The event was chaired by Ambassador José Pascual Marco, and the President of the Chamber, Eduardo Barrachina. The Spanish representative linked tourism and travel with knowledge and acceptance. Likewise, he highlighted the importance of the tourism sector in Spain: 12% of our GDP and the second most visited country in the world. The result is the international prominence of companies such as RIU hotels, a company that was founded in Palma de Mallorca in 1966 which has become one of the world leaders in the hotel sector.
The Counsellor for Tourism and the President of the Chamber, for their part, emphasized the commitment of the Spanish tourism sector to innovation, sustainability, inclusion and respect for cultural heritage.
The CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, Carmen Riu Güell, thanked everyone for the award and explained the group's new strategy focused on urban hotels such as the one they recently opened in the London area of Victoria, which joins those existent in Spain and the USA.