Contact
Languages
Once again, thanks to the 46th edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR), Madrid became the epicentre of the tourism universe. RIU did not want to miss this key event in the global tourism industry, held from 21 to 25 January, returning for the second year running with its own stand, which was brimming with activity, meetings and new projects.
A fair of record numbers and optimism: Mexico, the partner country for FITUR 2026
This edition was particularly exciting, not only because of the record numbers recorded by the fair, but also because of the prominent role played by a destination embedded in RIU‘s DNA: Mexico, the partner country for FITUR 2026.
FITUR 2026 confirmed the full recovery and growth of the sector, with this edition exceeding all expectations! More than 9,000 exhibiting companies from 152 countries gathered at IFEMA. The fair welcomed more than 155,000 industry professionals and more than 100,000 visitors from the general public over the weekend. It was absolutely crazy!
Mexico: the star of the show
Under the slogan ‘Mexico, the country that has it all’, it showcased all its cultural and culinary wealth. For RIU, seeing Mexico shine like this is a source of immense pride. For the chain, Mexico is like a second home; it opened its first hotel there, the Riu Yucatan, in 1997 and now has more than 20 establishments in the country.
The RIU stand: a meeting and reflection point
The RIU stand was a vibrant space. Hundreds of visitors and industry professionals couldn’t resist visiting and learning about the chain’s exciting new projects. It became the focal point of the hotel company’s activities, the ideal place for RIU professionals to exchange ideas and learn from leading experts in the tourism world.
Also, dozens of staff members from different areas within RIU and some of its board members were on hand to welcome the authorities, industry colleagues and visitors. The goal was clear: to showcase the company’s latest developments, share valuable knowledge and explore new possibilities for collaboration. These were meetings full of inspiration and opportunities!
And the numbers speak for themselves! The hotel chain closed the fair with over 130 professional meetings, in addition to many informal and spontaneous encounters. The RIU stand was visited non-stop throughout the five days of the fair!
Press play to relive some of the best moments with us:
Visit by the president of the FEHM to the RIU stand
Among the visits to the chain’s stand, RIU had the pleasure of welcoming Javier Vich, president of the FEHM, who was greeted by our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Operations in the Indian Ocean, Naomi Riu, to share their impressions on the future of the hotel industry.
Celebratory cocktail reception
On the afternoon of Thursday the 22nd we enjoyed a memorable evening with our celebratory cocktail reception. It was a resounding success, with almost 200 attendees chatting and sharing a fun time together in a relaxed atmosphere.
Events and activities over the weekend
Over the weekend, the fair opened its doors to the general public and our RIU Plaza and RIU Party teams embarked on an adventure with two activities that caught everyone’s attention:
- The air cabin: participants had 10 seconds to hunt for “RIU points”. It was so much fun! We handed out personalised gifts, and the star of the show was Calú, our turtle soft toy, the undisputed king of merch. Additionally, we raffled off stays in incredible destinations, including Canada, Punta Cana and Thailand.
- Canary Islands draw: we also held a special draw for stays in our beloved Canary Islands, the chain’s second most important destination in terms of number of hotels.
Looking to the future
We are leaving Madrid with our suitcases full of new ideas and the satisfaction of seeing a stronger, more united and more aware industry. FITUR 2026 showed us that the desire to travel is stronger than ever and that public-private collaboration is the driving force that will allow us to continue growing in a sustainable way.
