Holidaymakers in disbelief as Marina D’Or abruptly closes hotels and cancels all bookings

Families eagerly anticipating their holidays at the renowned Marina d’Or complex, situated on the Valencian coast, woke up to an unwelcome surprise as their reservations were abruptly cancelled from yesterday, Sunday, September 17th.

Nestled in Oropesa del Mar, Castellón, this sprawling complex boasts a constellation of five-star and several four-star hotels, a rejuvenating saltwater spa, and a plethora of recreational facilities.

Financially, the history of this 'holiday city' has been rather tumultuous. Established by Jesús Ger in 1983, the complex changed hands four years ago when American investment group Farallon took over, clearing debts surpassing one hundred million euros.

In the wake of the pandemic, Farallon made substantial investments in modernizing the complex, gearing up for the revival of the tourism industry. This summer, news broke that the Fuertes family-run empire had joined as shareholders, and management of the complex was entrusted to Hoteles Costa Blanca, a major tour operator in the Valencian Community boasting over a dozen hotels in the region.

Historically, the complex has followed a strategy of seasonal shutdowns to optimize profitability. Alongside the prolonged closure during pandemic-related restrictions, there were also two-week closures in 2019 and 2021 for 'technical reasons'. During off-peak seasons, the complex shifted its focus towards sports tourism.

This weekend marked the Mediterranean Epic triathlon, with roughly 750 participating athletes accommodated in the resort's hotels. It appears that the timing of the closure announcement was coordinated with the conclusion of this event.

Last year, a decision was made to halt operations between mid-October and February. However, this year's unexpected closure has left holidaymakers at this family-friendly resort scrambling for refunds and alternative vacation arrangements.

Stunned tourists received emails and calls from Marina d’Or hotels' reservations department over the last 48 hours, conveying the disheartening message: "We have proceeded to cancel your reservation and manage the refund of the amount paid." This offers little solace to those who had already booked flights and organized time off work.

Marina d’Or has reportedly been approached by several Spanish newspapers seeking comment on the situation, but they have chosen to remain silent thus far.