Debate on Tourism in Marbella at Les Roches
A debate on tourism in Marbella took place at Les Roches. Professionals and executives from Marbella’s hotel sector participated in the discussion organized by Grupo Vía at Les Roches Marbella to analyze the tourism situation in the municipality.
Issues Raised During the Debate
One of the issues raised was the lack of affordable housing, which hampers the work of professionals. The drought was also highlighted as a significant concern. The event, moderated by Carlos Díez de la Lastra, CEO of Les Roches, brought together some of the area’s leading hotel leaders to discuss topics such as the Marbella brand and the Costa del Sol destination.
Concerns About Affordable Housing
José Luque, general manager of Fuertegroup Hotels and president of AEHCOS, highlighted the problem of the lack of affordable housing that complicates the arrival of professionals in various sectors, including tourism. This makes it difficult to retain talent, he explained. “Workers do not have access to decent housing in Marbella. It is essential to enable land dedicated to affordable housing,” he said. “Without workers with a quality of life, hotels cannot provide a five-star service,” he added.
Issues with Beach Cleanliness and Drought
He also referred to the fact that the beaches “are dirty”, something that is the responsibility of the City Council, and the drought situation in the region. “The water problem is serious, hotels cannot be prevented from filling their pools,” he said. He also mentioned that Marbella’s Old Town should be among the most beautiful in Spain. “Tourism cannot go against the general interest, we must regulate this because we run the risk of saturation. This is the city with the most tourist apartments in Spain,” he added.
Concerns About Drought and Talent Retention
Julián Cabanillas, general manager of Marbella Club Hotel, expressed his concern about the drought. “Without water, we have a big problem on the Costa del Sol, not so much for everyday life but for businesses. We must take care of our resources,” he said. He acknowledged that “we do not shine for the beach, but for the social environment, opportunities and gastronomic offer”. Sergio Tamayo, general manager of Mett Hotel & Resort Marbella, also spoke about talent retention. “We need profiles from outside Spain and trained, who cannot afford to live in Marbella. This problem has to be faced globally,” he said.
Importance of Employee Loyalty
Ignacio Gómez Escolar, general manager of Hard Rock Hotel Marbella, highlighted the importance of employee loyalty. “It is important that professionals are proud of the brand they work for and I think we are losing this. We have to take care of the worker, there is a lack of trained talent,” he pointed out. “I am terrified that we will reach such dire conditions for workers as in some cases in the Balearic Islands, because it is impossible to retain them,” he concluded.
Marbella’s Position as a Safe Destination
Noelia Castillo, general manager of Gran Hotel Meliá Don Pepe, said that “the British market had an indisputable weight, but we have experienced a wide variety of tourists that shows that the growth strategy is working”. “Marbella has positioned itself as a very safe place, that’s why they are choosing us,” she added.
