Spanish hotel chains expand portfolios amid border control concerns

Major Spanish hotel chains, including RIU, Meliá, Hesperia, Hotusa, and the Matutes family (Palladium), have invested approximately €1 billion in hotel acquisitions this year. These purchases, covering about 3,009 rooms, span locations in Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Austria.

RIU notably acquired The Westminster London for approximately €340 million. Meanwhile, the Matutes family consolidated ownership of three hotels, including Bless Ibiza and TRS Ibiza Hotel, through a €300 million deal with Azora.

Separately, Gabriel Escarrer, CEO of Meliá Hotels International, has criticized new Spanish border controls on travelers from Italy. Following retaliatory measures by Italy regarding the migration crisis in Ceuta, Escarrer described the friction as "disheartening," noting that Italy is Spain's fourth-largest tourism market. He warned that regions such as Catalonia, Andalusia, and the Balearic Islands could be most affected by these political tensions during the peak travel season.