It’s not the first time the former US president has visited the Costa del Sol for a closed-door conference, against a backdrop of heavy security measures.
The technology forum that will bring Obama to Malaga is filling the capital’s hotels and making his presence felt in Torremolinos.
Obama will meet Pedro Sánchez and Juanma Moreno in Malaga five days before the Andalusian elections.
Barack Obama landed on the Costa del Sol on Sunday.
This Tuesday, the President is in Malaga, where he will give a talk at the DES – Digital Enterprise Show 2022, held at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos.
He is the star of this edition.
Tickets to hear him speak cost around 2,000 euros.
It is not open to the public and will be attended by the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, and the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez.
Before the meeting, the former American president decided to relax in one of the Costa del Sol’s luxury hotels.
The hotel chosen was Finca El Cortesín in Casares.
As several sources were able to confirm to ABC, Mr. Obama is staying at this intimate and exclusive resort, which opened its doors in 2009.
Since then, it has consistently won international recognition for its quality.
The resort boasts 67 spacious, light-filled suites, surrounded by nature and offering maximum discretion.
What’s more, it’s a resort offering first-rate Mediterranean, Japanese and Italian cuisine.
It’s also a place where you can play golf in the most peaceful way.
Some say that the former president played a few rounds on the holes of the famous Real Club de Valderrama (Sotogrande), which hosted the Ryder Cup, the most important men’s golf tournament ever held there.
But Finca El Cortesín is not far behind.
Barack Obama will have the chance to play golf on the course that will host the Solheim Cup, the most important women’s tournament in the world.
The resort has a real estate section, where you can rent one of the private villas with all the concierge services enjoyed by the suites themselves.
And it’s in this setting that Obama is preparing his meeting with digital entrepreneurs.
From this paradise, the former President of the United States will travel on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. to the capital, some 100 kilometers from his home.
He will hold a question and answer session for the privileged few who have paid for an honorary congress pass from among the 1,400 expected participants.
The meeting filled the capital’s hotels with an occupancy rate of 96% between June 14 and 16.
In addition, it was necessary to resort to establishments in Torremolinos or Benalmádena to accommodate the congress participants.
The economic impact exceeded 30 million euros.
Visit in 2019 This isn’t the first time Obama has visited the Costa del Sol for a conference.
In June 2019, the former president was already in Marbella for a similar event.
On that occasion, he was summoned by SAP to give a lecture to its executives, who were holding their congress in Puente Romano.
The visit was fleeting and concealed.
The president could not be seen at any time during the 45 minutes he spent in the hotel.
Those who could be photographed, in a more relaxed atmosphere, were Michelle Obama and her daughters.
They arrived with the former president on the day of the conference, having just returned from a visit to several European cities.
They stayed in the capital, after disembarking from the private flight, at the Gran Hotel Miramar swimming pool.
There, they spent the hours waiting for the conference and Barack Obama’s return, after which they left for the airport.
On this occasion, the visit is also taking place against a backdrop of heavy security measures.
Last week, there was already a coordination meeting for the arrangements.
That’s when the commanders of the security forces learned that Barack Obama was to be protected at Casares.
The hotel has a strong security presence, with Guardia Civil agents posted around the perimeter.
This is common practice when leaders are present.
