hall 12 at the Madrid venue as the epicenter of debate and innovation in tourism. During the professional days – Wednesday 21, Thursday 22, and Friday 23 – experts from around the world will gather in hundreds of sessions to present proposals, share experiences, and disseminate best practices that are setting trends in the tourism industry. In addition, the dissemination of knowledge and technology available to companies and professionals in the sector will be promoted. The Knowledge Hub, which concentrates the Fair's innovation and technology content, will have direct access from IFEMA MADRID's South Entrance and will be interconnected with the rest of the pavilions through Hall 4, in a layout that allows the expansion of the fair and optimizes visitor flows. The Knowledge Hub, which will bring together highly current and relevant content, will host the sections FITUR TechY, FITUR Know-How & Export, FITUR Sports, the FITURNEXT Observatory, and the Travel Technology area, as well as new specialized content aligned with the industry's challenges, enhancing the conference offerings of the International Tourism Fair. FITUR 2026 continues to grow in service of driving the tourism industry forward The 46th edition of FITUR will occupy a total of nine halls — 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12 — where the most pioneering global offering from across the entire tourism value chain will be presented. It will bring together public and private institutions linked to destinations, accommodation, agencies and tour operators, technology companies, transportation providers, and other sector services, as well as the latest innovations, trends, and research that are defining the direction of an industry which, according to UN Tourism forecasts, is expected to grow between 3% and 5% in international arrivals in 2025 with an estimated spending of 2.1 trillion dollars. Hall 3 will bring together proposals from the Americas; Hall 4 will group together Europe and FITUR Cruises; Hall 5, 7, and 9 will house Spain, along with FITUR LGBT+ in Hall 9; Hall 6 will feature the Middle East and Africa; Hall 8, Asia-Pacific and Global Companies; Hall 10, Global Companies along with FITUR 4all, FITUR Lingua, FITUR Screen, and FITUR Woman; and the Knowledge Hub, Hall 12, will include FITUR TechY, FITUR Know-How & Export, FITUR Sports, the FITURNEXT Observatory, and the Travel Technology area. María Valcarce, Director of FITUR, emphasized that 'after a 2025 edition in which the Fair exceeded expectations with record figures, in 2026, with Mexico as Partner Country, we are taking a new step that will reinforce FITUR's global leadership; its relevance in activating the global tourism market; and its role in promoting knowledge and innovation oriented toward a renewed and sustainable tourism model.' FITUR 2026 will be held from January 21 to 25 at IFEMA MADRID.
Telegraph
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Spanish PM doubles down on net zero after blackout
Spain's Socialist prime minister doubled down on a commitment to net zero over a week after an unprecedented blackout plunged the country into chaos. Pedro Sánchez said his government would not be changing course despite warnings from the national grid operator that increasing reliance on renewables risked system collapse. He also ruled out a rethink of its plan to scrap Spain's nuclear power stations. Mr Sánchez said the cause of the April 28 outage remained unknown, but that renewables were not to blame. 'There is not empirical evidence telling us that the incident was caused by an excess of renewable energy sources or from a lack of nuclear power,' he said to parliament on Wednesday. Hitting back at calls for the government to about-turn on scrapping the nuclear stations, he said nuclear power advocates were using the blackout as an excuse for a 'gigantic manipulation exercise'. 'Not a single serious study says nuclear power is essential for Spain,' he said. 'In Spain, the future of energy lies in other sources such as hydroelectric, solar, wind and green hydrogen. Renewables are not only the future; they are our only choice.' Before the blackout hit, renewables were generating 71 per cent of the grid's electricity. Solar power accounted for more than half of the input into the system. The collapse on April 28, which also knocked out power across Portugal and parts of southern France, lasted throughout the afternoon and into the evening in many places, with the grid recovering full power by 6am the next day. Mr Sánchez said that in the moments before the lights went out, three incidents were registered in the system: one in the south of the country and two in the south-west. All were in areas that generate large amounts of solar power. The prime minister said he understood that people were impatient to know the reason for the blackout, but warned it would take time to reconstruct the sequence of events. The ministries leading the investigation had gathered 756 million data points from the electricity system, Mr Sánchez noted, insisting that Spain's grid 'is among the safest in the world'. Spain's government has not ruled out the possibility that a cyberattack caused the blackout. The Red Eléctrica grid operator said it was not the victim of an attack on April 28, but that the causes of the incidents that took place in regional sub-grids have yet to be clarified. Mr Sánchez said Spain's critical infrastructure received a thousand cyberattacks last year and pledged to improve the security of telecommunications, airports and the electricity grid. About 31 per cent of a £9 billion defence plan announced last month would be allocated towards upgrading telecommunications and cybersecurity capabilities, he said. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the opposition People's Party leader, said Mr Sánchez was 'taking Spaniards for fools' with Wednesday's speech to parliament. 'In an hour and a half he did not explain why the lights went out or how we are going to pay for the €10.5 billion in military spending.' Mr Sánchez's coalition government is divided on the need to boost defence spending, and has not been able to pass a state budget since before the last general election in 2023.
