Understanding value in travel and hospitality: valuation approaches and transaction trends

Sebastian Catala, Founder and CEO of BLUESEA Hotels
Sebastian brings a proven track record in driving expansion, transformation, and repositioning strategies across competitive markets. He founded BLUESEA Hotel in 2009 with his first acquisition, a hotel in Mallorca. Since then he has led the company’s transformation into a well-established hotel chain with more than 60 properties across Spain’s key leisure destinations as well as Marrakech. Sebastian will share insights on scaling hospitality businesses, navigating competitive landscapes, and building a clear, honest, and future-ready value proposition.

Miguel Montero, Transaction Services Partner at Deal Advisory KPMG in Spain
Miguel is a seasoned expert in deal-making across Europe. He joined KPMG’s Transaction Services team in 2005 after spending 12 years at Deloitte in Barcelona, where he built a strong foundation advising clients on complex financial transactions.
Today, he leads KPMG’s Deal Advisory practice for Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, heading a team of more than 40 specialists focused exclusively on transactions. Throughout his career, he has advised a wide range of national and multinational companies, bringing deep expertise in sectors including automotive and aftersales, travel and tourism (hotels, tour operators, and OTAs), services, education, and private equity.

Salman Rasool, Corporate Finance Director, White Hart Associates
Salman qualified as an accountant in 2002 and worked as a senior trustee for the Travel Trust Association for a number years. He has a longstanding background within the travel industry having worked as Senior Financial Accountant/Head of Finance for a number of tour operator, travel agency and online travel companies during the period ­2003 to 2016. Salman has extensive experience in buy side and sell side transactions, working with shareholders and managers to achieve successful acquisitions, exits and refinancing’s. Salman brings to private practice unique skills learned at the travel industry coal face.

Sue Rathmell, VAT & Indirect Tax Partner, MHA and ICAEW Subject Matter Expert
Sue is a regular speaker for ICAEW and has been a leading member of the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Advisory Group for over 6 years. She recently became the Subject Matter Expert for the community and advises on content for webinars as well as helping ICAEW respond to government consultations and calls for evidence. She is an Indirect Tax specialist with more than 30 years’ experience of VAT, Insurance Premium Tax, Excise and Customs duties. She joined MHA in April 2017 and heads up the Indirect Tax services in the Kent region. Sue spent 5 years as in-house Indirect Tax Manager at Saga plc. Before that Sue worked for a Big 4 firm in London and in Central Europe and initially, worked for HMRC. Sue is a Chartered Tax Advisor.