Marbella, August 27, 2003
More hotels and more luxury. Instead of worrying about a drop-off in demand and warnings about overcrowding the hotel chains continue to have faith in the Costa del Sol and carry on investing here. The province of Málaga has 37 new establishments of the highest standard opening this summer. Hotel chains such as NH, Best Hotels and Riu are increasing their presence, while Vicci and Medgroup are joining the race.

Neither the recession of the tourist industry worldwide nor tourists’ complaints about overcrowding on the coast have managed to stop the new schemes on the Costa del Sol. Nothing blemishes the attractiveness of the province for investment in the hotel business.

There are changes of strategy in this building boom too. The reign of the three star hotel is nearly at an end as the higher category hotels take over. In five years the number of four and five star hotels will double. The area already has the highest concentration of top hotels in Spain, with 5,000 beds. The NH Alanda, the Villa Padierna and the Guadalpín are the latest ones to open.