Living on the costa

The hotels on the Costa del Sol They expect to register positive data this Christmas despite the sixth wave of the coronavirus, which has resulted in a retraction mainly in international markets, and they expect a last-minute rebound in the Spanish public, although with the uncertainty that marks the evolution of Covid-19 and the possible restrictions that the Junta de Andalucía may implement.

Thus, the five-star Gran Lujo Los Monteros de Marbella hotel foresees close the year “with 100% occupancy”, something that will promote the Grand New Year’s Eve Gala that the tourist establishment plans to celebrate, according to its director, Fernando Al-Farkh. “In the last two weeks there has been a stagnation and reservations are slower and less joyful,” said the hotelier, clarifying that there are no “significant cancellations” for the holidays.

The audience expected for the Christmas season is “Mainly Spanish” from “Andalusia, Madrid, the Basque Country or Catalonia”, but also “a good number of tourists from the golf segment”. Meanwhile, foreign customers come from “United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.” The demand revolves around the weather, since “spending Christmas in Marbella is something magical” and “starting the year with sunny days is a great privilege”, he valued.

The five star Don Pepe Gran Meliá de Marbella registers an occupancy “above 80%” by the end of the year, so it expects to “touch the full”, according to its director, Rocío Galán, who has pointed out that the clientele is represented by “a lot of Spanish market” and “Families”, although there are also tourists from “England or Norway”. The biggest claims are “good weather and safety.”

For its part, the five-star Grand Luxury hotel Anantara Villa Padierna Palace, located in Benahavís, records figures “much better than in 2019” because “it is better positioned”, with a “100% full” for the New Year and “between 60 and 70%” for the rest of the Christmas dates, the director of the establishment, Jorge Manzur, has highlighted. In this enclave, the market that stands out is “mostly European”, specifically “Switzerland, Germany, some of France and English”, as well as “occupancy peaks” with some of the “Spanish” segment. At the same time, the manager has pointed out that “every day we receive cancellations and reservations”, so the sights are set on the evolution of Covid-19.

For its part, Monarque hotel chain registers an occupancy that exceeds 70% in its four-star Fuengirola Park establishment for Christmas Eve, while it reaches 80% for New Year’s Eve, while in the accommodation complex it has in Marbella, the four-star aparthotel El Sultán, the figures they register “90% for the night of December 30 to 31” and 80% for the 24th, as detailed by the director in the Andalusian community, Federico López. The clientele of these tourist establishments for the Christmas holidays is “mainly national tourism” between “80 and 90%”, highlighting in Fuengirola a public from Andalusia “and in Marbella” more varied “with regions indicated as Madrid or the Basque Country .

In Fuengirola, the four-star hotels managed by the ML hotels chain (Yaramar, Angela and Florida) They point to an occupancy that ranges between “45 and 50%” for the Christmas holidays, rising to “70%” by New Year’s Eve, according to the head of sales, Noemí Román, ensuring that for safety against the virus “Not all the inventory has been put up for sale” that the brand has. In his case, international tourism also takes over the current reserves, with “70% foreigners and 30% Spanish” who mainly seek “good weather, restoration and a destination that is open all year round.” The measures adopted in issuing countries such as the United Kingdom to maintain the test on entry and exit have resulted in “cancellations”, which is expected to be “more in the coming days”, although currently “there are the same as new reservations” .

The four stars Vik Gran hotel Costa del Sol, in Mijas, contemplates an occupancy of between “40 and 45%” for Christmas and “with the expectation that the last hour will raise a little” and reach 50 or 55% with the Spanish public, he pointed out. its director, Manuel Camacho, who expects for the holidays “a lot of national tourists” from Andalusia, Extremadura or Castilla La Mancha looking for “the weather” and “an open destination with its museums or visits to the town”. “Unfortunately Christmas comes with cancellations “because tourists have seen” in countries of origin such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Central Europe or Austria that there were going to be restrictions and they have canceled, “he added.

The four star hotel Don Pablo from Torremolinos registers a “40% occupancy” that will reach “60%” for New Year’s Eve with stays booked by an “almost exclusively international” clientele with “very few British, German, Dutch and Belgian people”, according to James Floyer, owner of the complex. Sol Torremolinos Resort, who stressed that “a possible small pick-up ” or variation in the reserves of the national public in the coming days.

From the five star hotel Vincci Estrella del Mar, located in Marbella, they have pointed out that “the national market continues to behave in a stable way as in recent months and we hope that it will continue like this, always very attentive to the latest information on the evolution of the pandemic and the latest variants. We also have a percentage of reservations for international guests, although we have noticed some cancellation of this type of client “. Visitors demand “to be with the family on endearing dates, surrounded by luxury, well-being, relaxation and with magnificent time in front of the sea.”