Benidorm defends its sustainable urban planning model at the 4th Hosteltur Sustainable Tourism Meeting

Benidorm City Hall's Assembly Hall will host the 4th Hosteltur Sustainable Tourism Meeting this Thursday. Under the theme "Sustainability as an opportunity," the meeting will analyse strategies and real-life cases throughout the morning, some of them implemented in Benidorm itself, to highlight how sustainable initiatives are not only beneficial for the environment and society but also boost business profitability. The Councillor for the Presidency, Juan Díaz; the director/editor of Hosteltur, Manuel Molina; and the presenter and science communicator, Luis Quevedo, opened the meeting, which brought together more than twenty leading professionals and experts in tourism and other activities affecting the sector throughout the morning.

Juan Díaz explained that Benidorm "anticipated 70 years ago, in its 1956 General Plan, the elements we now associate with sustainable development, especially in terms of rational urban and tourism spatial planning." Thus, the Councilor for the Presidency referred to "initiatives such as creating an urban layout based on the functionality and enjoyment of public space; the alignment of buildings parallel to the coast, to ensure the entry of natural light and ventilation; a rational distribution of land that has avoided overcrowding; and the creation of wide spaces, large avenues, and green areas that promote habitability" as examples of this original commitment to sustainability, which is now "unquestionable and the cornerstone of our government's action, with premises such as the fact that the future will be sustainable or there will be no future."

Likewise, Díaz highlighted indicators that make Benidorm a model and example for other destinations, such as the efficiency of its water network—estimated at 96%; the incorporation of the fourth network for the supply of reclaimed water; the commitment to innovation; and universal accessibility. or data analysis "seeking the greatest effectiveness of measures to benefit residents, neighbours, and tourists who coexist in harmony thanks to the city's design"; all of this, to implement this sustainability from its three axes: environmental, economic, and social.

Finally, the President also outlined the recognition this roadmap has brought to Benidorm in recent years, such as being recognised as the world's first certified DTI in 2018; the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism in 2025; and being among the finalist destinations for the European Green Leaf 2027.

For his part, Manuel Molina emphasised that "there is no better place to discuss applied sustainability" than Benidorm, while also thanking the support of collaborators and sponsors, especially the City Council and Visit Benidorm, for making this event possible.

Throughout the morning, various panels were held featuring, among others, Claudia Magriñá, Sustainability Partner at Deloitte Spain; Daniel Cordeiro, Deputy General Manager and Head of Sustainability at Banco Sabadell; Cristina Llopis, Head of Sustainability in the Balearic Islands at Caixabank; Eugenio Peral, founder of Sustainable Development Initiatives (sdi) Europe; Luis Suárez, Conservation Department Coordinator at WWF; José Ángel Preciados, CEO at Ilunion Hotels; Fernando Corvo, Commercial Director at Balantia by Iberdrola; Pere Joan Devesa, General Manager at Hoteles Poseidón; Catalina Alemany, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Riu Hotels & Resorts; Rafael Fernández-Álava, Director of Communications and External Affairs at Costa Cruises; Fede Fuster, President of Hosbec; Manuel Rúa, Director of the ESG Office at Amadeus; Ricard Querol, General Manager of Airports and Tourism Organizations at Jet2.com and Jet2Holidays; Natalia Prieto, Sustainability Manager at Ávoris Corporación Empresarial; Iván Espinosa, Head of Reception at Ilunion Atrium - Ilunion Hotels; Teresa Zamora, Director of Marketing and Communications at Ilunion Hotels; Marco Táboas, Island Director of Tourism Demand and Hospitality at the Fundació Turisme Responsable de Mallorca; Tono Franco, Managing Director of Visit Valencia; Leire Bilbao, Manager of Visit Benidorm; and José Mañas, CEO and Co-Founder of WDNA Group.

The conclusions of this meeting will be announced at 1:50 p.m.