Why is HOSBEC pushing for growth across the Valencian Community now
HOSBEC updated its statutes to broaden its reach into the Autonomous Community back in 2011, so this is not a new move. As an association, there is an inherent duty to grow, a goal that began to serve hotels and tourism businesses opened by partners in places beyond the Costa Blanca. For several years now, the organization has built a substantial and expanding footprint in Valencia and Castellón, complementing its already strong representation in Alicante where a large share of the regional tourism sector concentrates.
The most recent major development involved presenting HOSBEC-Alicante to the mayor, Luis Barcala. Does the association anticipate that Alicante hotels will benefit from belonging to this network?
Certainly. HOSBEC is a highly professional entity and arguably among the best in Spain. The organization does more than advocate effectively; it places a premium on strong relationships with hotels and service providers. Members feel they receive far more value than their membership fee entails. They also benefit from sourcing dozens of items and services that are not readily available on the open market. Few teams match HOSBEC’s breadth of knowledge across hotels, tourism, regulatory matters, health inspections, quality control, energy management, data analytics, innovation, technology tools, and marketing and promotion.
Does the fragmented nature of the tourism sector undermine the association’s bargaining power with the public authorities?
HOSBEC’s current strength rests on more than one hundred thousand four hundred locations under its umbrella, which grants it considerable leverage in negotiations with government bodies. Its legitimacy as a defender of hotel and tourism sector interests is widely recognized. HOSBEC emphasizes fair treatment for all layers of the industry, from hotel chains to large and small properties alike, ensuring inclusive representation within its governing structures. Before negotiating, the organization conducts thorough technical and legal analyses, ensuring that only entities with robust professional frameworks lead discussions. Many policy initiatives affecting tourism in recent years have originated from HOSBEC-led efforts.
What is the aim of the employer that represents hotels beyond Benidorm in Valencia, Castellón, and the rest of the Costa Blanca?
The aim is unity across the sector and a single, clear voice. Shared interests prevail over differences, and that unity becomes a source of strength. The sector faces challenges ahead, including potential tourism taxes, and a strong, cohesive stance is crucial to opposing unfavorable positions. Large, sector-spanning organizations that shape policy through well-defined strategies tend to make a real impact, beyond individual personalities.
How might other tourism municipalities in the province benefit from joining an employers’ association that originated in Benidorm?
HOSBEC traces its origins to Benidorm, founded over forty-five years ago as a hospitality association that brought together diverse business activities. Over the years it broadened its regional scope and, by 2001, shifted its focus toward hotels and holiday accommodations while expanding its footprint. Today it stands as a large federation of tourism entrepreneurs with its headquarters in Benidorm, recognized as the tourism capital of the Valencian Community. This evolution shows that HOSBEC is no longer a Benidorm-centric entity; it is a broad, inclusive organization representing a wide spectrum of tourism-related businesses across the Costa Blanca and beyond.
Source attribution: HOSBEC remains a pivotal association driving industry-wide negotiation, policy influence, and member services across Valencia, Castellón, and Alicante. [Source attribution: HOSBEC]