PRESS ROOM

Daguisa Hotels has joined the #dotzexdotze movement as a collaborator with the aim of joining and collaborating with the NGOs and projects that participate.

 

The first action will take place on 8 September, coinciding with Meritxell Day, at The RoofTop Van by Daguisa on the terrace of the Golden Tulip Andorra Fènix hotel. Daguisa Hotels has committed to make a donation of 50% of the drinks at The RoofTop Van. On 8 September, from 20.30h, attendees will be able to enjoy their drinks accompanied by the voice of the singer Ingrid Martínez.

 

The donation will go to the NGOs involved in the #dotzexdotze movement in August and September: Manos Unidas in its project to create a gardening and construction cooperative for the social reintegration of people completing their addiction recovery process in the town of Usme (Bogotá, Colombia), and AUTEA with the Family Support project, which offers individualised home care for households with infants aged between six and twelve with autism spectrum disorder.

 

In the words of Jordi Daban, CEO of Daguisa Hotels, "joining the #dotzexdotze movement is in line with our social responsibility and the values inherent in our DNA. At Daguisa Hotels we are always available to help the people of the country and do our bit to promote initiatives like this one, which give visibility to the projects led by the country's NGOs in favour of the most vulnerable groups".

 

Marta Alberch, director of Andtropia and founder of the #dotzexdotze movement, is grateful that Daguisa Hotels is joining the project and helping the participating NGOs both with the donation they will make and in terms of the involvement of the entire Daguisa Hotels team. And she encourages everyone to celebrate Meritxell Day in solidarity at The RoofTop Van.

 

 

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"As has happened in the seven previous editions, it has once again become clear that Cirque is a good lever for attracting visitors." This was stated by the president of the Hotel Union of Andorra (UHA), Jordi Paris, referring to the repercussion of the show at the hotel level. It is one more attraction that makes it possible for visitors to arrive in the country during the month of July, a month that needs this type of proposal that, together with sports activities, for example, have the capacity to attract people, he added.

 

In this sense, the CEO of Daguisa Hotels, Jordi Daban, said that the Cirque du Soleil show has allowed "to have a very high occupancy in the month of July". And it has been like this for years because the Cirque show, unlike others, is for an audience of all ages, "from 6 to 90 years old." And, in addition, it is aimed at very different types of public: both for couples and for families with children. "It is very versatile", unlike other proposals that are aimed at a more specific customer profile. In his case, he assured that they have been able to sell enough tickets and that has allowed them to have an establishment open 100% thanks to Cirque du Soleil. And he does not hide: "I am a staunch defender of this show." He believes that it is very good to do the package of room plus entrance at the Cirque "because that way you have more offer". He does acknowledge that "there is perhaps less and less room and more sales through agencies or others." Another element that he put on the table is that the price is very affordable. And about the show in particular, that "you may like it more or less, but this is a matter of taste".

 

In July, better in town

Regarding the balance of occupations last July, when an average of 63.62% was achieved, although they have been higher than those of last year and also in 2019, Paris pointed out that from the sector "more employment was expected ”, and above all clients similar to those of last year, and that has not been the case. Paris explained it very graphically. And it is that with the occupations of the summer of 2020 and 2021 there was "like an explosion effect" and the feeling of the open hotels was this: "we have triumphed like coca-cola". But there are factors that have played against it, such as the fact that many more tourist destinations are open than they were not yet open last year. In this regard, he said that "we have not managed to retain the French client, who last year made up to three stays in the Principality", for example.

 

For his part, Daban gave a nuanced reading of the July occupation based on the premise that “what we cannot claim is that July is as good in the mountains as it is in the city. In the city it is very good because there is a commercial offer and activities, and in the mountains it scratches a little”. And, specifically, "scratch" on the Soldeu, Canillo and Pas de la Casa side. And he says it from experience, since the chain has hotel establishments in these places. On the other hand, "everything in the Vallnord area works very well because of the issue of bicycles, we must not fool ourselves," he said.

 

August, late and slow

And what is happening this August? According to Paris, they remain optimistic, but explain that now more than ever they depend on last-minute bookings. And it is that "the last hour is more last hour". Thus, in your establishment this past week they were receiving quite a few reservations for this same week, for example. Jordi Daban also agrees with this analysis of the situation for August. Thus, he pointed out that there is movement, "but it is very slow and at the last minute." A trend that has been consolidating due to the pandemic. Thus, he explained that due to the Covid, both hotels and travel agencies took out the reservation conditions that forced hundreds, such as prepayments, which has meant that people can afford to travel at the last minute. In his opinion, when next year there will be prepayments again and the obligations on the part of the client, there will be guaranteed reservations again.

 

Although it seems "that August is more stopped", Daban reported that the prices for 2021 are being maintained. On the other hand, if all the hotels lowered the price "we would fill up", but he believes that it should not be done and that the policy of holding prices very correct and appropriate to the facilities and stars of the hotels that is being carried out is very correct, although it costs more to fill the establishments. He also highlighted that the stays are not that long and instead of five days the tourists stay a couple. In any case, he predicted that "in August we will have a result, if not the same, similar to that of the previous year", one of the best in history, he says. Here too, it was once again made clear that the result will always be less good on the Canillo side and better on the La Massana side, because the summer activities in the Grandvalira sector are not as consolidated as those in Vallnord, while in the winter it is the opposite. As for the Pas de la Casa, he confirmed that there is no hotel movement, "it is very stagnant."

 

take advantage of opportunities

The increase in fuel prices and the cancellation of flights by airlines due to strikes could be opportunities that benefit Andorra as a destination, pointed out Jordi Paris, since this could make them change their destination and choose the Principality to come and spend a few days. vacation. Especially for those local tourists who are within a radius of between 200 and 400 kilometers, that is, from the area of Catalonia, Aragon and Levante, he specified.

 

It is in this sense that the president of the Hotel Union assured that of these adversities, "Andorra always comes out favored".

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Daguisa Hotels will continue with BC MoraBanc Andorra for the next two seasons.

 

Although there was already an agreement to continue together, Daguisa, one of the largest chains in Andorra, wanted to strengthen its relationship with the club, betting on a project that has set a clear objective.

 

After the first year of sponsorship, both parties want to give a further boost to the Official Hotel and take advantage of the visibility opened up by the new competition. Therefore, Daguisa will be present on the back of the playing shorts, specifically on the left leg.

 

This morning, on the terrace The RoofTop Van located on the sixth floor of the Golden Tulip Andorra Fénix Hotel, Gorka Aixàs, president of the Basketball Club MoraBanc Andorra (BCA), and Jordi Daban, CEO of Daguisa Hotels, have shown the new collaboration agreement.

 

According to Gorka Aixàs, president of BC MoraBanc Andorra, "this reinforcement shown by Daguisa is a clear example that they believe in the project and that the best way to achieve the objectives is to do it together".

 

For his part, Jordi Daban, CEO of Daguisa Hotels, explained that "it is a privilege to continue working hand in hand with BC MoraBanc Andorra. After a season of alliance, it is clear that our commitment has been the right one".

 

Therefore, the collaboration agreement between BC MoraBanc Andorra and Daguisa Hotels will continue for two more seasons.

The high season in Andorra arrives one more year marked by uncertainty about the behavior of winter tourism. For now, the demand generated around skiing is working, although the Principality lives with an eye on each side of its borders, north and south, very aware of the evolution of the pandemic in France and Spain.

 

The true fact amid so much confusion is that the sovereign microstate is at the point of no return where it is time to redefine its tourism model: more exclusive, not overcrowded and with an increasingly diversified offer that combines sport and nature with hydrotherapy, shopping and gastronomy. The pandemic leaves a before and after and also a clear challenge: reduce excessive dependence on tourism and reformulate the sector towards a premium concept.

Tourism will never be the same in Andorra after the outbreak of covid-19. And not only because the way of traveling has changed for tourists. The authorities are committed to a shift towards an economic model more focused on attracting new residents: SMEs and startups. While the measures focused on digitization, transformation and innovative entrepreneurship promoted by the Andorran Ministry of Economy with the connivance of the Andorran Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services (CCIS) arrive, tourism continues to be the main industry. The winter calendar, in the middle of the campaign, leaves good employment data, especially due to "the high level of vaccination in Spain, France and also in Andorra" and, consequently, "with good expectations, since from the Administration and the sector All efforts have been made, all sanitary measures have been put in place, and customers leave satisfied," Jordi Daban, CEO of Daguisa Hotels, Andorra's second-largest hotel chain, explained to MERCA2.

 

 

Andorra's dependence on tourism

 

The purpose of evolving towards an increasingly diversified and independent model is the ideal of any economy, although there are unavoidable factors and characteristics at the country level that do not always make this goal feasible. Andorra is a small country in its extension that "cannot accommodate certain sectors" and, however, offers an attractive option for "activities that can be carried out electronically and that do not require large infrastructures for their development, or companies interested in set up its headquarters, without the need to have its factories nearby, in Andorra, for example”, says Daban.

 

In any case, and as long as the level of travelers and visitors continues to condition the economic health of the Principality, "the tourism model must be regularized and dimensioned according to the country's capacity to absorb tourists", in line with "the tourist offer and hotel throughout the year and not only focused on large capacity in times of great influx, "claims the director of Daguisa Hotels.

 

The person in charge of the second hotel chain in Andorra emphasizes that "for some time now, Andorra has received a type of tourist with a higher purchasing power that is benefiting the sector", in such a way that an offer is increasingly emerging "very attractive" in which the price of accommodation and services are increasingly in line with the visitor's profile.

 

Mass tourism gives way to visitors who spend more money on their trips and take more care of the destination experience, with a more intense stay, not necessarily longer, but aimed at optimizing the benefits of the place to the maximum, in safe conditions, without agglomerations and with a wide range of proposals linked to active nature tourism.

 

 

The post-pandemic era: fewer tourists, more quality

 

"Andorra is a great unknown," says Daban, referring to all that part of the microstate that people previously did not bother to discover despite all its attractions. Post-pandemic tourists are eager to discover new things, shop, enjoy thermal baths, go trekking, eat in excellent restaurants and enjoy an increasingly wide range of entertainment, such as the Andorra Mountain Music, held in Andorra la Vella last summer, with artists of the stature of David Guetta”, says Daban.

 

In Andorra "many efforts have been made by the Administrations, the companies in the sector and the hotels to adapt to the demands of the visitor", creating a destination that in December also offers a unique environment. At this time "a special Christmas atmosphere stands out, with its little villages and snowy mountain landscapes, the animation in the streets of Andorra la Vella and a very diversified product offer," concludes the businessman.

 

Regarding the hotel sector, Daban recalls that "it has also adapted, increasingly with an international brand, which contributes to a standardization of service that we did not have before, and which is open to the arrival of a more demanding tourist with more power. acquisitive," he concludes.

 

Andorra is in the midst of a transformation process in which it has to review and rethink its model, in order to be able to adapt to the "new experiential tourist chip" which, in the case of the Spanish and French traveler, finds a very different proposal but within a short distance , in a destination with great potential and an offer based on shopping, skiing and nature -which accounts for 90% of its territory-.

 

In addition, just under three hours from an international airport like Barcelona, Andorra also boasts of being one of the safest states in Europe.

 

 

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One of the main obstacles for seasonal workers for some time now, especially for those coming from distant countries, has been finding accommodation.

 

While the ski resorts try to support their employees and look for solutions, others, for example in the catering industry, feel that the problem has worsened, either because of the high rent prices or the fact that they have to pay several monthly payments at once as a guarantee. The search is causing them anxiety and anguish.

 

This is the case of Martín Pérez. He is a chef and came with a pre-contract. "This is my second season here. The company offers accommodation in the hotels it has in Andorra la Vella, but not in the one in Canillo where I work and I can't keep an eye on travel and transport because I have to be at the establishment's disposal at all times", he explains.

 

This seasonal worker points out that nowadays it is even more difficult to find a place to live. "Before, you wrote to the group that you were looking for a room in Canillo and they responded to many people offering various options. Now no one replies at all".

 

Patricio Rodríguez is a receptionist at the Hotel Fénix and, unlike many others, he is "lucky that the company offers accommodation and food". He considers himself "privileged" in this sense "because when the seasonal workers come here they have problems finding accommodation that is affordable for the season".

 

Gonzalo Celis, a waiter at the Hotel Fénix, says he was looking forward to this season and did not expect to arrive so soon, but says that many are rethinking it because of the difficulty of finding a flat.

The Lobby bar is the name given to this new gastronomic space located in the same hall of the Golden Tulip Andorra Fènix hotel, located in the middle of the Escaldes Engordany commercial area, near the Caldea Thermoludic Center. The guidelines given by the hotel management were the partial intervention of the lobby, relocating the new reception, to take advantage of the existing space that until now was occupied by the bar counter.

 

The new reception is designed to receive the client independently in the middle of the lobby. The material that is incorporated is the iron plate, and the wood is maintained, to visibly respect the materials already existing in the space.

 

All the coverings of the reserved parts, which are not visible on the client, are modified to adapt them to the new functionality that the space will have. In the visible part of the bar, in order not to damage the existing floor covering that makes up the entire lobby, it was decided to intervene above it, in order to better integrate it.

 

The existing reception, which is converted into a bar, is clad in iron plate glued on rakes, to harmonize the space and give the materials a more contemporary look, being backlit by shots of LEDs. On the inside, stainless steel equipment is incorporated to give it functionality.

 

The wall that separates the kitchen from the bar is covered with a porcelain cladding, and the bottle racks at the top are designed with perforated sheet metal and iron tubes. Inside this linear a sign made with neon light is incorporated with the new corporate image of the new gastronomic space.

 

The kitchen is equipped with custom stainless steel furniture, with the necessary equipment to give it functionality. Part of the furniture in the hall has been renovated to give it a more modern and welcoming look.

 

The central piece is a piece of furniture that divides the space, in which a steam fireplace is integrated that gives warmth and comfort to the room. It is designed and manufactured to measure, using a structure of iron tubes that give it stability, leaving open spaces to communicate both rooms.

 

These cubes are closed with wooden panels to integrate them with the rest of the materials that coexist, also incorporating the perforated iron plate to give transparency and link them with the materials that have been used in the intervention of the bar furniture. Small details, such as the placement of curtains, change of color on walls and ceilings, application of wallpapers on the walls and new lighting that help to give a new air to the environment without the need to make large investments.

 

THE ROOF TOP VAN

Until our intervention, the hotel's existing terrace served the hotel's water and spa area for clients and also functioned as a solarium.

 

Following this idea and concept, a second gastronomic point is opened within the hotel, providing a terrace service, both for customers and the general public. The existing flooring platform is respected, and the space is equipped with new specific outdoor furniture, with the incorporation of tables of different heights, armchairs and stools.

 

This distribution of spaces is linked to specific lighting for exteriors, this being one more decorative element. Awnings have also been incorporated to give comfort to diners, since it is a terrace that works both day and night.

 

With the lighting and the introduction of new gardening, the space is made pleasant and functional, to be able to enjoy evenings outdoors and have informal meals, accompanied by live music.

 

The new central element of the space is the food track, fully equipped to provide service. "With the furniture, the awnings, the lighting and the gardening, the terrace is made pleasant and functional"

MoraBanc Andorra has signed an agreement for three seasons with Daguisa Hotels, making the Golden Tulip Fénix the official hotel of the team.

 

Daguisa Hotels, one of the most important chains in Andorra, which manages the Golden Tulip brand of the Louvre Hotels Group in the Principality, resumes its commitment to sport in the Principality and joins the BC MoraBanc Andorra family as official sponsor and hotel. This morning, on The RoofTop Van terrace located on the sixth floor of the Golden Tulip Andorra Fènix Hotel, Gorka Aixàs, president of BC MoraBanc Andorra (BCA), and Jordi Daban, CEO of Daguisa Hotels, presented to the media the collaboration agreement by which Golden Tulip by Daguisa Hotels will promote its activity by sponsoring the first team of BCA, which this year will play in the ACB league (Endesa League) and Eurocup.

 

For Gorka Aixàs, president of BC MoraBanc Andorra, this agreement means "associating our Club with an Andorran company as deeply rooted in our country as Daguisa Hotels, which at the same time has the international projection provided by managing the Golden Tulip brand, recognised all over the world for its high quality standards".

 

For his part, Jordi Daban, CEO of Daguisa Hotels, explained that "it is a privilege to be present in one of the best European basketball leagues and to do so hand in hand with a team like the BCA". For the manager of one of the most important chains in the Principality, which has always been firmly committed to sponsoring Andorran sport, "this new agreement is part of our internationalisation strategy and represents a great opportunity to reach potential customers".

 

One agreement, three seasons

The collaboration agreement between BC MoraBanc Andorra and Golden Tulip by Daguisa Hotels has a duration of three sporting seasons (2021/2022, 2022/2023 and 2023/2024) and means that the hotel chain has several image considerations for BCA matches, including two canvases placed on the video scoreboards, as well as the right to carry out exclusive promotions for BCA members and that the Golden Tulip Andorra Fénix is the official and exclusive hotel of BC MoraBanc Andorra.

On the other hand, today the team announced that Bandja Sy will not continue at Morabanc Andorra.

 

Eurocup changes its format and this year 20 participating teams will be divided into two groups of 10 and will play against each other in the league. The opponents of the team coached by Ibon Navarro will know their rivals this coming Friday.

 

The club's president, Gorka Aixàs, has spoken about this new format and considers that it is much more attractive, as it gives more options to smaller teams.

 

Aixàs made these statements at the presentation of the agreement signed with Daguisa Hotels, where the Golden Tulip will offer its facilities as the club's official hotel so that rival teams can stay when they visit the Polideportivo.

 

For his part, Bandja Sy will not continue at Morabanc Andorra. According to several specialised media, Morabanc's objective is to replace him with Amine Noua, who is 24 years old and plays for ASVEL Villeurbanne.

The RoofTop Van is located on the sixth floor of the Hotel Golden Tulip Andorra Fénix of Daguisa Hotels.

 

The RoofTop Van, located on the sixth floor of the Hotel Golden Tulip Andorra Fénix of Daguisa Hotels, is set to become the trendiest terrace in Andorra this summer. Open to both guests and visitors, it is the ideal place to have an aperitif at midday on weekends, have a snack or an after-work drink, while enjoying the best atmosphere and panoramic views.

 

The main attraction of this 800 m2 terrace is its food truck customised with the international brand Golden Tulip of the Louvre Hotels Group -which gives its name to this establishment- in front of which tables and chairs of different sizes are arranged to create different atmospheres. All of them are protected by a windbreak with vinyls where, taking advantage of the 360º panoramic view, the main tourist attractions of Escaldes-Engordany are marked.

 

In this gastronomic foodtruck you can choose from salads, hamburgers, sandwiches, bowls and platters of cold meats and cheeses from Andorra. From its varied menu, the salads 'The RoofTop Van by DaguisaHotels', with lettuce, canonical, avocado, blueberries, hazelnuts, goat cheese, corn and honey vinaigrette; or the 'Chicken confit with sweet and sour pineapple, spinach, apple and walnuts' stand out. Among its hamburgers, the 'Fenix', with beef, bacon, tomato, cheese, lettuce and onion; or the 'Louvre', with vegetables, fresh spinach, cucumber, dried tomato and romesco.

 

It is also possible to order sandwiches, such as 'El Pepito de Andorra' with beef, green pepper, ruca, onion and mustard or the 'Choripán', with sausage, chimichurri, tomato, onion and guacamole; as well as food truck bowls of prawns, salmon, chicken or tuna.

 

Another of the terrace's gastronomic proposals is its 'Vermut de Altura', with five appetizers prepared for the occasion, such as: 'Potato and sweet potato chips', 'Banderillas', 'Peppered bacon bits', 'Ventresca with piquillo', or the legendary 'RoofTop Van Croquettes'. All accompanied by a vermouth, a glass of beer or a glass of cava. On the terrace, you can also order different typical aperitif products from the legendary Espinaler house, such as olives, cockles or razor clams.

The RoofTop Van, located on the sixth floor of the Daguisa Hotels Golden Tulip Andorra Fénix Hotel, is set to become this summer the fashionable terrace of Andorra. Open to both guests and visitors, it is the ideal place to have an aperitif at midday on the weekend, have a casual snack or have an afterwork, while enjoying the best atmosphere and panoramic views.

 

The main attraction of this 800-square-meter terrace is its food truck customized with the international brand Golden Tulip of the Louvre Hotels Group - which gives its name to this establishment - in front of which tables and chairs of different sizes are distributed organized to create different environments . All of them protected by a vinyl windshield where, taking advantage of the 360º panoramic view, the main tourist attractions of Escaldes-Engordany are marked.

 

In this gastroneta you can choose salads, hamburgers, sandwiches, bowls and tables of sausages and cheeses from Andorra. From its varied menu, the salads The RoofTop Van by DaguisaHotels stand out, with lettuce, canon, avocado, blueberries, hazelnuts, goat cheese, corn and honey vinaigrette; or Confit chicken with sweet and sour pineapple, spinach, apple and walnuts. Among its hamburgers, the Fenix, with beef, bacon, tomato, cheese, lettuce and onion; or the Louvre, with legumes, fresh spinach, cucumber, dried tomato and romesco.

 

It is also possible to order sandwiches, such as El Pepito de Andorra with beef, green pepper, ruca, onion and mustard or Choripán, with sausage, chimichurri, tomato, onion and guacamole; as well as food truck bowls of shrimp, salmon, chicken or tuna.

 

A casual menu perfect for an informal lunch or dinner, which can be accompanied with glasses or bottles from its varied wine cellar of red and white wines, as well as Brut Reserva or Seco Nocturne Sleeve champagnes from Taittinger, which has a corner with a backlit bar. In addition, the cocktails on the fashionable terrace of Andorra are from the brand that has revolutionized this sector, Nio Cocktails, among whose proposals are the Milano Torino, the Manhattan or the Tommy's Margarita.

 

The ideal setting for a tall Vermouth

Another of the gastronomic proposals on the terrace is its Vermouth de Altura, with five appetizers prepared for the occasion, such as: Potato chips and sweet potato, Banderillas, Bacon pieces with pepper, Ventresca with piquillo, or the mythical RoofTop Van Croquettes. . All this accompanied by a vermouth, a beer or a glass of cava. On the terrace, you can also order different typical aperitif products, from the mythical Espinaler house, such as olives, cockles or razor clams.

During the past week, 25 hotel establishments opened

 

Andorra is recovering the pulse of tourism as the vaccination process progresses both in the Principality and in neighboring states. Thus, coinciding with the second Easter bridge, which is a holiday in various towns in Catalonia, tourists once again filled the commercial hub and the hotel establishments of the central parishes during the three days. "We have had a good job, which has been higher than 70%", indicated the CEO of Daguisa Hotels, Jordi Daban. One premise, that of a good influx in terms of overnight stays, which were confirmed by NH Hotels.

 

Hotel occupancy of 68% on the weekend

 

According to last week's employment statement made by the Andorra Hotel Union, during the week of May 17-24, there were 25 establishments open and some on weekends. In total, 68.07% hotel employment was collected during the weekend and 41.97% of the weekly employment was recorded. The director of the UHA, Jordi Pujol, adds that "these are very correct figures for the time we are in, although they are data with less than 30 establishments open. In central parishes the few that have not opened today will most likely do so on the first week of June ". In higher parishes, the UHA expects that the openings will be around mid-June, coinciding with those of the mountain parks of the stations and the activities planned for those dates. However, the pandemic has affected how reservations are made and the type of client. In this sense, Daban explained that "the vast majority of the reservations we have had are last minute and all without cancellation costs." "We must think that with everything that has happened in the last year, the client is very sensitive to these situations and wants to have flexibility in case anything happens," he added. Another feature that occurred during the bridge was that the people who had come to spend the long weekend in the Principality were there every day. This was confirmed by several hotel establishments consulted by the Diari.

 

“We have seen that when they have been able to move and there have been a few days of festivities, people have come. You want to go out, ”Daban said.

 

Not only the hotel sector performed well for the bridge, and the tourist apartments also registered good employment data. “We are quite satisfied. It is the first weekend that we have had clients who have come more than one night ”, highlighted the president of the Tourist Apartments Association, Àlex Ruix. By areas, he reports that it was in El Tarter where there was more influx, with figures of about 90%, while he regretted the reluctance that still exists in Pas de la Casa.

 

Few bags

The arrival of tourists, despite entailing an increase in sales, did not end up representing a proportional increase. This was explained by those responsible for an electronics and technology store in the central axis, who commented that “it is true that we have seen and had more customers than on previous weekends. But the increase in people that has been seen on the streets has not ended up reflecting the same proportion of sales ”. Even worse was the reality that was experienced in Pas de la Casa compared to the perspectives previously generated. The president of the Pas de la Casa Neighbors and Merchants Association, Òscar Ramon, indicated that “it has been a pretty lazy weekend. We thought we would have more work but we have not worked much, rather little ”. "We think that the restrictions still make people think about it before coming and stay in France, or if they decide to go out they march to the beach," added Ramon. On how they face the summer, he commented that "in June we expect it to be rather weak", but added that "in July we do expect a good influx, especially considering that there will be the start of the Tour de France from the Pas".

 

30,000 vehicles enter

Another of the data that reflected the entry of tourists into the Principality through the second Easter bridge was the entry of vehicles through the two border points. Thus, as confirmed by the director of the Mobility department, Jaume Bonell, up to 30,000 cars and motorcycles crossed the border crossings. However, it should be noted that the situation was uneven if we talk about the River Runer or the Baladrà. In the case of the Spanish-Andorran border, the number of vehicles that crossed it rose to 21,000 over the three holidays, with heavy traffic at various times. By contrast, only about 9,000 entered France.

Daguisa Hotels, the second largest hotel group in Andorra, has announced the appointment of Noemí Ribal Vivar as the new head of catering.

 

Ribal holds a degree in Tourism and a postgraduate degree in hotel business management from the University of Barcelona and an MBA from the Rovira i Virgili University (Tarragona). She has also completed a master's degree in web analytics and another in online marketing and e-commerce.

 

With more than twenty years of experience, the new catering manager has previously held various positions as catering manager and as owner and manager of her family's hotel, for three and nineteen years, respectively. She has also worked for more than a decade as a digital analyst.

 

Thanks to her career, she has acquired and consolidated extensive knowledge of the sector, mainly in the management of the operations and teams in the catering area.

The CEO of Daguisa Hotels, Jordi Daban, tells us about the role of the hotels during the pandemic and the confinement and how they experienced the conversion into a residence to take in elderly people and prevent contagion.

The communications consultant at Undatia Comunicació Andorra, Rosario Santa-María, tells us how the initiative "Messages with a heart" was born, a solidarity programme of messages of hope for "grandparents" that managed to get 152 messages to them in seven weeks.

A year ago, when the coronavirus had begun to enter social and healthcare centres, one of the solutions to cut off the transmission of the disease was to move healthy residents to hotels, taking advantage of the fact that they were empty. In Rotonda we have recalled those moments that were both key and emotional.

 

"Civil protection called me at around 12 noon. Hey, could we use the hotel as a residence for the grandparents,'" recalls the CEO of Hotel Fénix, Jordi Daban. "There were no protocols, they had to be designed very quickly and from then on, one and all acted very efficiently," explains the head of Clinical Documentation at SAAS,

 

Sílvia Bonet. It was 19 March 2020 when the Golden Tulip Andorra Fénix hotel became one of the isolation hotels for grandparents who were taken out of the Cedro to prevent them from becoming infected as a result of an outbreak that had arisen. Silvia Bonet was in charge of the transformation of the equipment, taking into account the type of client that was arriving. t was necessary to change from a tourist model to a residential sponsor, with pathologies, health problems, cognitive problems, some with disabilities? "It had to be taken into account when distributing the spaces, adapting the diets, etc.", he recalls. Thirty-six sponsors were accommodated on three floors of the hotel, assisted by shifts of six people, including SAAS, nursing school and Red Cross volunteers. On each floor there was an operations centre. Many of the sponsors found themselves in a new and at the same time uncertain situation that distressed more than one of them.

 

So soon the corridors and other spaces became improvised bowling alleys, reading corners and other workshops. And among the initiatives, it still moves them to think of the great effect that the messages with a heart had on everyone, as the director of the Red Cross, Jordi Fernández, recalls.

 

The fear of contagion appeared at the Hotel Céntric. There they experienced another moment that demonstrates the dedication of the health staff and volunteers.

 

Two months later, the grandparents returned to the residences, but in the hotels they left the memory of a job well done.

Jordi Daban, CEO of Daguisa Hotels, takes the 'test' of the programme 'A l'alça'. In the test of the programme 'A l'alça' we put the country's main economic, social and business players to the test with the aim of getting to know them a little better. In the latest episode we have taken the pulse of Jordi Daban, CEO of Daguisa Hotels.

 

Daban defined the country with the word 'safety', "in few places can you leave your daughters in the city centre, go away for a few hours, and find them in one piece when you return", he said. All the interviewees were asked what they would want for the Principality if they could make a wish. In response to this question, the head of the hotel chain expressed the wish "that our tourists would return, and that Andorra's businessmen would believe in the country".

 

Daban also revealed during the section that his first job was "as a receptionist in a hotel" and that more than a salary, he remembers the first tip he was given. "It was a lady who gave me 25 pesetas, but with one peseta coins! She should break the piggy bank to give it to me". In the 'The quiz' section, they are also asked what advice they would give themselves if they could travel back in time.

 

The CEO of Daguisa Hotels said that he would say: "Be patient and have vision, you always have to go one step further; think not of the tourists you are accommodating today, but of those you can accommodate tomorrow". Finally, he took the opportunity to express his admiration for Bomosa, which "is positioning itself very well and is doing a very interesting solidarity action".

It is not that they received the news from one day to the next, it is that they received it from one morning to one afternoon. This is how Patricia Palou, who was and is head of reception at the Hotel Fénix in Escaldes, explains it. And she remembers it as if it were yesterday. It was 19 March and she was with her colleague Celeste in the hotel tidying up to close the doors so that "everything was under control" and the manager came and said: "look, don't close the doors, Patri, the older people from Cedre are coming today". On receiving the news "we stood still", she explains. It was the moment "of the boom, a bit out of control, we didn't know what to do". But they got down to work and began to organise.

The Red Cross, Civil Protection and SAAS staff soon arrived to explain exactly what they needed, "because it was a big change from being a hotel to a residence". Palou conveys confidence, she is 26 years old, has been in the hotel business for a few years and is used to coordinating teams. And we are curious. How did the rest of the hotel staff take it? Well, she says, although she admits that "we were nervous and upset".

And so it was time to get down to work. Let's imagine that the furniture had to be rearranged and the spaces adapted. "This was around 12 noon. They started to bring in materials. In his case, he was in charge of dividing up the rooms. To do this, they explained to him what needs each person had in order to be able to give them the best room, "because it was not the same if the person was in a wheelchair or had reduced mobility". In these cases, they were offered the largest rooms. It was the SAAS staff who finished fitting out the rooms. And at around 6 p.m., the "grandparents" began to arrive.

We have already said that she remembers that day point by point, it is a moment she will never forget: the time, the faces, the surprise? The users of the Cedre were all frightened: "some were happy with what was there but others were not, some complained that they didn't want to come". And she thought "my God, these people are going to be difficult". She understands perfectly well because "it was all of a sudden and they didn't expect it either". The first questions? "Will my children be able to come? Will I be able to talk to my children? Some of them complained about the rooms, "they were like another client", she remarks. So the beginning was "complicated", but when they had to leave "they didn't want to leave, they wanted to stay there longer", he explains with satisfaction.

With some of the newcomers they had a very good understanding. "I became fond of almost all of them, but I made friends with a woman called Rosa who was adorable. I also made friends with the father of a minister who often said to her: "bring me the newspaper, it's for my son". And also Poulete and Marina, who were like the Dynamic Duo: "when one didn't do something, the other did it".

As the days went by, the relationship grew closer. At first they were in the room, as they were supposed to be, but then they could move around the corridors and do activities. Of course, meals were always in the room and prepared according to each one's needs. He remembers when they played bingo or when they went out on the terrace to sunbathe and do some physical exercise. It is clear that the terrace of the Fénix was one of their favourite places. And as they shared plans for the future, there were those who wanted to sign up to enjoy it in the summer.  

Palou considers that the SAAS team managed everything very well. And he is full of praise for the Red Cross volunteers: "they were really great, they were very young people, without being paid anything, and the esteem they were given was impressive". And he continues: "we were very lucky with the team we made, we understood each other very well and they collaborated a lot, and with the grandparents they were excellent".

They only had one case of a couple who tested positive. They were taken to the hospital and the whole team tested negative. When they recovered, they brought them back here to the hotel. The situation "was very well controlled," he says. Now, after almost a year, he describes the experience as "super good, a luxury, a total challenge for everyone".

And that is the summary he leaves us with: "the coronavirus changed our lives and also, suddenly having to close the hotel in two days, everything was very strange, and that 34 "grandparents" came here.... At first it was a shock. There were colleagues who were more scared because they didn't know how to act, but then as time went on we became like a family. 

 

 

 

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The closure of Catalonia has had a disastrous impact on the Andorran economy, with a high dependence on its neighboring territories, although France's more flexible mobility restrictions have behaved more leniently with the Principality's accounts. In this context, the second hotel chain in Andorra, Grupo Daguisa, is overcoming a closure of the Catalan borders with new promotions and campaigns that, in the absence of Catalan visitors, appeal to the local public, without forgetting the French proximity tourist.

 

Founded by businessman Nicolau Daban i Riba in 1957, Daguisa Hotels has established itself as one of the main references in the tourism sector in Andorra and, despite the adverse environment, focuses its offer on local demand. Enjoy more nights for less, the thermal spa, and attractions such as skiing, nature and gastronomy are the highlights of the Hotel Group.

 

Among the proposals most focused on the Andorran public, the Fat E-Bike Food Program stands out above the others, a unique experience by bicycle through the most emblematic places of Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana and Ordino and a menu of three tapas to choose from, with dessert and a glass of wine or beer. From 10am to 3pm approximately and for 65 euros per person. In addition to gastronomy, Andorra can boast of being a true paradise for bicycle lovers.

 

"We believe that tourism will begin to reactivate in summer", explained to MERCA2 the CEO of Daguisa Hotels, Jordi Daban, who also holds the position of Vice President of Tourism Services at the Andorran Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services.

 

As a director of Daguisa, he comments that the chain keeps the four-star Hotel Tulip Inn Andorra Delfos open and that "visitors, to date, are of French origin", he adds attentively "to everything that happens in Spain" and More specifically, "in Catalonia" so far without mobility between regions. And, although in other areas of Spain the restrictions have been relaxed, "they are further away" at a time when proximity is almost an indispensable condition for traveling.

 

Likewise, Daban insists that Andorra is a "safe destination" in every sense. Hotels that are kept open comply with all safety regulations. In this sense, Daguisa Hotels has a Covid insurance that guarantees health coverage in Andorra. "For the tourism sector, one of the most affected globally, this crisis will not be temporary" in the sense that it will lead to changes that will have to be faced. In Daban's criteria, “we should all focus in the same direction”, which refers to “safer environments”, since “the way of living and traveling is going to change”.

 

The CEO of Daguisa Hoteles foresees a new tourist interested in “rediscovering forgotten destinations, because they are close” and, in general terms, he speaks of “a recovery that will be exponential” and that will not return to 2019 levels until mid-2022, for business tourism "that can endure", qualifies "because it is a matter of the economic lung," he concludes.

 

For now, the situation in Catalonia remains as it is. The latest communication from those responsible for Health and the Interior of the Generalitat dictates that everything remains the same until March 1, except for a slight relaxation in the measures that affect extracurricular activities.

 

From Monday to Friday, only shops of up to 400 square meters can open; On weekends, only essential establishments, such as supermarkets and pharmacies, are allowed. Mobility is still restricted at the regional level, and night confinement is still established between 10pm and 6am.

 

SECOND HOTEL GROUP OF ANDORRA

Daguisa has 596 rooms distributed in five four-star hotels, all of them located in strategic enclaves. Two of them, owned by the chain, are located in the urban area of Escaldes-Engordany (Hotel Golden Tulip Andorra Fènix and Hotel Tulip Inn Andorra Delfos) and, under management, three establishments at the foot of the mountain, next to the best ski slopes. skiing (Hotel EuroSki Mountain Resort, Hotel Font d'Argent Canillo and Hotel Font d'Argent Pas de la Casa).

 

In addition, the hotel chain has an exclusive agreement with Louvre Hoteles Group to implement the brands of this French hotel group in Andorra.

 

DAGUISA HOTELS IS RENEWED

Other novelties that Daguisa Hotels has presented in recent months has been the inauguration by the Group of a more modern reception, with tables and chairs that create different atmospheres and a new gastronomic space, The Lobby Bar, on the ground floor from the Hotel Golden Tulip Andorra Fènix. In August 2020, the terrace The Roof Top Van was inaugurated in this same hotel, with a food truck with informal meals, cocktails and a champagne corner, becoming the ideal place to have an aperitif or an afterwork, before dinner. , while enjoying the panoramic views of all Escaldes-Engordany.

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From this summer, Andorra will host the first Radisson brand hotel in the Principality: the current four-star Hotel Tulip Inn Andorra Delfos will be converted into the new Radisson Andorra Hotel, with the same category, in order to offer its customers the recognised quality of the establishments of this hotel brand.

"Signing this international agreement with the Radisson Hotels chain means a significant increase in the quality we offer to our guests and the confirmation of our commitment to position our hotels in a differentiated way within the Andorran market and, at the same time, to introduce the Principality to the world", explained the CEO of Daguisa Hotels, Jordi Daban, who also added that, to achieve this objective, "a very ambitious remodelling process of the facilities will have to be carried out, to bring the current Hotel Tulip Inn Andorra Delfos up to American standards".

More than a well-established chain

Radisson Hotel Group is a well established brand that belongs, since the summer of 2018, to the Chinese group Jin Jiang International, the second largest hotel chain in the world, with more than ten thousand hotels and resorts, with more than one million rooms, throughout more than one hundred countries and regions. The Group is structured around three main activities (hotel management and investment, tourism, transport and logistics) and includes other brands such as Louvre Hotels Group -which also manages Daguisa Hotels in Andorra-, Plateno, Vienna Hotels and Radisson Hotels & Resorts itself, which is coming to Andorra for the first time.
Radisson Hotel Group is one of the largest hotel groups in the world, with nine distinctive hotel brands and more than one thousand four hundred hotels in operation and under development in one hundred and twenty countries. Its service philosophy "Every Moment Matters" is characterised by offering its guests exceptional experiences in its facilities, through its elegant designs and styles in its decoration and its innovation, as they project a modern vision of accommodation.


More news at Daguisa Hotels

This is not the only new development at Daguisa Hotels in the last seven months. Recently, the Group has inaugurated a more modern reception, with tables and chairs that create different atmospheres, and a new gastronomic space, The Lobby Bar, on the ground floor of the four-star Hotel Golden Tulip Andorra Fénix. In August 2020, The Roof Top Van terrace was inaugurated in the same hotel, with a foodtruck with informal meals, cocktails and a champagne corner, making it the ideal place for an aperitif or an afterwork before dinner, while enjoying the panoramic views of the whole of Escaldes-Engordany.

With these two hotels, Radisson Hotel Group acquires a commitment to growth in Spain through its luxury brand. Furthermore, “in 2021 we will bring the Radisson RED brand to Spain with the opening of a hotel in the heart of Madrid”. Radisson RED offers lifestyle hotels with "a select service, a bold design and a fun touch compared to more conventional hotels", as described by the chain's CEO.

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Daguisa Hotels will introduce the Radisson brand in Andorra next July. The four-star 'Hotel Tulip Inn Andorra Delfos' will become the first establishment of this international chain in the Principality.

To achieve this change, the facilities will have to be remodelled to bring the current 'Hotel Tulip Inn Andorra Delfos' up to American standards and become the new 'Hotel Radisson Andorra'.

Radisson Hotel Group belongs, since summer 2018, to the Chinese group Jin Jiang International, with more than ten thousand hotels and resorts, totalling more than one million rooms, in more than one hundred countries and regions.

The group is organised around three main activities (hotel management and investment, tourism, transport and logistics) and includes other brands such as Louvre Hotels Group -whose implementation in Andorra is also managed by Daguisa Hotels-, Plateno, Vienna Hotels and Radisson Hotels & Resorts itself, which is coming to the Principality for the first time.

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DOWNLOAD PDF (spanish version)

SEE ORIGINAL PUBLICATION