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María Albarral
Marbella
Friday, 11 October 2024, 16:26
Marbella's leading hotel industry professionals gathered on Thursday at Les Roches for the town's 'Great Hotel Debate' organised after the high season to discuss future strategies as well as summer data. One of the main issues on the table was the lack of affordable housing for staff who come to cover the peak months.
"In Marbella we need cheaper rental housing to be able to bring people here. What can't be is that a one-bedroom is 600 euros, but it's not just the price, it's that you can't find it," said the president industry body Aehcos on the Costa del Sol, José Luque.
Also at the table were Rocío Galán, director of operations at Hotel Don Pepe Gran Meliá, Jorge Manzur, director of Antara, Julián Cabanillas, general manager of Marbella Club, and Ignacio Gómez-Escolar, general manager of Hard Rock Hotel Marbella, as well as the director of tourism at Marbella town hall, Laura de Arce and the CEO of Les Roches, Carlos Díez de la Lastra.
The lack of affordable flats not only makes it difficult to bring employees to the town, but also to find the necessary talent that cannot be found locally to meet the existing demand. "In other parts of Spain there are many qualified people who would come to live on the Costa del Sol but because of the housing problem do not do so," said Cabanillas.
Hoteliers are concerned about having to lower their standards and rely on less qualified people which, in a way, could lead to a lower quality of service. As a result, many of these large hotels are opting to train their own employees while demanding a rental solution.
Transport is another of the serious problems plaguing the Costa del Sol. As the debate made clear, it is not only the lack of accommodation for employees but also the precariousness of the connections that prevent workers from other towns from being able to commute.
"Without water there is no destination", was another of the forum's key concerns. The drought is worrying hoteliers and they have already put measures in place to alleviate the situation, but are waiting for the development of water infrastructures. The deterioration of the beaches is another of the issues that were addressed as a worrying question that could affect the sector.
Moderate growth
While the speakers outlined the main problems facing Marbella's hotels, they also addressed positive issues such as the evolution of the market since Covid. The professionals foresee further growth by 2025, although they warn that it will be more restrained due to the fact that, especially in 2022, all kinds of records were broken in the town. "One of the most significant data that we have to take into account is that we have been more than six consecutive months with occupancy above 80 percent," said Del Arce, showing how the town is getting results in its work to break the seasonal nature of tourism on the Costa del Sol.
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