Planning group travel to Spain & Portugal

An incoming DMC (Destination Management Company) is a local travel specialist that organizes and manages travel arrangements within a destination on behalf of international tour operators, travel agencies and event planners.

As an incoming DMC in Spain and Portugal, Iberinbound provides comprehensive ground-handling services, including hotel accommodation, coach transportation, airport transfers, local guides, excursions, restaurant reservations and tailor-made travel programmes.

We act as your local destination partner, managing the arrangements on the ground while you maintain the relationship with your customers.

Iberinbound combines local destination knowledge, established supplier relationships and personalized service to help international travel professionals deliver successful group programmes.

Our advantages include:

• More than 25 years of combined team experience.
• Coverage across 80 destinations in Spain and Portugal.
• More than 500 groups handled annually.
• Over 12,000 programmes delivered.
• Dedicated support from experienced destination specialists.
• Costed proposals for standard enquiries within 24–48 hours.
• One local partner for multiple destinations and services.

Our objective is to make organizing travel in Spain and Portugal easier, more efficient and more profitable for our partners.

Iberinbound works exclusively with the travel trade, including international tour operators, travel agencies, wholesalers, group travel organizers and MICE agencies.

We operate as a B2B destination management partner and do not sell directly to the public or approach our partners' customers.

Your customer relationship remains yours throughout the entire process.

Iberinbound specializes in incoming travel services throughout Spain and Portugal, covering 80 destinations across the Iberian Peninsula and its islands.

Our destination network includes Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Seville, Granada, Málaga, Bilbao, San Sebastián, Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, Mallorca, Tenerife, the Canary Islands, Madeira and many other destinations.

We can also combine several destinations into one seamless multi-city or cross-border itinerary.

A local DMC secures rates and availability that are hard to get from abroad, knows which suppliers deliver, and can solve problems on the spot while your group is traveling. Instead of managing dozens of hotels, coach companies, guides and restaurants yourself, you work with one partner, one contract and one point of contact.

Yes. Group travel and classic coach touring are among our core areas of expertise.

We organize complete group programmes for international tour operators, including:

• Multi-day escorted coach tours.
• Cultural and historical roundtrips.
• City breaks and regional tours.
• Senior and leisure group holidays.
• Gastronomic and wine tours.
• Educational and student group travel.
• Special-interest and themed group programmes.

We coordinate accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, local guides, excursions and restaurant arrangements.

We work with groups starting from approximately 8 travellers, as well as full coach groups of 50 or more passengers.

We can also coordinate multiple coaches and larger incentive or MICE programmes involving several hundred participants.

Each programme is tailored to the group's size, budget, itinerary and operational requirements.

Absolutely. We specialize in multi-destination programmes throughout Spain and Portugal.

Popular touring combinations include:

• Madrid, Toledo, Córdoba, Seville and Granada.
• Barcelona, Girona, Zaragoza and Madrid.
• Bilbao, San Sebastián, Santander and Santiago de Compostela.
• Lisbon, Sintra, Porto and the Algarve.
• Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid and Andalusia.

We coordinate transportation, hotel accommodation, sightseeing, guides and other ground services across the complete itinerary.

Yes. We coordinate private coach transportation for group tours, escorted holidays, airport transfers, sightseeing and intercity journeys.

Depending on the programme, we can arrange different vehicle categories, including minibuses, standard touring coaches and premium vehicles.

Transportation is planned according to passenger numbers, luggage requirements, itinerary, schedules and budget.

Yes. We coordinate hotel accommodation throughout Spain and Portugal for leisure groups, coach tours, educational programmes, incentives and corporate events.

Our hotel arrangements are selected according to:

• Location and accessibility.
• Group size and room requirements.
• Category and service standards.
• Meal plans and group dining facilities.
• Parking and coach accessibility.
• Budget and availability.

We work with hotels and local accommodation providers to find suitable solutions for each programme.

Yes. We coordinate licensed local guides and sightseeing services in major cities and destinations throughout Spain and Portugal.

Services include:

• Guided city tours.
• Historical and cultural visits.
• Museum and monument visits.
• Full-day and half-day excursions.
• Gastronomic experiences.
• Wine tastings and vineyard visits.
• Special-interest and tailor-made activities.

Guide languages can include English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German and Italian, with additional languages available on request.

Yes. We organize airport arrivals and departures, private transfers, group transfers and meet-and-greet services.

We coordinate arrival schedules, passenger movements, luggage requirements and onward transportation to ensure a smooth experience for your travellers.

Yes. We arrange group dining throughout Spain and Portugal, including traditional restaurants, regional cuisine, themed dinners, wine experiences and special occasions.

We consider group size, dietary requirements, budget, location and the overall itinerary when selecting suitable restaurants.

Yes. We welcome partnerships with tour operators, coach holiday companies, wholesalers and travel agencies from the United Kingdom, Ireland and other international markets.

Our team understands the requirements of international group travel and can coordinate complete ground arrangements in Spain and Portugal.

We provide proposals and partner communications in English.

Simply send our team your initial travel requirements.

To prepare an accurate proposal, it is helpful to include:

• Travel dates and duration.
• Number of passengers.
• Preferred destinations and itinerary.
• Hotel category and meal requirements.
• Transportation requirements.
• Sightseeing and excursion preferences.
• Approximate budget per person, if available.

Even if you only have an initial idea, our team can help develop it into a complete programme.

For standard group travel enquiries, we aim to provide a costed proposal within 24–48 hours.

More complex MICE, incentive and multi-destination programmes may require up to 72 hours.

Our proposals are prepared by experienced destination specialists, taking into account the itinerary, availability, service requirements and budget.

Yes. Our proposals are prepared for professional B2B partners and can include itemized net rates for the requested services.

This allows tour operators and travel agencies to evaluate the ground arrangements and apply their own commercial margins when preparing their final packages.

All rates and conditions are confirmed individually according to the programme and services requested.

For peak travel periods, particularly between May and October, we recommend starting the planning and booking process approximately 4–6 months in advance.

This allows more time to secure suitable hotel allocations, coaches, guides and popular attractions.

Smaller groups and off-season programmes can sometimes be arranged with 6–8 weeks' notice, subject to availability.

We also consider urgent enquiries whenever possible.

Yes. We provide operational assistance while groups are travelling in Spain and Portugal.

Our team coordinates with local suppliers and assists with operational changes, unexpected situations and urgent requests.

We provide support during and outside standard office hours for groups in destination.

Ground transport, accommodation, guiding, entrance fees and any activities you request are itemized clearly, so you can mark up and resell with full transparency.

Yes. We provide destination management services for meetings, incentives, conferences and corporate events throughout Spain and Portugal.

Our services can include:

• Venue sourcing and coordination.
• Hotel accommodation.
• Airport transfers and delegate transportation.
• Group activities and team building.
• Gala dinners and special events.
• Restaurant and venue reservations.
• Pre- and post-event touring.

Each programme is designed according to the client's objectives, group profile and budget.

Yes. We organize educational and student travel programmes for schools, universities, educational institutions and specialist tour operators.

Programmes can combine accommodation, transportation, guided sightseeing, cultural visits and educational activities.

Yes. We coordinate specialist travel programmes across Spain and Portugal, including:

• Wine and gastronomy tours in Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Catalonia and other wine regions.
• Culinary experiences and traditional food tours.
• Camino de Santiago and other pilgrimage itineraries.
• Cultural and heritage tours.
• Active tourism and outdoor experiences.

Programmes can be tailored to the interests and requirements of each group.

Yes. Please communicate any dietary, mobility, accessibility or other special requirements when requesting your proposal.

We will consider these needs when selecting accommodation, transportation, restaurants, activities and other suppliers.

Specific arrangements are subject to supplier confirmation and destination accessibility.

Cancellation conditions depend on the travel dates, services contracted, hotel policies, transport arrangements and other supplier terms.

We provide the applicable cancellation conditions in writing as part of the proposal or booking confirmation before services are confirmed.

Absolutely. We value long-term partnerships with international tour operators, travel agencies and group travel specialists.

We aim to become an extension of your own team in Spain and Portugal, providing consistent local support, destination expertise and reliable ground arrangements across multiple programmes and departures.

Our objective is to build lasting business relationships based on trust, communication and service quality.

Yes. Iberinbound Travel SLU is a licensed travel agency registered with the Generalitat de Catalunya under licence GCMD-000257.

Our registered office is at C/ Enric Granados 91, Principal 1ª, 08008 Barcelona, Spain.

Iberinbound is based in Barcelona. The company was registered in 2009, and our team has more than 25 years of combined experience running group programmes across Spain and Portugal.

Our head office is in Barcelona, and we plan and operate programmes in 80 destinations in Spain and Portugal.

We quote in euros. We do not fix exchange rates, so you can apply your own currency conversion when you price the programme for your customers.

We normally work with a 30% deposit when the booking is confirmed and the remaining 70% at least one month before the date of the itinerary.

Some suppliers require a 100% non-refundable deposit. We send you each supplier's payment and cancellation terms before you agree to book that service.

We quote net rates. A net rate is the price of the ground services before you add your own margin. You then add your own markup and sell the programme to your customers at the price you choose.

We do not sell directly to the public, so your customer relationship and your selling price stay with you.

This depends on the supplier. Hotels, restaurants, coaches and venues each have their own rules for changes in numbers.

We send you the supplier terms and conditions before you agree to book a service, so you know what a change would cost.

Quotes are normally given per person, per night or per service, and VAT is included.

Tourist tax and tips are not included.

A destination management company (DMC) is a local company that plans and runs services inside a destination: hotels, coaches, guides, excursions and venues.

A tour operator designs and sells complete packages to travel agencies or directly to customers, usually buying the destination services from a DMC. A travel agency sells travel to individual customers and groups.

Iberinbound is the DMC. We work for tour operators, travel agencies and organisers, who keep the relationship with their customers.

Yes. You do not have to book every service with us.

Our 24-hour help desk only supports the services you have booked through us.

No. Iberinbound covers both countries, so one partner can handle a cross-border itinerary.

We also arrange groups travelling to Andorra and Gibraltar.

We have a 24-hour customer care service. Once you book services with us, we give you the emergency contact details to use during the trip.

We handle it. Call the emergency number we give you when you book, and our team works with the supplier to find a solution.

Yes. We have local guides in destinations across Spain and Portugal, with languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German and Italian.

Send us the flight details when you confirm the transfers.

If a flight is delayed or changed, call the emergency number we give you and our team will coordinate the change with the transfer supplier.

We can book ferries and trains for your group. We do not arrange flights within Spain.

We also handle cruise-port shore excursions. We work with a cruise company and organise the land tours for its guests.

We work with partner suppliers we have used for a long time, including hotels, coach companies and guides. Working with the same partners year after year helps us keep the quality consistent.

Yes, in some destinations. Barcelona, for example, runs the Zona Bus system. Coach operators must book a daily permit in advance for each coach before using the designated parking and drop-off spaces. For a day of visits including up to 4 stops, the cost is currently around €60 per coach. The city council sets these fees, so they can change.

We take these rules into account when we plan the itinerary and the coach schedule.

Yes. EU rules limit how long coach drivers can work behind the wheel. After 4.5 hours of driving a driver must take a break of at least 45 minutes, and daily driving is limited to 9 hours, which can be extended to 10 hours twice a week.

We plan routes and timings so the programme respects these limits. This is why a very long transfer on a single day may need a stop or a change in the plan.

Yes. Major monuments should be booked at least a month before the visit, and earlier in high season. We arrange the entry times for your group when we put the programme together.

Tourist taxes change every year and depend on the destination and the type of accommodation. Some destinations do not charge one. In Spain they currently apply mainly in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, and in some cities, and are normally collected by the hotel.

Tourist tax is not included in our quotes. We tell you the amounts for the hotels in your programme when we send the proposal.

Rules depend on nationality, so each traveller should check the official EU and government websites before travelling. Visitors who need a visa should apply for it through the consulate.

As of November 2026, the EU Entry/Exit System is fully operational: non-EU visitors are registered at the border with fingerprints and a photo instead of a passport stamp, so allow extra time at airports. The ETIAS travel authorisation is not yet operational and has no confirmed start date.

Please check the official EU travel website before your trip, as this information can change.

It depends on the group's preferred season and budget. We recommend dates once we know the destinations, the activities and the budget.

Hotels fill up and prices rise around major events, so book these dates early:

• Semana Santa (Holy Week) 2027: 21 to 28 March, with Easter Sunday on 28 March.
• Feria de Abril in Sevilla: expected 13 to 18 April 2027.
• San Fermín in Pamplona: 6 to 14 July 2027.
• Xacobeo 2027 (Holy Year) in Santiago de Compostela: the Holy Door opens on 31 December 2026 and the Feast of St James is on 25 July 2027. Pilgrim numbers on the Camino rise during a Holy Year.
• Fatima: the largest pilgrimages run from around 12–13 May to 13 October.

Please confirm event dates before you book, as official programmes can change.

Yes. We organise programmes all year, including winter and low season.

Yes. Tell us your sustainability goals in your brief and we will include options in the proposal.

We suggest hotels and transport that can cater for reduced mobility, and we plan the itinerary around accessible venues. Please tell us about any needs when you request the proposal.

The direct drive is about 625 km and takes around 5 hours 45 minutes. A group programme with stops in Évora, Mérida, Cáceres and Toledo turns the same journey into a multi-day route.

We suggest at least five days: a day in Lisbon, then overnight stops around Évora, Mérida, Cáceres and Toledo before arriving in Madrid. Shorter versions can skip one stop.

Évora, Mérida, Cáceres and Toledo are all on UNESCO's World Heritage List, so every overnight stop on this itinerary is a heritage city.

Yes. The stops are the same in reverse. The best direction depends on where your group's flights arrive and depart.

Yes. Portugal is one hour behind Spain, so check the clocks when planning departure times on the day you cross the border.

Yes. We work with groups from 8 travellers to several hundred delegates, and send a costed proposal within 24 to 48 hours. Send us your dates and group size to start.

Data: UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Zona Autopistas, 2026.

Educational tours combine travel with learning. In Spain they typically mix museums and heritage sites, food and wine, sport and festivals, planned around a school or university curriculum. We design them for schools, universities and student travel operators.

Madrid is known for its art museums, Barcelona for sport and architecture, Valencia for festivals such as La Tomatina, and La Rioja for wine and landscape. We can combine several of them in one route.

La Tomatina is held in Buñol, about 40 km from Valencia, usually on the last Wednesday of August. A ticket is compulsory and numbers are limited to around 20,000 participants. Confirm the 2027 date, ticket availability and any age rules with the organisers before booking.

Yes. FC Barcelona runs the Barça Museum, called the Barça Immersive Tour, and other tours at its stadium. Opening times and availability change, so book early and confirm before you travel.

Yes. Include dietary requirements, accessibility needs and any medical information in your brief, and we will plan the programme around them.

Data: Visit Madrid, FC Barcelona and idealista, 2026.

MICE stands for meetings, incentives, conferences and events. A DMC plans the venues, hotels, transport and programmes for these corporate groups on the ground.

Both are established congress destinations. In the 2025 ICCA city ranking, Lisbon came first and Barcelona third, and Spain ranked fourth among countries, with Portugal also in the top ten.

Bleisure combines business and leisure travel, for example a congress followed by a few days of sightseeing. A DMC can add pre- and post-event tours to any meeting.

Yes. We plan excursions, gastronomy experiences and short routes around your event dates, for delegates and accompanying guests.

Complex MICE and incentive programmes usually take up to 72 hours. Urgent requests are prioritised, so mention your deadline in the brief.

The terms are often used interchangeably. Both plan and run trips in their own country for foreign tour operators and travel agents. Our guide to choosing an incoming DMC explains the role in more detail.

Our service lines include classic roundtrips, city breaks, MICE destination management, student and educational tours, wine and gastronomy tours, pilgrimage trips, active tourism, sport events, beach and spa, transfers and sightseeing, luxury villas, private yachts and special requests.

We work with school and university groups, corporate and incentive groups, wine and gastronomy travellers, pilgrims, sport groups and private travellers, among others.

Between four and six million pilgrims from many countries travel to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima every year.

The largest pilgrimages take place each year from around 12–13 May to 13 October, traditionally made on foot.

The original small chapel stands inside the central part of the Sanctuary, and a second basilica was added later. The large square is a major draw for groups.

Popular additions include the Moéda Grottoes, the medieval village of Óbidos and the monastery of Batalha.

Yes. Pilgrimage Trips is one of our services. Tell us your group size and dates and our team will prepare a proposal.

Data: Iberinbound website content, 2026.