“Luck” to Minister Hereu
The leaders spoke after a Palma meeting tied to the XIX Congress of Spanish Hoteliers, held in the Balearic Islands. Maria Frontera, president of the Mallorca Hotel Management Federation (FEHM), cited the proposed 37.5-hour work week as being a goal that faces significant hurdles in the Balearic market. Frontera emphasized the need for practical, regionally tailored solutions and urged careful preparation to avoid destabilizing the sector. The comments were shared in the context of discussions with the Palma City Council and the broader Spanish hoteliers community.
Jorge Marichal, president of the Confederation of Spanish Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (CEHAT), argued that the new government should accelerate renewal projects at mature destinations and foster investment without triggering regulatory fatigue. He noted that the tourism sector is broad and composed of many business models, so any changes to working hours would require a careful, sector-wide approach to avoid unintended consequences.
Marichal offered best wishes to Jordi Hereu, the new Minister of Industry and Tourism, recalling past cooperative ties with the sector during Hereu’s tenure as mayor of Barcelona. He highlighted the importance of a strong relationship between the tourism industry and the government, especially in areas such as the transposition of European rules and regulatory alignment. The leader also pointed to the sector’s role in GDP, arguing that tourism accounts for a substantial share and continues to perform well in terms of numbers and resilience, including a robust rebound after disruptions.
Marichal stressed that renewal agreements should be on the public agenda and that several destinations require updating. He warned that while private investment exists and businesses must be profitable, the process should be straightforward and not blocked by red tape or planning rules that complicate investment. He urged collaboration among politicians, industry players, and technical experts to speed up renewal while maintaining environmental and regulatory standards.
Frontera echoed the call for legally sound support from the government that would facilitate investment and asked Hereu to assemble a professional, sector-facing team to coordinate efforts. She noted the success of public-private collaboration in Spain, but warned that purely public-public collaboration can fail when governance is unclear, calling for well-defined, enforceable rules.
Addressing pending agreements involving the Balearic Islands and Mallorca, Frontera said there is still time to prepare for a stronger tourist season next year. She urged the removal of instability, the creation of legal certainty, and clear, coordinated messaging across the tourism sector.
Work Day
On the potential reduction of working hours, Marichal reiterated that the tourism sector is diverse, with many company types, making a one-size-fits-all policy a challenge. He stressed the importance of engaging unions and industry colleagues in constructive negotiations to preserve social peace. He pointed out that collective bargaining and sectoral agreements would matter more for larger hotels than for smaller inland properties, underlining the need for region-specific adaptation.
Frontera warned that Balearic Islands, which reach high employment during peak season, face particular difficulties when implementing a shorter work week across the board. She warned that similar challenges could arise in other sectors as well and called for a careful, collaborative approach to avoid unilateral decisions that could hinder investment. She insisted that any shift must be regionally appropriate and supported by agreements that reflect local conditions, including wage growth patterns that vary by region and time period. Since 2014, the Balearic Islands have seen substantial salary increases through negotiated settlements, a trend not uniformly observed elsewhere. This regional nuance should guide policy decisions, Frontera noted.
Both Frontera and Marichal maintained that progress should come through sensible dialogue and a tailored framework that accommodates regional differences while supporting the sector’s long-term resilience. They called for practical steps, coordinated messaging, and a shared commitment to a thriving tourism economy that remains competitive on the global stage.
In their closing remarks, the leaders underscored the need for a balanced approach to regulation, investment, and labor practices, ensuring that any changes to working hours or other rules are feasible for a wide range of businesses across Spain. The dialogue, they said, should translate into clear guidelines and a predictable environment that sustains growth in the Balearic Islands, Mallorca, and beyond.