Good practice:

Strategic alliances with CCIs SMEs for the development of cultural tourism

Paradores de Turismo de España is a public company of Spanish hotels located in monuments and heritage sites and it is promoting strategic alliances with other public organizations and SMEs to promote the development of cultural tourism, especially through CCIs.
The company was founded in 1928 by the king Alfonso XIII as a means to promote tourism in Spain, with the first hotel opening in Gredos (Ávila). This state-run business has been profitable. The hotels are often located in adapted castles, palaces, fortresses, convents, monasteries and other historic buildings. They add to the attractions of heritage tourism and provide uses for large historic buildings. The Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos in Santiago de Compostela is considered to be one of the oldest continuously operating hotels in the world, and one of the finest Spanish paradors.
There are hotels in nine cities declared World Heritage, more than half of the Paradores are located in monumental settings, In addition, it is committed to involving CCIs SMEs for the visitor experiences. The cultural agenda has been promoted by turning the Paradores into a space for cultural events aimed at both guests and the local community. An offer has been generated with music, theatre, exhibitions and other artistic disciplines. As for gastronomy, several Paradores have their own orchards, promote thematic months with local products (olive oil, wines, cheeses) or dishes and traditional and/or creative cooking forms by season.

Paradores has more than 10,000 beds in the 97 hotels. In 2019 had a turnover of 265.5 million € and a profit of 16.8 million €. The profits are reinvested in the hotel chain itself. Investment in 2019 reached 35 million €. Investment in culture supports development by CCIs & SMEs competitiveness.

Paradores adhered to and contributies to several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. Its application is considered a success because it was carried out in all ninety-seven hotels.

Paradores de Turismo has obtained in 2019 the Heritage Award by the Group of World Heritage Cities in Spain and in 2020 the Condé Nast Traveler award for hotel sustainability.

The hotel chain by imnvolving local CCIs in their CCT activities contributes towards SME compatitiveness.

Paradores, as a public company, had a centralized purchasing system, but to generate a network with SME enterprises and food producers for regions or hotels, a system of individualized lots has been established for each Parador. Agreements are also being made such as outsourcing services to SMEs.

Paradores project is in itself a unique experience. The commitment to generate a network of hotels in emblematic heritage buildings is valued with a reinvestment of the profits in their conservation and in generating a unique cultural and gastronomic offer and promoting sustainability as a transversal axis. This practice contributes to the development of cultural and creative industries for regional tourism and also help the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the some of the SDGs in hotels.

This practice can be replicated to other European regions or countries by adapting the proposal to the regional context in which it is located. The important feature fir transfer is the close involvement of local CCIs in the CCT activities of the hotels, which contributes towards the competitiveness of these SMEs.

Paradores has also managed an establishment in Portugal since 2015, Casa da Ínsua in the province of Beira (NUTS II: Centro -Região das Beiras), where it has been implemented.