- Lorraine Torio
It is not being an easy season for the hotel sector. The increase in the incidence of coronavirus and the continuous changes that countries apply to their travel policies keeps hundreds of reservations in the air. Despite this, hotels expect to recover part of the influx of customers lost in the last year.
In the case of establishments in Madrid, the latest available data confirm that occupancy was around 50% at the beginning of the summer. However, some large chains such as Riu Hotels can boast of exceeding that figure. The Riu Plaza España establishment currently has an occupancy rate of 75%, and the forecast is that it will close the summer season at 70%.
From Riu they explain that the reactivation of the sector began in May, coinciding with the celebration of FITUR. "The reduction and elimination of mobility restrictions between communities and the acceleration of vaccination in Spain also helped a lot," says Gonzalo Baselga, general director of sales at the Riu.
One of the great attractions of the Plaza España hotel is the 360° Sky Bar on the 27th floor . Hundreds of international and national tourists come there every week, many of them from Madrid. "The hotel is also prepared to receive the client who travels for business and who needs a good location and infrastructure for their work , which is usually the most common", adds Baselga.
One year ago, I had absolutely no idea how to become a real, professional writer. Now I'm armed with the tools I ne… https://t.co/h00Sl1iIkU
— Betsey Horton Tue May 25 21:22:01 +0000 2021
The Four Seasons luxury hotel is another of the establishments preferred by tourists in Madrid . It opened its doors in the middle of the pandemic, and has been able to compensate for the lack of guests with an extensive gastronomic and leisure offer that has hooked the local public.
Its strong points are the Dani restaurant -directed by Dani García, the three Michelin star chef-, the breakfasts, the vermouth hour and the cocktail bar at El Patio -the lobby bar-. Visitors can also enjoy the hotel's indoor pool located at the highest point of the building. Precisely, a common denominator after the pandemic is that hotels have enhanced the services they offer to local customers, such as the pool, the terrace or the bar, which allows them to make the most of their facilities .
The Canadian luxury chain Four Seasons assures that today and given the circumstances, it has a "good occupation". They also confirm that the national client continues to be the predominant one. "However, little by little we are seeing the arrival of international clients who come to Madrid both for business and for vacation ," they say.
From the Four Seasons they do not dare to make forecasts of how the summer season will progress, but they do note a change compared to the beginning of the year: reservations are being made less time in advance both nationally and internationally .
The Pestana CR7 Gran Vía hotel is another of the most sought-after establishments in the capital this summer. It partially opened on June 7, but it is already operating at 100%. It has a very diversified customer mix. Its main markets are those of proximity -Spain, France and Portugal-, USA and other European countries.
"Here, as in our other hotel in the capital, Pestana Plaza Mayor, there is a new opening towards urban destinations and a 'reappropriation' of city hotels , as an opportunity to enjoy the city as if it were a foreign destination , a getaway with all the comfort and safety, without the need to travel far or for everything", explains Miguel Plantier, general manager of Pestana CR7 Gran Vía and Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid.
The offer of the Pestana revolves around gastronomy and leisure. It has a pizzeria, a sports bar and a 360-degree terrace with different heights in the center of Madrid . "In it you can enjoy eight dishes signed by chef Borja Veguillas and an extensive menu of cocktails and drinks," explains Plantier.
