The CPI establishes harmonised at 4.6% in March, the highest rate of the past 11 years

Continued growth of Barcelona hotels oil and the high price of some foods have been increasing harmonized inflation in March rose two tenths and reached 4.6%, the highest rate since 1997, when it began to be developed this indicator.

Thus, the 4.6% corresponds to advance indicator of consumer price index (HICP) harmonized, released today by the National Statistics Institute (INE), whose final figure will be known at Barcelona hotels, like the CPI Spanish hotels - data that can match - the next day April 11. In addition, according to the INE that rate would be 2.1 points higher than the same month last year when it stood at 2.5 percent.

Prices fired

The high price to account for oil and some foods are primarily responsible for the high inflation rate. In the event that the IPCA March Barcelona hotels coincides with the Spanish general rate of inflation (CPI), would be the highest figure since July 1995, when the rising prices reached 4.7%.

The rise of oil and food led the Spanish inflation rate in February situase was 4.4%, the highest since December 1995, which placed the Spanish inflation differential with the rest of the country euro-zone by 1.1 points.

There have been important changes in the management of the tourism industry in Catalonia.

From 2 to 6 June in Barcelona hotels will be a large gathering of professionals tourist business - the second exhibition shop Buy Catalunya. The first forum was held at a similar level in 2006, then was attended by representatives of tourist business from 16 European countries.

November 28, 2007 Autonomous Community Parliament approved a law creating the Catalan Agency for Tourism (Agenda Catalana de Turisme). The new organization (abbreviated - CAT) will replace state consortium Turisme de Catalunya. The purpose of transformation - improving management industry, turning it into an effective mechanism and controlled by the state as well as the private sector.

Recently, Catalonia is paying increasing attention to the development of health tourism Barcelona hotels. To this end, the provincial government has developed a plan for the next two years to actively promote the international market of new tourist product under the brand of "health" and Catalonia. Investments in new projects amount to € 500 thousand.

Barcelona will open to tourists attractions unknown

The head of the tourism department of Barcelona hotels, Joan Gaspart, spoke on the training program for the summer season Barcelona hotels, aimed at making the city more attractive to tourists. Plans authorities - improvement of beaches, as well as the creation of unique bus tours around the city. Tourists will be able to see not only the center of Barcelona hotels, but also go beyond, to discover the attractions, such is not known as Maze de la Horta, Valkarka Park or al-Cloth. Guests will be invited to the four new routes that will allow them to evaluate the beauty of the city, its architecture Barcelona hotels and parks, says Diario Delviajero. How will innovations like tourists - will be seen during the summer.

The Bicing reaches the year with 130,000 subscribers and six million uses

A little more than a year, the March 22, 2007, the mayor Jordi Hereu did not have a hole in his schedule to lead a solemn inauguration of the most innovative means of public transport in Barcelona hotels. That day, without any official act, premiered on Bicing almost secretly, with a modest number of 14 seasons and 200 bicycles. As if anyone dared to really gamble by the invention.

A year after his birth, all figures related Bicing overwhelmed. Or, as councillor said yesterday Mobility, Francesc Narvaez: "Absolutely no one could have imagined that a year later would have 130,000 subscribers and will reach six million uses. Has been an overwhelming success." Those 14 stations and 200 bikes have been multiplied to reach 286 and 4,000 respectively, in the hope that this year will finish implementing it completely.

When you arrive in August, Barcelona hotels should be completely tarnished by the clearing ecological fleet, with 400 stations and 6,000 bicycles throughout the territory where the slope of the streets permits, but many of them still no bike lanes. By then it expects a half a million applications a month, a figure that roughly 800,000 in February.

When last year the public bike seemed a privilege for the people of the Eixample, Ciutat Vella and the Olympic Village, from three months ago stations reach more remote places, from Trinitat Vella, Alfons el Magnànim and square-Horta for Eivissa one end to the Rambla de Pedralbes Badal and on the other.

The latest expansion has led to a surge of new subscribers, whose Barcelona hotels numbers had stabilized enough after the onset of fever, when offered the annual subscription for just six euros. Those who were the first to subscribe - the first day it premiered with 351 registered users - have already received the renewal of the card, this time by the current price of 24 euros. "Very cheap," insisted yesterday Narvaez, who estimated that each trip will cost only five cents if made two per day for 20 days a month.

The average occupancy tourist Easter slashing 85%

The average occupancy tourist Easter slashing 85%

Average occupancy on Easter diminished 85% in the city of Barcelona hotels, according to data made public by the third deputy mayor and chief of the Economic Promotion Area of the Municipality, Jordi William Carnes.

Carnes said that, "drawing on the three holidays in the city center was about 100%, and the rest of the city 90%." "It's been a good week for the tourism hotels sector in terms of occupation," he added.

He assured that during this period, the majority of tourism Barcelona hotels comes from other autonomous communities, as traditionally happens at Easter, and "basically" is culturally and with a significant commercial component.

Hotels In Barcelona

Choosing a hotel, especially in a large city like Barcelona can be a gigantic headache. But if you read on, this article can give you a wonderful solution for flights, transport, hotel and a marvellous stay at the leading theme park from the time you step foot off the plane at the Barcelona airport. There are many kinds of accomodations for everyone's holiday stay in Barcelona, Spain like hotels ranging from five to three stars, hostels, youth hostels, campings and apartments. But what I really understand for the word 'holiday' is having everything at a snap of your fingers and here is how you can get it. Barcelona Hotels at a snap of your fingers Your holiday plans are set on Barcelona, and before heading into the busy city to enjoy all the cultural and architectural delights it has to offer, I recommend the following itinerary which I have personally done twice ( and hope to do a few more times). When arriving at the 'El Prat' Barcelona Airport, you can get a special transfer which will take you directly to your Barcelona hotel at the fantastic theme park called Port Aventura. If you are planning to travel to other places and have decided on a car hire, remember that Europcar has special prices for vacationers staying at Port Aventura. You will have previously chosen one of these wonderful four star hotels, each uniquely decorated and offering a package deal of hotel lodging and breakfast, entrance tickets to Port Aventura and also to the Carribbean Water Park ( Caribe Aquatic Park ).

The Portaventura Hotel is nicely decorated in a Mediterranean colonial style, The El Paso Hotel intricately shows the pre-Colombian and Mexican decor and the Caribe Port hotel is the biggest swimming pool with white sand in the world. You are not going to get this type of Barcelona Hotels even booking the best ones right on the waterfront. At the highest season which is categorized as 'A', one night with two days in the park could cost about 218 euros single and 136 double with a child for 68 euros. There are combinations of 4 people in one room including child and longer stay offers. At the El Paso Hotel, in the lowest season, still being able to enjoy very favourable Barcelonian weather, 2 people would be about 84 euros and a child 42. Can't beat that! Enjoy the parks fully and snoop around and relax completely at these magnificent hotels in Barcelona. Other Barcelona Hotels Options When my piggy bank exploded, or did I explode it, it doesn't matter, I went mad and stayed at the Arts Hotel in Barcelona. I wanted to have a perfect view of the marina port area and was told that any of the suites, splendid double rooms or luminous duplex apartments would give me that pleasure. I wanted to be catered to as I was, with its friendly, well-trained staff and incredible facilities. As a last effort to 'live it up', I had my taste buds tickled at the Goyescas restaurant. Everything on the menu was teasing so I tried the house specialty and was recommended an exquisite wine to accompany it.

After working hard on a few projects, I was tempted to go back to visit the new port area in Barcelona, and as I wanted to get more details on the Barcelona hotels I went straight for the three star Montecarlo hotel located on the Ramblas Promenade, well known for being lined with flower stands. This medieval 14th century building has been newly renovated and decorated but always respecting the original architectural features. This time I concentrated on the complete buffet breakfast and its centrical location to be able to walk into the centre, to the port area and to get a glimpse at the crazy nightlife in the Exaimple area.

Barcelona has been recognized as one of the most vanguard places for hotels and gastronomy. Therefore, the tourist bureau and town hall of Barcelona has decided to make the period from March 2005 to March 2006 a national and international promotion of Catalunya and its rich fresh products. Some of the restaurants promoting these products like the shop Can Ravell ( an excellent delicatessen ) or Club del Gourmet ( coffee,tea and sweets) are near the two Barcelona hotels I have mentioned.

Spain will build its own Las Vegas

Soon to experience acute sense of the world famous Las Vegas, the Europeans do not need to leave for distant trip to North America. The Spanish Government is planning to set up its own Sin City, which, in the spirit of Vegas, located right in the middle of the desert Catalonia. According to the project would be called the Grand Scale (Gran Scala). If you ask, where is all the same Catalonia is located - it is in the north-eastern region of Spain and Gran Scala will be exactly in the middle of the desert - somewhere between Madrid and Barcelona hotels. It is expected that after completion of the first phase of construction in 2015, the city will be able to visit the countryside 25 million tourists. Overall, the construction will last to 2023 and will cost 17 billion euros.

Foreigners driving the 20% of companies that NCB custody

The advice and tutelage municipal new business ventures through the body Barcelona hotels Activa made possible the creation of 720 businesses over 2007. One fifth of them, as well as the 1,512 jobs generated (an average of 2.1 per company), promoted foreign citizens, 42% from Latin America and 40% in Europe. Jordi William Carnes, third deputy mayor, said yesterday that the significant presence of non-Spanish entrepreneurs is consistent with the growing foreign population of the city and with the same socio-economic attractiveness of this.

Among the activities that develop the set of entrepreneurs seeking and obtaining the support municipal highlight culture, tourism and leisure, with 20.3%, personal services, 18.5%, and trade, 17.6%. Then, although remote, are business services, with 11.6%, information technology and communication, 8.3%, and creative production, 7.7%.

The study presented yesterday by Barcelona hotels Active also said that last year tutelaron 1,189 projects and that 60% of the proposals would constitute a business in the next 12 months. The new promoters are divided almost equally between men (51%) and females (49%), with a majority of those between 25 and 40 years (70%).

The agency also provided economic municipal vocational training to 6,572 people, 45% of which are active and they were looking for an improvement work. In addition, 10,886 high school students and compulsory training cycles participated in vocational guidance on the more than 700 occupations new or transformation Porta program, which recorded 22.

The MTA plans to implement discounts for children and young people by bus and subway from 2009

The Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) is preparing a comparative study to evaluate the possibility of including discounts on Barcelona hotels public transport tickets for groups such as children, youth and the elderly.

As explained by the secretary for MTA, Manel Nadal, the MTA was studying and forecasting is to include variations pricing starting next year.

Thus, the MTA has launched a study to find out the demand situation in Catalonia and compare it with other cities in Spain and Europe which are carrying out social tariffs in order to be able to propose policies discounts here too, especially for children and youth, and promote the use of public transport by some groups who will be the users of the future.

One of the study is to extend the age of free for children. Today, after 4 years have no discount on the ticket.

However, Nadal has highlighted the need to balance these Barcelona hotels discounts or free tickets with economic sustainability of the system itself, which currently has a cost of 1,000 million euros to assume a 55% different administrations, while the rest covered the fare.

We will have to consider, he said, how this cost is redistributed to avoid deterioration of the service, as has happened in some European cities who opted for free Barcelona hotels tickets and after five or ten years they had to re-establish tariffs.

The Government approved the first law in Spain on mass graves

The government of Catalonia today approved a bill pioneer in Spain, aimed at promoting and upgrading of the promoting mass graves of the Civil War and Francoism so they do not fall into oblivion, as announced by Minister of Interior and in Institutional Relations, Joan Saura.

The law defines the exhumation cases with "evidence" or "documentary evidence" and only provides for the possibility of opening a pit if so requested by the relatives of the disappeared, or a nonprofit institution dedicated to the recovery of historical memory.

To authorize the exhumation of a mass grave, the request must be supported by an advisory committee made up of professionals from prestigious institutions, representatives of associations municipality or different departments in the Catalan Barcelona hotels government.

Joan Saura has explained that currently there are some 179 mass graves in Catalunya of which are located in a hundred municipal cemeteries.

The vast majority of graves gather the remains of soldiers who died during the Civil War and it is estimated that between ten and fifteen graves "are" civilian personnel shot, "according to the minister clarified that has stressed in this respect the differences between Catalonia Barcelona hotels and the rest of Spain hotels.

The bill will be passed after the summer and aims to recognize the dignity of missing persons regardless of their ideological choices, or personal conscience that made them victims of repression.

Unió de Pagesos was opposed to the transfer of water Segre by drought

The agricultural unions Unió de Pagesos considered "unacceptable" that the Government is contemplating bringing water from the River Segre the Barcelona hotels metropolitan area without prior dialogue with the Barcelona hotels social and economic actors in the territory.

Unió de Pagesos has claimed the Catalan hotels government policy "comprehensive and coherent at the country level" to manage the drought situation that suffers Catalunya.

The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Action, Joaquim Fill, has justified today travase water Segre in a state of "emergency" because it is difficult to leave any area of Catalonia Hotels without water and argues that this is a "basic priority "Govern.

Fill believes that compensate for irrigators who were withdrawn irrigation water although this is subject to the jurisdiction of the Minister of the Environment and Housing, Francesc Baltasar.

ERC disagrees with the proposal of his partner in the Catalan hotels government Iniciativa per Catalunya as made known its parliamentary spokesman, Anna Simó.

The complaint Bages a string of deficiencies in infrastructure

City councils, business organizations, professional associations, unions and other socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the region of Bages in Barcelona, to a sixty, have joined the manifesto of the Chamber of Commerce of Manresa denouncing "poor" state of infrastructure in the Bages and "unfairness" with other parts of the country. The purpose of the chamber is sending the manifest to the president of the Spanish government, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, to the Generalitat, Jose Montilla, and the Minister of Land Policy in Obres Públiques, Joaquim Nadal.

Among the signatories are professional associations for architects, engineers, doctors and lawyers, Fira Manresa, Pimec Catalunya Central, the Chamber of the Urban Propietat, Unió de Botiguers in Comerciants Manresa and Federació d'Associacions Veïns of the Bages. The president of the Chamber of Commerce in Manresa, Manel Rosell, justifies the initiative "because Bages deserves better."

Title race back on after Valencia stun leaders

After dumping Barcelona out of the Spanish Cup earlier last week, Valencia did the Catalan giants a massive favor last night by beating leaders Real Madrid 2-3 at the Santiago Bernabeu, cutting the champions' lead to four points after Barcelona's earlier 4-1 success against Real Valladolid at the Nou Camp.

Spain Striker David Villa opened the scoring for Valencia in 33 minutes, while Ra 'l razed scores in close-range header almost immediately after the run.

A former captain of Spain has more weight to the campaign for the restoration of the national side ten minutes after the interval with the goal of the second chapter, which is in the opposite side of the house at the only time in the game.

David Villa notched his second penalty kick in the 67 minute after Fabbio Cannavaro was brought down David Silva, in the tens to Angel Arizmendi left the Italian skipper, standing before rounding Casillas to clinch the points and silence the crowd home disappointed. At the Nou Camp, Bojan Krkic (17), who does seem set to be included in Luis Aragonis's squad for this summer's Euro 2008 finals, scored twice for Barcelona hotels after first Samuel Eto'o then Andres Iniesta had given Barcelona the lead either side of a 30th minute penalty converted for the visitors by Jonathan Sesma.

Sunday, 23rd March

Levante 1-2 Villarreal
Real Zaragoza 1-1 Almeria
Barcelona 4-1 Valladolid
Racing Santander 2-0 Recreativo Huelva
Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Getafe
Real Madrid 2-3 Valencia
Murcia 4-0 Espanyol
Osasuna 0-1 Real Betis

Saturday, 22nd March
Mallorca 1-0 Deportivo La Coruna
Sevilla 1-2 Atletico Madrid

Liga table after 29 games
1 Real Madrid 62
2 Barcelona 58
3 Villarreal 56
4 Atletico Madrid 50
5 Racing Santander 47
6 Sevilla 45
7 Espanyol 45
8 Athletic Bilbao 39
9 Getafe 39
10 Almeria 39
11 Valencia 39
12 Real Mallorca 37
13 Real Betis 35
14 Osasuna 34
15 Deportivo La Coruna 34
16 Real Zaragoza 33
17 Real Valladolid 32
18 Recreativo Huelva 32
19 Murcia 26
20 Levante 19

Saturday, 29th March
Real Betis vs Barcelona
Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid

Sunday, 30th March
Almeria vs Levante
Espanyol vs Racing Santander
Getafe vs Osasuna
Recreativo Huelva vs Athletic Bilbao
Valencia vs Mallorca
Valladolid vs Real Zaragoza
Deportivo La Coruna vs Murcia
Real Madrid vs Sevilla

Property crisis reaches hard-hit construction sector

After seemingly weathering the property market crisis for longer than other affected sectors, Spain's construction giants were badly hit in the last quarter of 2007 with combined losses totalling more than 200 million euros.

With annual sales falling 21%, Sacyr-Vallehermoso's profits slumped 25% over the last quarter alone, according to a report in El Pais. For their part, Afirma - which resulted from the merger of Astroc, Landscape and Rayet Promociуn - lost EUR261 million while Martins-Fadesa lost EUR103 million and Ibesуs, nearly EUR12 million.

The latest two-year forecast by the Caja de Ahorros Economic Foundation (Funcas) indicates that while the economic situation is likely to be even less favorable than at first believed, demand is expected to pick up again in the medium term, although a report in ABC warns the sector that when it does, customers will be "more mature and more demanding."

Barcelona Olympic Sailing Week 2008

Julie gets top-10 finish

It has taken Seychellois Laser sailor Allan Julie just two competitions this year to get a top-10 finish and it came in the Barcelona Olympic Sailing Week 2008 competition raced from March 6 to 11 at the Forum Port Marina.

A former five-time Sportsman of the Year, Julie received 53 points in 11 races to be ranked sixth out 39 participants. His best finish was a third place and that came in race number four. He also had four fourth-place finishes, two fifth places, a two sixth places and a seventh place. His worst result came in race number two where he finished 16th.

After gaining 17 places on the latest International Sailing Federation (ISAF) ranking issued on March 5 to shoot to 58th position worldwide, Julie is anticipated to draw near the ranking in the near future as he is to rival in the Eurolymp at the Lake Garda in Italy (from March 26 to 29) and the Semaine Olympique Francaise in Hyeres, France (from April 18 to 25).

Julie, whose best ever ranking – 15th place – came in late 2004, is expected back home on April 27.

It is worth noting that Julie finished 41st out of 54 participants in the gold fleet of the World Laser sailing Championship held in Australia.

Ranked 10th worldwide, Spanish Javier Hernandez was the Barcelona Olympic Sailing Week 2008 competition winner with 19 points after collecting five first places in 11 races.

Italian Bottoli Giacomo (59th worldwide) finished second with 39 points, while Estonian Deniss Karpak (5th worldwide) settled for third place with 40 points.

"Valencia" is not allowed "Barcelona" in the final of the Cup Spain

Spanish soccer club Barcelona "was unable to enter the country in the Cup finals, losing two matches on the amount of" Valencia ". A week ago, the first game ended in the capital of Catalonia draw (1:1), and in response summit "Valencia" had home victories (3:2). The final team will meet with Ronald Cumana "Getafe," Reuters reports.

In response, the game "Valencia" managed to score two goals before the break. At 18 minutes - Ruben Baraha sent the ball into the goal opponent distant blow, but in the end concluded the whistle Juan Mata quick counterattack. At 72 - minutes forward "Barcelona" Thierry Henry played a ball accurately by head after filing Silvino, but the next minute Mata restored the gap in the account. The final result set forward "Barcelona" Samuel Eto'O.

March 19, the first finalist of the Cup of Spain became "Getafe, who won on the sum of two meetings" Racing "from Santander. The decisive match of the tournament will be held April 16, with the winner will receive not only an honorary trophy, but also the right to speak in the UEFA Cup season of 2008/09.

The Barça defeated CSKA and passes quarters of the Euroleague (64-62)

The intensity of their play and their special relationship with the Palau Blaugrana have rescued at Barça in the Euroleague and have enabled it to knock down one of the major candidates for the title, CSKA Moscow thanks to a vibrant sprint final match.

Technical details:

64 - Axa Barcelona (15 +17 +18 +14): Basile (8), Acker (7), Lakovic (14), Marconato (7), Vasquez (8)-initial five-, Kasun (1), Pepe Sanchez (2), Ilyasova (8) Grimau Trias (6) and (3),

62 - CSKA (16 +17 +15 +14): Holden (-), Langdon (12), Goree (2), Siskauskas (13), Andersen (6)-initial five-, Papaloukas (2), Smodis

Meetings tourism Barcelona Convention Bureau up by 28%

There was a 28% increase in meetings tourism in Barcelona last year, according to figures published at the Barcelona Convention Bureau (BCB) Assembly. The sector attracted 629,704 delegates to the Catalan capital, 138,676 more than the previous year. This is the first time this market segment has broken the 500,000- delegate barrier, and confirms that it is a great time for the city in this sphere of activity.

Likewise, the number of meetings rose by 36% over 2006. In 2007, the city hosted 1,775 professional meetings, 472 more than the previous year.

33.5% increase in overnights

The BCB’s figures confirm the marvelous progress being made by meetings tourism in Barcelona, which also brought excellent growth in hotel overnights. Last year, meetings tourism accounted for 2,322,371 of the hotel overnights invoiced, representing an increase of 33.5% over 2006.

These results have had an extraordinary impact on the city’s economy. According to this, meetings activity had economic result of 1,221 million euros.

The Barcelona Convention Bureau, which brings together 318 companies, is the Turisme de Barcelona programme that works to organize congresses, conventions, trade fairs and incentive trips to the Catalan capital.

Every year, the BCB conducts a research among Barcelona’s congress organizers and delegates, through BCF Consultors, which analyses the services it provides.

In this regard, last year, the Barcelona Convention Bureau was directly responsible for organizing 81 congresses and meetings to the city, attracting 132,000 registered delegates and generating 500,000 overnights, a 153% increase over the previous year.

Spain is the country in the eurozone with the biggest construction fell in January, with a fall of 8%

Spain is the country in the euro zone where construction fell more in January year terms, with a drop of 8%, followed by the United Kingdom (-2.9%), according to the EU statistical office (Eurostat).

Production of construction of the euro area rose by 1.6% in January over the previous month and by the same percentage in year terms.

In the Europe of 27, construction rose by 0.6% in January regarding December, when dropped 0.1%, accumulating an increase of 0.7%.

Among the members where there is information available, the production of construction increased by inter annual rate fell in five states and in five others. The largest increases were recorded in Romania (33.7%) and Slovakia (14.9%).

The construction of buildings increased by 1.7% year terms in the euro zone and 0.5% in the EU-27, while the construction of civil engineering grew by 1.9% in the euro area and 1.6% in the enlarged Europe.

The Government supports the 'metro' district of Ripollès and Osona

The Government will undertake a study of mobility among counties Osona and Ripollès, as claimed by the municipal representatives of the two counties, which also will be extended to the Garrotxa. This was confirmed by Manel Nadal, secretary of department on mobility, during his meeting yesterday in Barcelona hotel with a delegation of mayors from the area. Nadal also pledged to support the request of the mayors to implement urgently a train shuttle (subway district) between Centelles and Ripoll. To this end the department of mobility soon establish contacts with the management of proximities. The mobility study will be conducted within six months and will contain information on the activities and the flow of traffic between the three counties. This can be assessed the impact of the works to widen the C-17, which will last two years and will cause traffic restrictions road between Osona and Ripollès.

Barcelona and Madrid climb posts among the world's most expensive cities

The study 'Prices and wages', developed by the Swiss bank UBS, said that the first Spanish city among the most expensive in the world is Barcelona, which ranks 20. The second is Madrid, in the post 24. The study makes a comparison between 71 cities in the world.

The Catalan capital ahead eight positions compared to 2006, when it was held the last edition of the report, while Madrid progresses seven posts. The increase is partly due to the strength of the euro against the dollar.

Barcelona and Madrid are ahead of places like Los Angeles (28th), Chicago (29th) and Hong Kong (41th). American cities like New York (since 18th in 2008), Los Angeles (28th) or Chicago (29th), have fallen 11, 13 and 15 positions, respectively, due to "strong drop in the relative value of the dollar." Today, a shopping trip to the United States is an attractive proposal for the Europeans, "says UBS.

The same has happened to some Asian cities like Hong Kong, which has gone from position 27 in 2006 to 41, and Shanghai, which has dropped four seats from the 60 received in the previous edition.

However, the top of list remained virtually unchanged. So, Oslo continued as the world's most expensive city, followed by Copenhagen, which won a position on 2006, and London, which fell from second to third place.

Regarding hourly wages troops, both Madrid and Barcelona were kept in very similar positions, despite having climbed eight and seven seats respectively, among the most expensive cities. The Catalan capital succeeded in advancing a position on 2006, which remained in the post 26, while Madrid remained motionless at the scene 30.

As in the previous edition, Copenhagen, Oslo and Zurich occupy the first three positions, followed by Geneva, Dublin, Frankfurt, Brussels, Helsinki, Luxembourg and London.

Travel Agencies Catalan estimated reserves on Easter 80%

The Catalan Union of Travel Agencies Stations (Uncave) has ensured that the volume of bookings for Easter remains "similar to the levels of previous years, with sales close to 80% of offered amount’’. The Uncave said in a Barcelona hotels statement that its agents had noticed "a greater increase in the time it takes to decide the customer control over prices", but this has not affected the billing.

With regard to the type of sales in, travel agencies stations highlighted the increasing demand for Barcelona hotels and our products on the supply side of the tour operators and travel combined with wholesalers. In addition, they stated that the fact that this year the holidays are for the month of March has meant that "you have less time to make reservations in Barcelona hotels", although this has been offset by some sales ahead of the summer season.

Prices for the packages range from 1,000 contracted euros for medium-haul and short (major European capitals) and 1,800 euros for long-haul travel.

EDF May Buy 15% of Iberdrola, Shun 100% takeover Bid

Electricite de France SA may buy 15 percent to 18 percent of Iberdrola SA rather than bidding for all of the Spanish utility, Abc reported, without saying where it got the information.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero are negotiating such an agreement, the newspaper said. The French utility can't afford a full acquisition and doesn't wish to get anti-French feelings in Spain by taking over its rival, Abc said.

Electricite de France would pay partly with assets, transferring to Iberdrola several French nuclear-power plants that are related to a new cable that crosses the common border, Abc said.

Sarkozy, at a press briefing late yesterday in Brussels, declined to speculate on a possible EDF purchase of Iberdrola, Abc said. ``I don't know at what stage the negotiations are between the two companies,'' he said, according to the report.

Baptista: "Barcelona has confused''

Julio Baptista, the Brazilian striker of Real Madrid, showed the mentality with which tackles apparel Madrid next League meeting at the Riazor, said that should play" as if it was their last match."

"We have to think party to party. Thinking only win everything from house to be champion is a mistake because there are many parties and we can take a big step if we win away from home. Neglect If we can move as of the last time, although Now the gap is large. we have to consider the party of Deportivo as if it were the last, "he said.

"If we want to maintain the distance points only applies us win. To do this we must break the statistics so many years without winning, as we did this season in other parties."

The Brazilian footballer stressed the importance of winning the League to end the pessimism that has been breathed after European elimination at the Rome Italian.

"For us to win the League is very important, I do not know if the press has no merit win. We have not removed any value to competition at any time, we wanted to win, but we know that by factors sometimes can not be. Now what Most importantly League, "he said.

The Barça will be played with Schalke 04 to pass the semifinals of the Champions League

The Barça will face Schalke 04, Germany, in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, according to the draw held today UEFA in the Swiss city of Nyón. The first meeting will take place in Germany and back in the Camp Nou.

If overcoming the round, all azulgrana play against the winner of the eliminatory who dispute the Rome and Manchester United.

Other clashes in the quarter-finals are Arsenal-Liverpool-Chelsea and Fenerbahce.

The International Tourism Fair of Catalonia will be celebrated in Barcelona from 3rd to 6th April

The main objective of the International Tourism Show of Catalonia is to promote the tourist industry and Barcelona hotels: this is the leading fair in its field when it comes to offering the general public everything they need to travel. The International Tourism Show is an outstanding promotional tool and the best possible business platform between the Barcelona hotels tourist sector and all other sectors involved, while at the same time providing a highly attractive showcase from which the Catalan general public can organize their holidays and weekend breaks.
The forthcoming International Tourism Show of Catalonia Barcelona hotels has three new and interesting aspects: a) A wider range available in every sector, particularly Complementary Travel Products and Second Homes. b) The International Tourism and Leisure Symposium, organized by ESADE: the present and the future of the tourist sector on debate. c) A strong advertising campaign, reaching the most important sectors of the communications media.

The retail trade sales rose by 2.9% in January

Sales of retail goods at current prices increased by 2.9% in January over the same month last year and employment in the sector made 1.6%, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). At constant prices-discounting the effect of inflation, retail sales fell 1.6% in January over the same month of 2007.
The increase in retail turnover at current prices was mainly due to sales on food, which rose 6.6%, personal equipment, with an increase of 3.8%, other goods, 1.7%, and remaining 1%. While sales of household equipment fell by 3.5%.
If it eliminates the calendar effect (the difference in the number of working days that shows a month in different years), the index of retail trade at current prices increased by 2.1% at constant prices decreased by 2.4%.
Sales in supermarkets at current Barcelona hotels prices grew 3.3% in January (2.7% corrected the calendar effect), due to an increase of 7% in sales of food and 1.9% in the rest.
In real terms, sales in these establishments fell 1.2% (1.8% adjusted the calendar effect), by the fall of 1.4% in sales of non-food products, while food rose 0, 4%.

Socialists win Spanish elections

Spain's governing Socialist Party has been returned to power in the country's elections.
But the Socialists were not predicted to win an absolute majority.
Prime Minister Jose Zapatero's party was on direction to spread its majority from 164 seats in the 350-seat lower house to 169.
But that fell short of a the 176 seats needed to end the hung parliament that has forced them to court smaller parties to pass laws.
Spain's foundering economy dominated the election campaign after 300,000 people became jobless in nine months.

Real Madrid's Guti: Barcelona not dead

Guti has warned Real Madrid fans not to count out proximate Liga rivals Barcelona.
Real are now eight points clear of second-placed Barca, but Guti stresses: "We cannot forget them. Barca is not dead. There are eleven games and many points to fight for.
"We have already suffered in the past. We were nine points clear and we saw how quickly they reduced the gap to two points. We have always said that the Liga is won in the last game of the season and anything can happen throughout a season."

The new and most spectacular ships arrive this year in Barcelona

On the red carpet world of cruise ships will be deployed again and again this year in the port of Barcelona. If the power sector is measured in terms of volume and novelty, the Catalan capital can boast of attracting large releases of the year, either in brief stopovers or even departures and arrivals from the city. The boat with over passage of the world, the Independence of the Seas, for up to 4,370 passengers, will be left to see for the first time in Barcelona on June 5. At the end of the year MSC will debut its largest ship, the Fantasy, for up to 3,959 passengers, and leads to the Catalan capital for Christmas.

The list is headed by news of the visit of Independence, which will open in April in the UK. It will be the largest ship in terms of capacity (in length wins Queen Mary 2), two other identical twins (Freedom and Liberty) operating in Caribbean waters. The gamble Royal Caribbean, one of the giants of the sector, Europe is supported by the boom in cruise ships, where in 10 years it has gone from 1.1 to 3.4 million cruises.

Within this framework, Spain plays an important role for its growth potential, with Barcelona at the top. The visits of Independence, 339 meters long and 158,000 tons, will be repeated. But they are not the only bet of this company, which since May offer weekly cruises with Voyager of the Seas (so far the largest operating in Europe) and also wagering Mini cruises by four or five nights, with all the exits from Barcelona from May, to publicize and promote such routes, explains its director in Spain, Wangüemert Bethlehem.

Brazil to host BRICs vice foreign ministerial meeting

Rio de Janeiro will host a meeting of the vice foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICs) on March 10 and 11, which will serve as a preparation for the meeting of their foreign ministers, planned for mid-May in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Brazil's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the meeting would be accompanied by Brazil's Secretary General of Foreign Relations Samuel Pinheiro Guimaraes, Russia's Vice Foreign Minister Serguey Ivanovitch Kislyak, Indian Foreign Ministry's Secretary of Economic Affairs K. C. Singh and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi.

Since the end of last year, ambassadors of the four countries have been meeting regularly to check issues concerning the international scenario, such as reforms in international organizations, economy and finance, development, energy, environment, disarmament and nonproliferation.

The countries identified as "BRICs" have in common large populations, territories of continental size and aplenty natural resources. They are playing an increasingly important part in the world's trade and economic development the past years.

Hotel Miramar recovers bar lookout Gardens Forestier

The gardens Forestier in Miramar, on the slopes of this mountain of Montjuïc, returning to accommodate construction. On this occasion, and after four years of waiting to build the hotel opened in late 2006.

The new building will be located in the same place in the plaza of the Navy where it was the previous one, located on the corner next to the gardens in Llobera Coast, and has been designed for the study of architect Oscar Tusquets, who also built Miramar, which has the facility. It is going to be smaller than originally planned to reduce its visual impact. A recommendation by the council after criticism received by the abrupt change of image of the slope with the appearance of the hotel behind the preserved facade of the former palace of Miramar.

Gadair finalizing the acquisition of the Swedish airline SAS Spanair

Gadair, a small airline Origin Majorcan and the participating entrepreneurs Catalans last time trial to the acquisition of the Swedish SAS Spanair. The legal teams of the partners of both companies and business bank UBS, which intermediate operation, last night had almost completed the sales contract, as he was able to see this daily business sources.
Although the final price around € 500 million, the actual disbursement Gadair to take control of the second Spanish airline (carries 10 million passengers per year) will be limited to about 150 million. To this figure must add that the accumulated debt, which according to various estimates assumed other financial 350 million.
Gadair, which already has a registered office in Barcelona, competed with more than a dozen candidates, including the tourist group Marsans, which withdrew from the bidding. The Iberia with Gestair was counted a priori more likely to succeed, given the financial strength of the former flag carrier.
After taking into account these funds, as well as the guarantees provided in the SAS to make a payment, the agreement with Gadair be clarified on Tuesday. First there was a stumbling block to be resolved: Spanair plane owners - which operates under financial lease (leasing) - considered insufficient financial guarantees Catalan team to translate existing contracts. Yesterday already exceeded the difficulties, as evidenced sources negotiations, which makes an official declaration of the imminent pact between Gadair and SAS.
Two days after submission of the bid Gadair, which will be a capital increase to give more input to shareholders Catalans, the President of the Generalitat, Jose Montilla, made public his dissatisfaction with that was eventually acquired Iberia who Spanair.
Indirect intervention by the head of administration of Catalan as not to obstruct other participants, but its call for Gadair directors, which they planned to use its good relations with the Government of Catalonia to face competition from "Iberia" in El Prat, according to sources in the sector.

Fecsa has paid 10 million to about 80,000 affected last summer

The July 23 blackout affected 323,337 customers Fecsa, some of whom came to be three days without light. Of these, some 80,000 demanded compensation from the company that established the Generalitat de Barcelona, between 60 and 300 euros depending on affectation, and that has led to the electric disbursement of 10 million. Individuals were offset by an average of 122 euros.
And while the company has been paid at all, remaining compensate customers who do not recognize such quantities as about 500 who were grouped on a single platform, as represented by the law firm Collectiu round, which, after filing a claim against the joint additional electricity, negotiating with Fecsa.

The strike by bus drivers facing unions

The fourth day of the strike by bus drivers in Barcelona added to the tension and problems citizens at the lack of vehicles outside the minimum services confrontation between unions convenors, CGT and ACTUB and CCOO and UGT, which also assume the request for two days off a week but rejected the stoppages. A leader of CCOO was beaten on the street when the strikers were protesting yesterday in front of the company headquarters on the Via Laietana, local as UGT here, and also in SoHo, suffered painted by the lack of support.
Leaders of the dome of the unions, whose transport sections Metropolitans Barcelona (TMB) have 10 members to 27 in the works, met today to try to restore the situation. The goal is for this committee is, outside the rest of the conflict that led to the emergence of specific drivers, which begin negotiations with TMB in the new agreement, under which discussed the conditions under mediation proposal that the Ministry of Labour has made .

The snowfall ensures the final stretch of the ski season

The joy has returned to the mountain counties, after almost two years of low rainfall. Only in Aran, the storm had downloaded nearly a meter of fresh snow, assured neighbors in the valley.
"Easter is going to be optimal. We knew that the fall in March, tourists would prefer the mountains to the beach, but now, with this snowfall, the prospects for the tourism sector are very good," explained the president of The Federació d'Hostaleria Lleida, Juan Antonio Serrano. The ski resort Vaquèira Beret (Vall d'Aran) estimated that, among the next 20 and March 24, hotel occupancy in the establishments located at the foot of the slopes can exceed 90%, according to the director of Communication of complex winter Roberto Buil.
Easter will be the culmination of a season of snow described as "acceptable" by the business sector, who were able to salvage Christmas thanks to the low temperatures of the previous days had enabled them to produce snow cultivated. Two snowfall almost consecutive 3 and January 11, left thickness sufficient to ski until February. "The truth is that the heat of the last few days had left us with a snow very fair," admitted Buil.
The storm forced yesterday to close three rural schools and eliminate Lleida preventively several lines of school buses, which left school to 318 students. Late yesterday, the Catalan Trànsit remained closed to traffic ports Coll de Pal (Berguedà) and Bonaigua (between Vall d'Aran and Pallars Sobirà), as well as access to the stations of La Molina (Cerdanya) and Rasos of Peguera (Berguedà). Moreover, imposed the mandatory use of chains for driving on two dozen roads in the area.