In this context, Travel2latam spoke with Toni Pérez Gómez, Corporate MICE Director of Evenia Hotels.
What are Evenia hotels, what do they represent and where are they located?
Evenia Hotels is a Spanish company with more than 40 years established in Spain.
Currently there are 18 hotels, and we have a significant percentage in which we are dedicated to leisure, vacation and
Mice. In fact, since 2000 we started working on the corporate segment, because in almost all of our hotels, after new acquisitions, such as the Panama hotels in Barcelona and the renovation
that was carried out in Costa Brava, we have meeting rooms. and events.
What is the reason why you came to Latin America?
We wanted to expand, to be an international company and in 1999 we bought a property in the Dominican Republic with 400 rooms, which we later sold to the Bahía Príncipe group. And then we arrived in Panama, we started with a five-star hotel that we opened two years ago with meeting rooms. And recently, last year, we bought a property in the Playa Blanca area. A 300-room hotel with a convention room that is prepared to receive groups and corporates, and vacations as well. We work between the vacation segment, groups and events.
And do you have any other countries in your sights?
We are always looking for opportunities. The truth is that we are going slowly, but without pause. We look very closely at emerging countries. We have looked at the Dominican Republic to return since we had the experience of being there, also El Salvador now that we are here I think there are possibilities, and Honduras. And at the national level, whatever comes out.
But they are becoming specialists in Central America…
In some ways we like the Central American option.
What are the destinations where they are in Spain?
We are in the south of Spain, in the Almería area, in Roquetas de Mar, Barcelona, Costa Brava, Salou and then in the Aragonese Pyrenees. And outside of Spain, in Andorra and Portugal.