| This year's World Travel Market at London's Excel | | | | radius, the hotel is just minutes from Golf Valley |
| Exhibition Centre in November not only drew record | | | | which has one of the highest concentrations of |
| crowds, but one of the most popular stands was | | | | courses anywhere on the Costa del Sol. The |
| that of the Andalucia Tourist Board. | | | | California Beach Hotel will be near the yacht marinas |
| The four day event, which hosted 5402 exhibitors | | | | at Fuengirola and Cabopino, and for racing fans the |
| from over 200 regions and countries attracted | | | | Hippodrome, which has day and floodlit evening |
| visitors from every corner of the world, with | | | | meets, is a short drive away. |
| numbers up by 2 per cent on last year's event | | | | Membership of Club La Costa, one of Europe's leading |
| according to WTM Chairman Fiona Jeffery. | | | | resort developers since 1984, rose by over 10 per |
| One new exhibitor was the city of Cadiz, famous for | | | | cent during the summer months and Richard Fletcher, |
| its dome-silhouetted skyline that doubled as Havana in | | | | Resort Director, expects 2008 to be even busier. |
| the James Bond movie 'Live and Let Die', and | | | | 'Spain has always been a popular destination but |
| Gibraltar, which recently launched a new tourism | | | | we've had an exceptionally busy summer. As part of |
| marketing campaign, was at Excel after a few years' | | | | our expansion plans we are building a number of new |
| absence. | | | | resorts in Europe, including California Golf, in southern |
| The mood at the Andalucia and Costa del Sol stands | | | | Tenerife, and a number of new projects in Spain, the |
| was particularly buoyant. The Spanish Tourist Board | | | | new hotel and holiday homes. We're also moving into |
| announced that the British are not only visiting Spain | | | | Turkey with an exciting project, the Adonis, near |
| more frequently, they are exploring less commercial | | | | Bodrum which is a special development of modern |
| areas such as inland Andalucia, or cultural destinations | | | | townhomes with a virgin beach adjacent surrounded |
| such as Cordoba and Granada. Almost half of visitors | | | | by beautiful natural parkland.' |
| said they visit Spain to experience the culture as well | | | | Despite the hotels options the Costa del Sol offers, |
| as its beaches. | | | | Britons are moving towards timeshare, recognising it |
| Britons are also spending more per capita while on | | | | as a holiday 'investment' compared to paying for |
| holiday, music to the ears of the restaurant and hotel | | | | hotel rooms and one of the main reasons is value for |
| owners for whom 2007 turned out to be a bumper | | | | money. Club La Costa's interior-designed apartment |
| year with room occupancy rates up by over 5 per | | | | suites such as Santa Cruz Suites in Spain sleep up to |
| cent compared to 2006. | | | | 6 people. Guests have numerous facilities on their |
| Resort developers like Club La Costa Resorts & | | | | doorstep - including private Jacuzzis - which most |
| Hotels are forecasting even better figures for 2008. | | | | private self-catering apartments or hotels don't have. |
| To accommodate the increased demand for Spanish | | | | Richard Fletcher adds: 'Our members like the fact |
| holidays, Club La Costa is expanding its flagship | | | | that almost everything is onsite - restaurants, live |
| resort, California Beach in Mijas Costa. The company | | | | entertainment, children's entertainment, fitness |
| recently announced plans to open a 215-suite deluxe | | | | facilities, our own medical clinic affiliated to Xanit |
| hotel overlooking the beach in 2009. The California | | | | Hospital - one of the best in Andalucia - concierge |
| Beach Hotel and Residences will offer an exceptional | | | | service and more. Families can relax in the sun with all |
| range of facilities, including one of the largest health | | | | the comforts of home - space, luxury and excellent |
| spas in Spain, an al fresco live entertainment venue, | | | | service - at a fraction of the cost of a luxury |
| restaurants, cafes, bars and boutiques, landscaped | | | | category hotel room.' |
| gardens and pools, 24-hr concierge/reception and | | | | While the Andalucian government's '2020' plan intends |
| security and sea and mountain views from every | | | | to keep Spain on top of the international tourist |
| suite. | | | | destination ratings by offering even more quality |
| The location is ideal, just 20 minutes from Malaga | | | | leisure facilities, companies in the private sector like |
| airport, 15 minutes from Marbella and just 5 minutes | | | | Club La Costa are also investing in the Costa del Sol |
| from the new Miramar Shopping Centre nearby | | | | as a long-term, hard to beat tourist favourite. With |
| where shoppers will find numerous cafes, restaurants, | | | | the UK still Spain's biggest market, expectations are |
| a multi-screen cinema (showing English language films), | | | | that the number of visitors to the region will rise by |
| supermarket, boutiques and home furnishing retailers. | | | | another 5 per cent in 2008, a conservative estimate |
| With over 9 top class golf courses including | | | | according to some hoteliers. |
| championship course La Cala within a ten minute | | | | |