Barceló Group reveals successes in 2008 annual report
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Barceló Group reveals successes in 2008 annual report
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Category: Worldwide - Industry economy
- Figures / Studies
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2009-07-21
Report Shows Unstoppable Growth, Despite Global Economic Slowdown
With more than 75 years of experience as a leading worldwide travel company, the Spain-based Barceló Group, whose divisions include hotel and resort operations for more than 180 properties in 17 countries and a travel division operating 505 travel offices and agencies in 23 countries, is on target to successfully complete the company’s growth objectives set for 2010, according to the company's recently released 2008 annual report. Already ranked as the third largest hotel operator in Spain, the leading Spanish hotel chain in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and the 24th largest hotel operator worldwide, the company promises to meet its portfolio objective for 2010: to promote more than 200 hotels, all of which are forecast to be exclusively four- and five-star properties.
The hotel and resort division's rampant growth in the last five years has allowed the company to almost double its offering. To support the portfolio’s rapid expansion, Barceló has increased its presence in North America by launching advertising and public relations campaigns targeting the North American leisure travel market. With these new initiatives, Barceló Hotels & Resorts intends not only to introduce the brand but also to simultaneously position the company's diverse offerings as the most valuable resort options, particularly for all-inclusive travel to Latin America and the Caribbean.
In addition to announcing plans on further growth and development, the annual report revealed the following achievements, financials and other news:
Achievements
-Barceló Crestline acquired U.S. travel company Tidewater for US$21 million, thereby adding 17 new hotels to the U.S. portfolio while significantly strengthening Barceló Group's presence in North America.
-The company's travel division created a joint venture with American Express that will drive business travel.
-95 percent of the hotel and resort offerings currently meet the four- and five-star standards.
Key Financials
-Turnover was US$1.7 billion, one percent more than previously recorded in 2007.
-EBTIDA reached US$159.1 million, up 30 percent as compared to the previous year.
-The company invested more than US$65 million in refurbishment and in the selection of new hotels.
-Net assets surpassed US$848 million.
Innovation & Technology
-Efforts to fulfill the company’s commitment to sustainability and to demonstrate its respect for the environment fall into the following six spheres of activity:
--Waste management, including:
---Recycling.
---Participation in the Planet Partners program led by Hewlett Packard.
--Power saving and biodegradable products, including:
---Creating an olive stone-based energy production system at Barceló La Bobadilla (Granada, Spain), which supplies water to the entire hotel.
---Installation of temperature control computing systems.
---Solar power plants to heat water at some properties.
--Sustainable design and construction, including:
---Incorporation of ecological materials, saving systems and renewable energies.
--Training, with efforts to:
---Obtain a greater ecological awareness among the staff.
---Ensure that the assimilation of new processes in the staffs' daily routines focus on power saving and recycling.
--Shared information, including:
---Inviting guests to collaborate with certain ecological measures and recommending, for example, the reuse of towels and sheets as well as the adequate use of air-conditioning systems.
--Restoration of the native ecosystem, including:
---The restoration of mangrove swamps and beaches.
---The protection of turtles and their offspring.
---The protection of animal species arriving injured to properties, such as turtle doves.
-The group created a new website, www.grupobarcelo.com, allowing the company to post corporate information as well as the most recent press releases.
Human Resources
-Personnel increased to 27,885 at year-end, including:
--6,278 employees working under the hotel division.
--1,607 employees working under the travel division.
-Training programs created and implemented included:
--The Executive Development Program, designed for the hotel management team.
--The Barceló Development Plans, aimed at assistant and associate managers.
-Training videos have been recorded to help improve the different hotel departments with quality and customer service.
Awards & Accolades
-The company's resort offerings received numerous awards and accolades, including but not limited to:
--Green Globe Certification for nine properties, with two resorts expected to be added in 2009.
--ISO 14001 Certification.
--"Spain Inn Splendid Splurge" award, obtained by Barceló La Bobadilla (Granada, Spain).
--"Best Hotel for Latin America and Caribbean Families" award, bestowed upon Barceló Maya Colonial Beach.
--The quality label "Q" of the ICTE (Spanish Institute of Tourism Quality), received by 11 Barceló resorts.
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