Marbella’s government-owned hotels to reopen

The old ‘Residencia de Tiempo Libre’ de Marbella will soon be converted into a hotel complex and the Andalusian Regional Government is going to carry on owning the property. 

The project, led by the Department of Economy, Finance, and European Funds, is expected to generate over €4 million annually in operating fees, which will be given over to essential public services such as healthcare, education, and dependency care.

Residencia de Tiempo Libre was established in Marbella decades ago as a facility owned by the state. The aim of this residence was to provide low-cost holiday accommodation, particularly for those employed by the public sector. Marbella’s residence, which is located near the A7 Motorway on a plot of almost 197,500 square meters with a built up area of 23,395 sqm, is part of Andalusian historical heritage and has been listed in its General Catalogue.

An agreement, signed in February between Regional Minister Carolina España and Marbella Mayor María Ángeles Muñoz, is part of the Andalusian government’s strategy to improve the value of unused or underutilised public assets. This approach aims to generate income and save money without giving up ownership of property.

Marbella sounds socialist when a government-owned hotel opens its doors

Antonio García Acedo, the territorial delegate for economy, stressed that this new use will fund critical services with a minimum annual contribution of €4 million. He said that it was not logical to pay for the upkeep of the building and plot of the former residence de timempo libre while the property remained unused. The project will also create jobs, attract investment in tourism, and increase wealth for Marbella, Andalusia.

The land will be owned by the Directorate General of Heritage for 75 years. This model is awarded in a transparent, competitive and public process. The regional government remains the owner of the property, while the contractor will have to invest in the beginnings of the project and preserve its historical value.

This project isn’t an isolated one. García Acedo highlighted a successful precedent in Cádiz, where a former leisure residence was converted into a four-star hotel and shopping centre, managed by Q-Hotels, now employing around 500 people.