Torremolinos has celebrated World Tourism Day with an event in which the work of different tourism professionals and a resident of another origin and a tourist was recognized for their loyalty to the municipality of Malaga.
This year, the City Council has recognized as ‘Honour Tourist’ Lorenzo Caprile Trucchi, a Spanish dressmaker and designer although of Italian nationality, a regular visitor to Torremolinos. Caprile has received the Medal of Honor for Merit in Fine Arts and, within his active working life, he is a jury member of the well-known television program ‘Maestros de la Costura’.
The event took place in the convention hall of the Hotel Meliá Costa del Sol, and was attended by the mayor of Torremolinos, Margarita del Cid, representatives of the municipal corporation and the tourist, professional and associative world.
In the words of the councilor «tourism, although it often seems only a matter of economic parameters, of large strategic bets and millionaire investments, deep down, in its essence, is a matter of people. For this reason, today’s act revolves around people who in one way or another have contributed to hundreds of thousands of people feeling that this city is also their home.
According to Del Cid, “Torremolinos as a tourist destination faces many challenges in the coming years, and it does so starting from a good position, being leaders in overnight stays throughout Andalusia during the months of June, July and August, according to the INE.” . But we must not fall into complacency, and we must continue betting on the diversification of the offer, a wide range where the sports, cultural, gastronomic, LGBTI, family or congress segments must form a perfect amalgam.
At the meeting for World Tourism Day 2022, Carlos Navarrina Tello, from Hotel Manconfort, was also distinguished as ‘Hotel Employee’. His beginnings were performing the functions of Cellar Assistant, moving on to Bars, and, given his qualities, he was appointed Head of Department, functions that he has performed until the day of his retirement, the same day as his birthday on September 17, 2022. , after 51 years of work.
The H6 hammock plot, by José Jerez Camacho, has been recognized as a ‘Beach Installation’. The plot is located in Carihuela, in front of the Chiringuito Antonio, and has been distinguished for its maintenance and cleanliness. At the age of 15, José was already working with his father and his uncle in the pedal boats on the beach, in the Hotel Pez Espada area. After his father passed away, he assumed the family legacy.
The Hotel Arcos de Montemar has obtained the recognition of ‘Hotel’. Located in the Carihuela neighborhood, it opened its doors at the end of the 1960s, with the tourism boom. After 40 years it closed due to the crisis, but reopened two years later. After several reforms, it became the best rated on Tripadvisor. The pandemic has made these years difficult, but today the hotel has once again established itself as one of the most requested three-star hotels by OTAS and TTOO.
The distinction in the ‘Company’ category went to ‘Paraty Tech’, by Gina Matheis Bustamante. Ten years ago, while the traditional hotel marketing model was beginning to show certain signs of deterioration, its promoters were able to identify a need and devise another model of doing things. Thus, they gave shape to the first version of the reservation engine that, in the end, has led this company, specialized in the development of solutions aimed at increasing the direct sales of hotels and hotel chains, to become one of the leading formations in the tourism sector in its segment.
The ‘Resident’ recognized on this ‘World Tourism Day’ was Sergiio Effendi, from the Dutch community, who lived in Torremolinos until 1982 and returned in 1999 after passing through Amsterdam and Mexico. He is currently co-owner / director of the La Rosa de la Carihuela Apartments and secretary / president on the Board of Directors of the Parasol Costa del Sol Association.
Bodega Guerola has turned 60 and has received the recognition of ‘Restaurant’. Located at the intersection of calle San Miguel and calle Casablanca, it stands out for its Mediterranean cuisine with exquisite preparations such as shrimp brochettes, mushrooms stuffed with shrimp or large fish on the back. A cozy and familiar inn, ideal to enjoy the best gastronomy in the heart of Torremolinos.