The city of Estepona strengthens its tourist offer today with the opening of the luxury hotels Ikos and El Pilar. With an exit from the pandemic, investors are betting on Estepona, whose start of the high season is marked by the UK government’s travel forecast.
Thus, the opening of the five-star Grand Luxury Hotel Ikos Andalusia coincides with the date from which the British will probably be able to travel abroad, because “we are counting a lot on the English market”, underlined the leaders of the group. Greek.
The tourist establishment will be the first of the brand in the Iberian Peninsula under the “luxury all inclusive” concept, with a varied offer which includes 411 rooms and suites spread over 7 buildings, “7 restaurants, SPA, 8 swimming pools” or even a large space for sports. In addition, the hotel factory will offer menus prepared by prestigious chefs, a menu with “300 different wines, the “all-inclusive cocktails” or the “24-hour room service”.
Added to this is the complementary offer with “non-hotel services included”, such as visits to “restaurants in Estepona and Puerto Banús as part of the stay”, “green feet at the Los Naranjos Golf Club”, free entries in the museums of Malaga or a “mini car for a free day”.
The Ikos group has invested around 150 million euros and plans to create some 650 jobs, although this “initial forecast” will have to adapt to the existing “occupation”. In addition, it will implement a prevention protocol against Covid-19, which includes a “rapid antigen test” at the entrance.
On the other hand, the investment group Maravilla 1882 SL announces the opening this May 17 of the 4-star boutique hotel El Pilar Andalucía , located in Plaza de las Flores in the old town of Estepona, for which it has allocated an investment of more than 10 million, as explained by the director, Antonio Hernandez.
The establishment will be open all year round and will offer “35 rooms and one suite, including “9 triples” and “3 premium with terrace and jacuzzi on the top floor”, in addition to a SPA, an event room and 2 courtyards of Andalusian architecture.On the other hand, the gastronomic offer includes “4 very diversified restaurants” open to the local public and a bar on the terrace with “spectacular views”.
Among them was highlighted an “Iberian pig temple”, an Asian or English establishment with a “wide range of beers”, such as the group will have in the 5-star Maravilla Estepona Palace with an artisan factory, whose works do not are not finished.
Hernandez stressed that the group of investors is “attentive to the current situation” marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, noting that the initial project has not been modified by the health crisis, but yes “we have traced the facilities to adapt to the current reality” and “protocols” will apply prevention against the virus among staff and customers.
The city, standard of quality tourism
In recent years, the City Council of Estepona has worked to make the city a “quality tourism standard”, which translates into the immediate opening of luxury hotel establishments such as “Ikos Andalusia” and “El Pilar Andalucía Hotel Boutique”, according to the mayor, José María García Urbano.
Thus, the alderman pointed out that the recovery of the old town through the complete remodeling of more than 130 streets, the creation of new modern facilities and the legal security now offered by the Consistory have generated the necessary dynamics to attract investment and initiatives of interest to the municipality.
In this sense, the first mayor indicated that from the local government “will continue to support and facilitate the implementation of projects that contribute to the activation of the local economy, which generate employment and follow the lines guidelines that lead to Estepona is an example of quality of life for residents and visitors.
The City Council has encouraged the “Estepona, Garden of the Costa del Sol” project, which aims to transform the old town into one of the city’s main tourist attractions.