WITH its hotel refurbishment and upgrading programme nearly finished, Gibraltar is poised to pitch itself firmly at the UK and European conference market.
The hotel programme was part-funded by £5m in preferential loans from the Gibraltar government and a large slice of the investment has gone on the conference sector.
Tourism and transport minister Joe Holliday said:”The refurbishment is almost complete. In our three main hotels it has included provision of the latest conference facilities.
“The Gibraltar Conference Bureau can now seriously sell Gibraltar as a conference destination.
“The momentum for conferences is gathering and I’m confident we can achieve a small market share.”
With fully equipped conference rooms now available in the Rock, Eliott and Caleta Palace hotels, Gibraltar is targeting small gatherings of between 60 and 90 people.
“Gibraltar is an attractive destination and we can organise exciting spouse and leisure programmes to complement the work side of conferences,” said Holliday.
“Besides Gibraltar’s attractions, we can offer excursions to southern Spain, golf on the Costa del Sol, skiing in the Sierra Nevada, the white villages of Andalucia and trips to North Africa.”
Gibraltar hosted the Campaign for Real Travel Agents’ first conference in June, giving 100 independent operators and agents a first-hand look at the hotel improvements.
While conferences are a high-yield niche market, the 6m day trippers who stream across the border from Spain each year provide Gibraltar’s core tourism business.
This compares favourably with the 60,000 visitors who overnight on the Rock, most from the UK on short breaks offered by mainstream and specialist city-break operators.
“We remain committed to the short-break market,” said Holliday. “We believe Gibraltar is ideal for short breaks of three or four days and numbers are moving in the right direction.
“However, day-trip figures are not up to last year because of the political problems in the first four months of this year.”
He added: “The summer peak has been exceptionally good. Those coming to Gibraltar on day trips are finding it attractive and spending well.”
Cruising has taken off this year, attracted by expanded facilities at the new cruise terminal. Almost 200 cruises are being handled this year – up from 135 in 1998 and double the 1997 figure. A further increase is expected next year, when Renaissance ships are due to make 116 calls. “Gibraltar is now recognised by international cruise operators as a serious port of call,” said Holliday.
“The new cruise terminal has helped, but the pedestrianisation of Main Street and other schemes mean we now have a better product for cruise passengers to experience.”
Gibraltar Tourist Board’s UK director Albert Poggio said the colony needs a new five-star hotel to fulfil its potential in addition to its recent hotel investment.
“We need to satisfy all sectors of the market and although our accommodation is now of the highest standard, a good five-star would complement the hotels we have,” he said.
Infrastructure investment continues, with Casemates Square being transformed into a piazza area bordered by craft and souvenir shops. It will be the focus of Gibraltar’s 2000 celebrations. Gibraltar’s next project is along the east coast, where road widening by the Caleta Palace Hotel at Catalan Bay and Rock protection work will be finished in December.