Cutting edge Spanish heritage at first hand The Marquis Benigno de la Vega-Inclán monuments listed as Assets of Cultural Paradores also has a mission to pro- is considered the father of Spanish tour- Interest and/or Historic Sites. mote Spanish gastronomy, offering dishes ism. In 1910, the government led by José In addition toworking to restore Spain’s linked to the places where each hotel is lo- Canalejas commissioned him to create a historical heritage, Paradores promotes cated and promoting regional and local cui- hotel infrastructure in Spain that would ac- national culture and the regions where sine. Currently, the more than one hundred commodate hikers andtravellers while im- its hotels are located. Its hotels boast Parador restaurants generate around fifty proving the country’s international image. art collections comprising 10,000 pieces, per cent of the public company’s revenue. The project became the seed of a legacy ranging from archaeologicl artefaca ts ot that continues to this day in the form of 21st-century works. New horizons the chain of Paradores de Turismo hotels. Another distinguishing feature of Para- Paradores has drawn up a strategic plan A few years later, in 1928, King Alfonso dor hotels and restaurants is their location, until 2026 that focuses on digital trans- XIII inaugurated the Parador de Turismo as priority is given to sites close to areas formation, accessibility and sustainabil- in Gredos, the first in Spain’s extensive of natural beauty such as national parks, ity as catalysts for change. The objective network of Parador hotels. nature reserves and other protected areas. is to achieve revenues of more than €410 The company’s sole shareholder is the million, in addition to renovating its hotel Spanish State, and it currently has a total network with an investment of more than of 98 paradors in Spain and one franchise €250 million. in Portugal. In total they offer accommo- The company alsoplans to continue ex- dation for more than 11,500 guests in al- panding its network with new hotels, such most 6,000 rooms. as the Parador de Ibiza, which will be the Gastronomy and culture chain’s firsthotel in the Balearic Islands. Paradores de Turismo has been planning The Paradores de Turismo network show- this opening, which will involve an invest- cases the historical, cultural and architec- ment of €27 million, for more than two tural heritage of different parts of Spain. decades. The Parador de Veruela in Vera There are Parador hotels in eleven cities del Moncayo, Zaragoza, which will be lo- declared World Heritage Sites, and half of cated in a 12th-century Cistercian abbey, the accommodation on offer is located in is also expected to open soon. 60