ILUNION Hotels distinguishes the 25 most innovative profiles in Spanish tourism at TIS 2025.
An initiative that puts a face to the talent transforming Spanish tourism
October 24, 2025
ILUNION Hotels, in collaboration with Tecnohotel, has celebrated the first edition of The 25 Most Innovative in the Tourism Sector in Seville, an acknowledgment that highlights the professionals who are setting the course for new tourism in Spain.
The award ceremony took place on October 23 as part of the Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS), where the 25 names representing the sector’s cutting edge were announced, driving its transformation through sustainability, digitalization, and purpose-driven leadership.
An initiative that puts a face to the talent transforming Spanish tourism
Among the awardees, three profiles were distinguished for their impact and contribution to change within the tourism industry:
- Sabina and Gloria Fluxá, Vice Presidents of Grupo Iberostar, for their leadership in sustainability and destination regeneration through the Wave of Change initiative, which promotes the creation of local wealth and territorial development. Furthermore, for fostering open innovation and digitalization through projects like Hotel Digital or BRAIAN.
- Víctor Martínez Calvo, CTO of Kampaoh, for leading the comprehensive digitalization of the camping and glamping sector, developing proprietary technology that has allowed their model to scale and modernized a key segment of tourism.
- Yolanda Aguilar Rosell, General Secretary of Tourism of the Regional Government of Andalusia, for her role at the forefront of the Nexus project, which connects data, talent, and technology to advance towards intelligent and sustainable tourism in the region.
Más de 150 candidaturas procedentes de toda la cadena de valor turística —desde cadenas hoteleras y startups hasta universidades y administraciones públicas— participaron en esta primera convocatoria.
El jurado, integrado por referentes del ámbito de la innovación y el turismo, valoró las candidaturas en base a seis criterios: mentalidad innovadora, liderazgo, ejecución, tecnología, conexión con el ecosistema e impacto medible.
“En ILUNION Hotels creemos en una innovación con propósito: aquella que conecta el talento y la tecnología con los valores humanos. Reconocer a quienes lideran ese cambio es también una manera de inspirar al resto del sector a avanzar hacia un turismo más sostenible e inclusivo”, señaló José Ángel Preciados, CEO de ILUNION Hotels.
InnovACTION X-PACE:
The ecosystem that drives purpose-driven innovation
Pioneros en #InnovACCIÓN con Propósito
#InnovACTION. X-PACE by ILUNION Hotels
The 25 Most Innovative in the Tourism Sector
The jury for this edition was composed of prominent figures from the tourism innovation ecosystem, such as Antonio López de Ávila (UN Tourism), Silvia Avilés Giraud (Tourism Innovation Summit), Pilar Gorriz Ramón (Renfe), Beatriz Heras (Hotel Technology Institute), Albert Pérez Llanos (Hospitalidad Emprendedora), and Fede Sainz de Robles (Sepiia).
- Andrés Martínez Vidal – CEO, iUrban / Cicerone
- Carlos Díez de la Lastra – CEO, Les Roches
- Catalina Trujillo – CMO, Samsarapps – SOUJI Smart Circular Cleaning
- Damià Font – Hotel Acapulco Lloret
- Daniel Mayo Pardo – CEO, Vivood Landscape Hotels
- Enrique Domínguez – Gaia Rooms
- Fermín Carmona Fernández – CEO, Hotelverse
- Francisca García Moreno – CEO, Hotel Casa 1800
- Javier Lamas Guerrero – CEO, Trend Robotics
- Jimmy Pons – Innovation Maker / Public Speaker
- Joan Sanz – Professor and Entrepreneur
- Jorge Álvarez Diéguez – General Manager, Spirit Hotels & Apartments
- Jorge Robles del Salto – CEO, Sebka Technology
- José Guillermo Díaz Montañés – CEO, Artiem Hotels
- Leire Bilbao – Manager, Visit Benidorm
- Marc Rahola Matutes – CEO, OD Group
- Marc Rovira Cañellas – Director, Yurbban Hospitality
- Rafael de Jorge López – CEO, Growtur
- Raúl Benito – COO, Palladium Hotel Group
- Reyes Mañeru Puig de la Bellacasa – Commercial Director, Hotelatelier by Petit Palace
- Ricardo Fernández – CEO, Destinia
- Teresa Villacé Molinero – Professor, URJC
Innovating to transform tourism
With this initiative, ILUNION Hotels reinforces its commitment to innovation and talent as drivers of change. The company plans to continue the project with new editions that keep showcasing the people who are propelling the future of tourism in Spain.
“The high standard of the nominations demonstrates the enormous talent that exists in our sector. We want to continue fostering it, creating spaces that inspire and drive real innovation, with purpose and a positive impact,” highlighted Carlos Bello, Director of Innovation at ILUNION Hotels.
