Thursday evening saw about a thousand attendees gather at the Port Aventura convention center to celebrate the foundation’s annual charity gala. These events, hosted at the famous amusement park, aim to raise funds for a range of organizations that support children and adults with disabilities, as well as programs that promote workplace inclusion. At the crowded dinner, guests purchase one ticket per seat and can then freely participate in a variety of activities, displays, and raffle opportunities after their meals. The event successfully raised a substantial sum during the evening, highlighted by a musical performance that energized the venue and a sequence of visually striking moments. Around a hundred tables represented the region, with local officials and business leaders in attendance, all keen to discuss possible developments for the park. Among the attendees were the mayors of Vilaseca and Salou, continuing talks about expansion and the future layout of new facilities adjacent to the harbour. Also present were Carles Pellicer, the current mayor of Reus who would not seek re-election in May, and Oliver Klein, the Cambrils mayor, both engaged in conversations about population growth and municipal needs. The evening carried an air of optimism about collaboration and progress.
With a turnover approaching 260 million euros and employing around 2,000 people, Port Aventura has grown into a major success story in the hospitality and leisure sector. The park’s early turbulence is now largely a memory. A plan originally pitched in 1989 by the American multinational Anheuser Busch ultimately faltered when the project faced political hurdles and shifting priorities. Support from the Generalitat, the Catalan government, helped keep the vision alive. Javier de la Rosa, a prominent businessman with ties to the region, faced legal troubles tied to past economic misconduct, which influenced the project’s financing and governance. After the initial difficulties, CaixaBank stepped into a leading role alongside other shareholders like Endesa, a pattern familiar in Catalonia during the mid-nineties as the park sought stability. In 2012, Caixa/Criteria sold its final stake to Investindustrial, an Italian investment group. Spain’s ownership landscape then saw Investindustrial align Port Aventura with other portfolios, including Natra, a chocolate and cocoa producer, and Northium, an education company. Altogether, this created a diversified ownership picture that positioned the park for broader growth.
The ownership structure shifted again in 2013 when a major private equity investor, KKR, acquired 49.9 percent of Port Aventura, marking a landmark moment for a firm long associated with European leisure and entertainment. The trio of investors comprising Henry Kravis, Jerome Kohlberg, and George Roberts became symbols of a high-stakes era of financial capitalism that analysts often compare to the cinematic depictions of Wall Street. The park’s story intersects with those broader currents in finance, illustrating how entertainment assets can become terrains for large-scale investment and management strategies. Port Aventura is now part of an Italian investment group known for moving portfolios across markets, with a legacy that echoes the business leadership of the past. Carlo Bonomi has shown a strong interest in the park’s long-term vision, while Arturo Mas-Sardá represents a long-standing Barcelona business community. He is supported by Italian chief executive Sergio Feder, and alongside them are top executives such as Fernando Aldecoa, the general manager, and David García, the business manager. The most recent notable leadership addition was Álex Cruz, formerly the chief executive of British Airways and a pioneer of Spain’s private airline industry through the merger of Clickair and Vueling in 2008.
Since a challenging year in 2020, Port Aventura has aimed to surpass its record of 5.2 million visitors in 2022, climbing from 3.2 million in 2021. The park sits in a region marked by a robust industrial and natural landscape, a short distance from major energy facilities, nature reserves, renowned wine regions, and a rich Roman heritage that characterizes the Costa Dorada and Tarragona. This setting has helped Port Aventura solidify its position as a business and tourism hub poised for further expansion. Over time, ownership has evolved, and future changes remain a possibility, but the park’s permanence in the region seems secure. As visitors return in increasing numbers, strategic decisions about expansion, competition, and international reach will shape its next chapter, while managing physical constraints and environmental considerations. The ongoing story is one of resilience, growth, and a continued commitment to combining entertainment with regional development and philanthropic impact. The foundation gala and the broader narrative together reflect a park that seeks to blend cultural appeal with economic opportunity for the surrounding communities. (Source: Port Aventura annual reports and local press coverage)