Middle East Instability Is Sending Summer Travelers to Spain

Meliá Hotels said conflict in the Middle East is redirecting summer demand toward Spain, southern Europe, and the Caribbean, helping lift bookings even as separate disruptions hurt operations in Cuba and Mexico during the first quarter.

CEO Gabriel Escarrer told shareholders on Thursday that summer bookings in Spain are running double digits ahead of last year, as the company forecast high-single-digit systemwide revenue per available room (RevPAR) growth for 2026.

“Spain, southern Europe, and the Caribbean are sufficiently removed from conflict zones and well-positioned in relation to key source markets,