Living on the costa

The five star hotel La Zambra opened its doors this Thursday after the establishment remained closed for decades after the closure of old Byblosa hotel plant that opens autumn in Mijas with a hotel offer made up of 197 rooms and that aspires to be a benchmark for luxury tourism on the Costa del Sol.

The opening ceremony of the five-star hotel was attended by numerous personalities, such as the Minister of Economy, Finance and European Funds, Carolina España; the delegate of the Government of the Junta de Andalucía in Malaga, Patricia Navarro; the Mayor of Mijas, Josele Gonzalez; or the mayor of Tourism, José Carlos Martín.

In an enclave characterized by the green of the golf courses, the La Zambra hotel has with 197 rooms and more than 100 suites“each of them with a private terrace of up to 200 square meters”, according to the director of the tourist complex, Joost Kruissen, who has alluded to “Andalusian roots and culture” that emanate in the establishment. The complex will also have “SPA with almost 2,500 square meters”, rooms for congress tourism with “more than 1,000 square meters” and with “international brands” that have already confirmed their events, or “4 gastronomic spaces with their own identity.

The director has emphasized the “4 values” that pivot the renovated hotel La Zambraas the iconic connection” with ancient Byblos, a brand that they refuse to get rid of, due to the influence of the distinguished people who have stayed in the establishment; or “a getaway” to the regional culture, which is shown in “the details such as the architecture, the water or the patios” that reflect it and its “connection with the destination”.

Another of the pillars of the five stars in the conformation of the brand will be the concept of “relaxed luxury” translated into “freedom, destiny, closeness and attention to detail; and lastly he mentioned “curiosity rewarded”, ensuring that there will be “surprises for the most curious people”. “The zambra is fun, it is Andalusia and it is freedom and that is going to be noticed in our services and it is going to be one of the differential values ​​of the complex”, she has remarked.

Kruissen thanked the Mijas City Council the collaboration for “the signing of the agreement to find the best local talent” and “training in the environment”, which will allow visitors to the five-star “an excellent product”, as well as the Junta de Andalucía.

For his part, the owner of the La Zambra hotel, Luis Domínguez, highlighted “the hard process” that has meant carrying out the tourism project for 3 and a half years, emphasizing that “from the beginning we have seen the reference” that supposes the five stars at regional level.

Carolina España has emphasized that the project is “fruit” of “effective public-private collaboration” to promote the hotel project in the town, remembering that it has had a investment of “57 million euros”, of which he recalled that “20 million” correspond to “the collaboration of the Board with European funds” and “37 private investment”.

The counselor has mentioned the “3 ways of action” of the Andalusian governmentsuch as “the digital transformation of the Administration”, “the administrative simplification and eliminate obstacles for entrepreneurs” and the “tax reduction”, recalling the “fiscal stimulus package” approved this week by the regional Executive, with the aim of “continuing to attract investment”.

The Mayor of Mijas has highlighted that “we have maintained a close collaboration with the property for this opening to become a reality”, recalling that “whoever was a true an icon and an international benchmark in the hotel industry and hallmark of the tourist quality of the Costa del Sol reopens its doors generating more than 200 jobs thanks to the agreement signed between the hotel and the local Administration so that at least 50% of the workforce is from Mijas”.

The councilor has assessed that the new opening “is a shock to our economynot only because of the jobs that are created, but also because of the economic repercussion that will generate the arrival of more tourists to the area”.

The Councilor for Tourism, José Carlos Martín, has pointed out that “the opening of this luxury accommodation is an indisputable attraction for the call of visitors with high purchasing power who are looking for this type of comfort in an incomparable environment”.

The mayor has highlighted that “the hotel is in the heart of two golf courses with an environment full of leisure offer, gastronomy, sun and beach, nature and sportswhich places it as a reference and ally to break with seasonality, which results in local economic stability and the maintenance of jobs during the low season”.

The former hotel Byblos Andaluz on the Costa del Sol has been for decades an emblematic establishment in Mijas that together with its two French brothers, Byblos St.Tropez and Byblos Courchevel, have represented European prestige and glamor.

For this high level accommodation have passed the most relevant figures from the political, artistic and business scene of the international arena. Thus, the rooms of the former Princess of Wales, Lady Di, Julio Iglesias, The Rolling StonesAntonio Banderas, the Saudi royal family, government presidents, ministers and a long list of relevant personalities.

It should be noted that the Byblos hotel was the first 5 star Grand Luxury that the tourist was upon his arrival at Malaga airport, since the rest were already in Marbella and other more remote locations. The establishment, located in a small hill between two 18-hole golf courses in the Mijas Golf urbanizationIt was known for peace, quiet and privacy for customers.