On December 2, 2024, Spain implemented a new traveler registration system mandating that hoteliers, owners of tourist accommodations, travel agencies, and vehicle rental companies collect up to 28 specific data points from their clients. This initiative aims to enhance national security by providing authorities with detailed information on individuals utilizing these services.
Who Is Affected?
The regulation applies to both professional and non-professional entities engaged in lodging or motor vehicle rentals without drivers. This encompasses hotels, hostels, guesthouses, rural tourism establishments, campsites, and motorhome parking areas. Additionally, it includes businesses facilitating vehicle rentals for a specified period in exchange for compensation, excluding taxi services and rentals with drivers.
Mandatory Data Collection
Entities are now required to gather comprehensive information, including:
Company Details: Name or corporate designation, tax identification number (CIF or NIF), contact information, and website URL.
Establishment Information: Type of establishment, full address, and other relevant location details.
Traveler Data: Full name, gender, identification document details (type and number), nationality, date of birth, habitual residence (complete address), phone numbers, email address, number of travelers, and, if applicable, the relationship between travelers, especially when minors are involved.
Transaction Details: Contract reference number, dates and times of check-in and check-out, payment method identification (e.g., card type and number, IBAN, card expiration date), and payment date.
For non-professional accommodations, additional information such as the property owner’s full name, gender, and identification number, as well as the number of rooms and internet connectivity, must be provided. Vehicle rental services are also required to collect similar data, including information about the primary and secondary drivers.
Data Submission and Retention
The collected data must be uploaded to the SES.HOSPEDAJES platform established by the Ministry of the Interior and retained for three years. Non-compliance, including providing incorrect data or missing submission deadlines, can result in fines ranging from €100 to €30,000, depending on the severity of the infraction.
Industry Response
The tourism sector has expressed significant concerns regarding the increased bureaucratic burden and potential privacy infringements posed by this regulation. Jorge Marichal, president of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (CEHAT), criticized the measure, stating, “They are turning receptionists into pseudo-police stations.” He questioned the necessity of requesting more information from guests beyond official documents and highlighted the risk of substantial fines for non-compliance.
Despite these criticisms, the Ministry of the Interior defends the regulation as a vital tool for enhancing public safety. The ministry reports that since the platform’s activation in 2022, data collected has led to the identification of 18,584 individuals with outstanding warrants, underscoring the system’s effectiveness in bolstering security measures.
As this regulation takes full effect, businesses within the tourism and vehicle rental sectors must adapt to these new requirements, balancing compliance with operational challenges and addressing privacy concerns raised by both industry stakeholders and travelers.