StayAlliance: The Power of Flexible Accommodation: 6.4 Billion Euros and a Job Impact on par with the Hotel Industry

When it comes to Flexible Accommodation in Spain, recent figures from StayAlliance, the sector's employers' association, paint a picture that goes far beyond mere stays. We are dealing with a segment that annually injects 6.4 billion directly on the national economy. An economic magnitude that, with close to 400,000 accommodation units operating in a variety of typologies - from holiday homes to student residences, coliving y senior living-The EU's role as a major player is underlined by its consolidation as a major player.

But the impact of Flexible Accommodation is not limited to the financial sphere. Its capacity to generate employment is a distinctive feature. StayAlliance data reveals that this activity creates 0.18 jobs per hundred guests and, even more significantly, 3.2 jobs for every ten accommodation units. This labour performance is comparable to that of a four-star hotel, highlighting the formality of employment, managed under collective bargaining agreements and complying with all tax and labour obligations.

StayAlliance emerges as a unified voice, crucial for a sector that seeks a fluid and constructive dialogue with public administrations and society. In an environment where regulatory pressure is constant, the employers' association strives to distinguish professional and regulated practices from those models that are more informal or do not comply with the law. Its objective is clear: to actively collaborate in shaping a more balanced urban, tourism and housing development, offering solutions to challenges such as depopulation, tourist seasonality and labour mobility.

The construction of an "own narrative" is a strategic priority to counteract stigmatising narratives that have often tarnished the public perception of Flexible Housing. This communication effort is complemented by an ongoing and strategic dialogue with various stakeholders. stakeholders The economic ecosystem, from large investors to transport and food distribution companies, all of which are positively impacted by this activity.

Despite regional and local specificities, StayAlliance advocates the need to establish "common minimums" at national level, facilitated through sectoral conferences, with due respect for territorial competences. The eradication of illegal supply is a shared and priority goal. In this sense, the employers' association trusts in the Ministry of Housing's Digital One-Stop-Shop, which is expected to be implemented by the end of 2008. 1 JulyThis is a fundamental tool for exercising strict control over the entire supply and ensuring that each unit marketed has its corresponding registration.

The example of San Sebastian, where there is a harmonious integration between Flexible Accommodation and the traditional hotel offer, as well as an exemplary relationship with the administrations, serves as a model. It demonstrates that coexistence and complementarity are possible, refuting the idea of an inherent conflict between the two types of accommodation.

The next edition Vitur Summit 2026 will take place in Malaga on Thursdays 13 and 14 May and will once again be the meeting point for operators, investors and companies in the sector to boost their business, establish strategic alliances with the different agents involved and gain access to all the latest news, trends and opportunities in the sector from leading speakers and companies.

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