The Santa-Maria Group facilitates the arrival of the Marriott International hotel chain in Benidorm. The hotel and residences were constructed within the Terra Mítica park, and the complex is now known as Four Points by Sheraton Costa Blanca. It does so with a business focus, while also considering the leisure sector. The Benidorm-based company announced this in a statement on Tuesday: “The Terra Mítica hotel is positioned as a benchmark for both leisure and business, offering a renewed offering and cutting-edge services aimed at the leisure and MICE segments.”

Following the October 2023 announcement of the management appointment of Aimbridge EMEA, a division of Aimbridge Hospitality, Marriott has been included in the hotel initiative. Novotel and Marriott were already part of Aimbridge Hospitality’s global portfolio.

The resort comprises a 300-room hotel and a 102-villa resort. “It preserves the familial atmosphere of the former Grand Luxor Hotel, which includes preferential access to the Terra Mítica and Mundomar parks,” the statement asserts. Additionally, “its extensive selection of indoor and outdoor event rooms and spaces makes it a top choice for corporate clients.”

The facilities have been renovated in accordance with the Marriott Group’s quality standards as a result of the integration of this international brand. It is important to mention that the hotel and the villas are among the most recent additions to the region. The hotel was established in 2016, while the villas were constructed during the pandemic recovery in 2021.

“The transformation of numerous spaces has resulted in the creation of warm, comfortable, and bright environments that are characterised by a Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic and abundant greenery.” The company emphasises the culinary offering as one of the enhancements that have been incorporated with the new brand. Four Points by Sheraton has introduced three new restaurant concepts that are influenced by Mediterranean cuisine:

• Sirocco, which is ideal for informal gatherings due to its spacious terrace and contemporary decor.

• Essenza, a restaurant that specialises in antipasti and offers a distinctive interpretation of the Four Points manner.

• Tramontana, a Mediterranean-inspired buffet that prioritises authenticity, quality, and variety.

“Grupo Santa-Maria, the proprietor of the hotel and villas, is broadening its scope with this substantial dedication to the esteemed Marriott International organisation,” they assert. “The complex has undergone a continuous evolution since its inception in 2016 under the Grand Luxor Hotel brand. Currently, it is embracing a new era with a focus on excellence, internationalisation, and the diversification of its tourism and business offerings as Four Points by Sheraton.”

Several weeks have passed, and the persistent proliferation of mosquitoes continues to be a source of complaint for residents of El Altet, Arenales del Sol, Gran Alacant (Santa Pola), and other adjacent Elche districts. Although the issue has been present for approximately three weeks, the discomfort has become even more apparent during the May long weekend, when, as was the case during Holy Week, many visitors chose to rest and decompress for a few days.

The presence of these insects, and particularly their attacks, has been most apparent during the early morning and late afternoon hours. This situation is quite common for people who have lived in these regions year-round for an extended period. Mosquitoes are inevitable after a few days of rainfall, as the overwhelming majority of individuals are aware. They also emphasise that this is insignificant in comparison to the situation that existed decades ago, when there were no fumigation programmes and mosquitoes were a much more severe nuisance in terms of density and duration.

There is a significant number of individuals who have expressed their dissatisfaction with mosquitoes in recent times. This is likely due to the fact that a significant number of these individuals are tourists or owners of second homes who were eager to take advantage of the favourable weather and spend a few quiet days. However, they have ultimately been bothered by these pesky insects.

On May 1st, the mayor of Arenales del Sol, Alejandro García Raduán, also acknowledged that a significant number of mosquitoes had been observed on that day and promptly notified the Elche City Council.

Increased workload

The Elche City Council, in collaboration with the Department of Health and the company CTL, announced on April 15th that they had intensified mosquito fumigation efforts in all municipal districts in response to the recent rainfall. The objective of these efforts is to prevent larvae from hatching in both small and large water accumulations.

Inma Mora, the councillor for the area, stated that the company in charge was conducting an inspection of the various flood-prone areas to ascertain the areas that required the most intensive larvicide and adulticide treatments to prevent mosquitoes from hatching after the rainfall.

Estefanía Hernández, the head of the company responsible for fumigation, stated, “We have commenced inspections and larvicidal treatments with non-harmful biological products in all wetlands, ponds, and any outbreaks that may have developed following the rains.” In particular, these treatments are administered on a weekly basis or whenever adult mosquitoes are observed in a particular area of the reed bed, saline marsh, or vegetation.

Nevertheless, it is crucial to bear in mind that the City Council is prohibited from carrying out treatment within private properties or directly targeting homes, which are frequently used as breeding grounds for the tiger mosquito. This species can reproduce in a small amount of water that can accumulate in saucers, flowerpots, swimming pools, or tarps that cover pools during the winter.

Working together

In this regard, the Health Councillor, Inma Mora, requested that all residents of Elche’s districts collaborate in their efforts to avoid storing water in containers and, whenever feasible, to conduct some form of treatment within their residences.

On March 21st, the Santa Pola City Council announced that flooded areas in various sections of the municipality were being treated and reinforced with biological treatments to control larvae. The announcement was made by Borja Merino, Councillor for Tourism, Health, and Greater Alicante. According to municipal sources, these biological larvicides are unharmful to wildlife and prevent mosquitoes from establishing themselves in these regions and disseminating to neighbouring areas.

The Santa Pola City Council emphasised the significance of mosquito control treatments in residential areas and private residences, as mosquito larvae are able to develop in any area with stagnant water due to warm temperatures. Santa Pola also continued the therapies on April 25th.

Additionally, pharmacies are experiencing an increase in the sale of mosquito repellent products, and mosquito netting companies are also experiencing an increase in demand as a result of the increasing prevalence of these insects.

The Shade Plan, which includes the installation of shade sails on public roadways, began this week on several of the primary shopping streets in the municipality’s historic centre, including Obispo Tormo Street, Hospital Street, Major del Pla Street, and Corredora Street.

Claudio Guilabert, the Councillor for Public Services, emphasised that “it is a very positive step— a commitment by this municipal government to provide shade, especially during the hottest months of the year, thereby creating greater climate comfort.”

Guilabert underscored that the primary goal of installing the shade sails is to “encourage activity, both for tourists and locals, with much more pleasant and enjoyable walks,” as well as to reduce the seasonality of the commercial offering with shaded areas.

The awnings, which will be designated as municipal property, are included in the €297,000 investment in the project. They will be installed in May and removed between September and October for a period of two years, contingent upon weather conditions and the requirements.

Additionally, the councillor for the region has verified that efforts are currently ongoing to ensure that “these shade sails” can be extended to other commercial streets in the municipality, such as the districts or neighbourhoods of Altabix, El Pla-Sector V, and Carrús, by the end of the year.