Posts by: Sergio

6 LITERARY GEMS SET IN HOTELS

April 22, 2024 (updated April 22, 2024) | By Sergio | 0 Comments

To celebrate Sant Jordi or International Book Day, we want to recommend six novels with a hotel as the protagonist. And the fact is that in the vast panorama of literature, hotels are not simply places to pass through, but also settings where stories of intrigue, romance, mystery and self-discovery unfold. From luxurious five-star establishments to cozy roadside havens, hotels have been witnesses and participants in narratives that captivate and thrill readers.

1. "The Grand Budapest Hotel" by Stefan Zweig

Stefan Zweig transports us to interwar Europe with his masterpiece "The Grand Budapest Hotel". In this tale, the titular hotel becomes much more than just a setting: it is a character in its own right. Through the corridors and halls of this splendid establishment, Zweig weaves a web of interwoven stories starring a variety of guests and employees, each with their own dreams, aspirations and tragedies. From the meticulous concierge to the enigmatic owner, Zweig immerses us in a world of decadent elegance and raw emotions. "The Grand Budapest Hotel" is an unforgettable journey through the ups and downs of human life. In 2014, the filmmaker Wes Anderson adapted this work for the big screen with a luxury cast led by Ralph Fiennes, Bill Murray or Tilda Swinton.

2. "The Bombay Sky" by Shrabani Basu

Shrabani Basu takes us to the vibrant city of Bombay in colonial India with "Bombay Heaven." Set in the majestic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the novel follows the intertwined lives of several people during the turbulent days leading up to India's independence in 1947. Through evocative prose and rich attention to historical detail, Basu immerses us in a world of love, betrayal and hope amid chaos and political turmoil. "Bombay Heaven" is an ode to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder of love's ability to transcend social and political barriers.

3. "The Gambler" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Dostoevsky's masterpiece, "The Gambler," takes us to a small hotel in the fictional German town of Roulettenburg, where gambling and passion go hand in hand. The plot follows the young tutor Alexei Ivanovich and his obsession with a woman named Polina. As Alexei plunges deeper into the world of gambling, the hotel becomes a stage where his darkest impulses and inner struggles unfold.

Dostoevsky takes us by the hand through the intricate corridors of the human heart, exploring themes of love, obsession, redemption and despair. With his penetrating prose and deep understanding of human psychology, "The Gambler" leaves us absorbed in the complexity of the human condition and the forces that propel us forward or drag us down. Dostoevsky was inspired by the Nassauer Hof hotel in Wiesbaden. Both the city, which suffered little damage during World War II, and the hotel, still in use today, retain that atmosphere of thermal baths and green carpet of the novel.

4. "Trouble in Pollensa" by Agatha Christie

The queen of mystery, Agatha Christie, takes us to a hotel in the sunny town of Pollensa, Mallorca. In this collection of short stories, Christie presents us with a series of intriguing enigmas that take place in and around the Golden House Hotel. From burglary mysteries to murder mysteries, the hotel becomes the perfect setting for the ingenious investigations of Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, the celebrated investigator from the mind of the English writer. With her keen observation and astute wit, Christie immerses us in a world of deception, secrets and unexpected twists and turns. "Trouble in Pollensa" is a showcase of Christie's unique talent for creating intricate puzzles that keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last moment.

5. "Hotel New Hampshire" by John Irving

In "Hotel New Hampshire," John Irving invites us on an epic journey through the lush corridors of a crumbling hotel in New Hampshire. The novel follows the lives and loves of the eccentric members of the Berry family, from the idealistic patriarch to the intrepid and mysterious Franny. With his trademark witty narrative style and unforgettable characters, Irving weaves a story filled with humor, tragedy, and redemption. Through the ups and downs of the Berry family over three distinct decades, "Hotel New Hampshire" takes us on an exploration of the darkest and brightest corners of the human soul as we navigate the complexities of family, love and destiny.

6. "Hotel World" by Ali Smith

Ali Smith immerses us in a world of dreams and awakenings in Hotel World. Set in a hotel in an unnamed city, the novel follows the intertwined lives of five women, each touched by tragedy in a unique way. Through lyrical prose and innovative narrative structure, Smith invites us to explore themes of loss, loneliness and human connection. With a unique sensitivity and an ability to capture the complexities of the human experience, "Hotel World" is a masterful work that leaves us reflecting on the fragility and beauty of life.

On Book Day, we celebrate literature's ability to transport us to unknown worlds and give us a new perspective on life. These six exceptional works, set in hotels, invite us to explore the intricate labyrinths of human existence, where every room hides secrets and every corridor is full of possibilities. May we continue to explore the mysteries of the world through the magic of the written word, where each story takes us to a new horizon of discovery and wonder.

We invite you to write the next chapter of your life at Hotel Alimara. Who knows if someday you will be the protagonist of a famous novel.

RECOGNITION AT THE EMAS 2023 AWARDS FOR 10 YEARS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY

April 9, 2024 (updated April 3, 2024) | By Sergio | 0 Comments

The Hotel Alimara has been recognized in the latest edition of the EMAS Catalonia 2023 Awards.

Specifically, we were awarded recognition for the more than 10 years we have been implementing comprehensive environmental policies and statements that help us, year after year, to become an increasingly sustainable hotel.

The EMAS Club is a private, non-profit association, made up of companies and other organizations from different sectors and sizes, which have in common the desire for environmental improvementThe company's participation in the community's management and control system and the environmental audit. It is the acronym for Eco-Management and Audit Schemea voluntary management tool for companies and other organizations, which allows them to evaluate, improve and publicize their environmental performance.During 2023 we will also participate in the CIRC Hotel projecta pilot program comprised of five selected hotels in Barcelona to transfer the concept of the circular economy and symbiosis to the tourism services sector and build, little by little, the best sustainable hotel.

For Hotel Alimara, the commitment to sustainability and the protection of the planet is a fundamental objective that redefines everything we do and allows us to be, every day, a more sustainable hotel.

WE OBTAIN THE BIOSPHERE CERTIFICATION, THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS SEAL OF SUSTAINABILITY IN EUROPE.

April 3, 2024 | By Sergio | 0 Comments

biosphere alimara barcelona sustainability

Last February 16, Hotel Alimara, together with CETT-UB, obtained the Biosphere Certification at the ceremony of certification held by Tourism of Barcelona and the Chamber of Commerce at the Design Museum of Barcelona.

This certification is a great advance in sustainability for our hotel and a recognition of all the implementations we have been carrying out for more than 20 years to be more sustainable every day and protect our planet.

Biosphere integrates in its requirements the 17 SDGs in five different areas: Climate Change, Environment, Social, Economy and Culture. Each of these blocks has been worked on by our Quality Service in order to comply with such a demanding certification as Biosphere, the most prestigious seal of sustainability on the European continent.

The Hotel Alimara thus joins the more than 1,000 companies with the Biosphere tourism sustainability certification that exist in the city of Barcelona.

The Barcelona destination, made up of the city and the 12 counties of the province, is the one with the most tourist accommodations with sustainable certification within the European Union. This is reflected in the Environmental Labels and Schemes indicator, created by the EU itself, which specifically indicates the number of accommodations per destination that have managed to demonstrate sustainable practices, publicly recognizing them with an international certificate.

From Hotel Alimara we join the effort that many companies are making to achieve a responsible water management. Some of the most outstanding actions of our hotel and that have made us achieve this recognition for the protection of the environment are, for example: the change of natural grass for artificial in our garden, the reuse for irrigation and cleaning of excess water from events and the restaurant or communication in our establishment to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable practices.

All this allows us to save more than half a million liters of water per year and do our bit in the fight against the drought that Catalonia is going through.
This recognition is an example of Hotel Alimara 's commitment to improve every day in the field of sustainability and environmental protection.

COMMITTED TO SAVING WATER IN THE HOTEL SECTOR

March 22, 2024 (updated March 19, 2024) | By Sergio | 0 Comments

March 22 is the World Water Day and from Hotel Alimara we want to take advantage of this event to remember the importance of saving water in the hotel sector due to the generalized drought situation that Catalonia is going through.

This period of drought and climatic emergency makes it necessary that all sectors of society consolidate and integrate the culture of saving and adopting sustainable consumption into our daily activities.

The current severe drought is the most severe that Catalonia has suffered since records have been kept (1905). Thanks to the awareness of citizens and the measures implemented by political institutions, consumption has been contained and is being reduced in most cases.

Hotel Alimara has been environmentally certified since 2002, the year in which we began to initiate actions to manage water waste. With the drought that we have been suffering in recent years, we have improved these measures and have implemented a series of have put in place a series of measures to make the best use of to make the best use of the water we have available, with the cooperation of our guests, but without reducing the quality of their experience in our facilities.

WE WORK TO BE A MORE SUSTAINABLE HOTEL EVERY DAY

To maintain a natural grass lawn, an average of 6 liters per day per square meter is needed. To cope with the drought, last year we decided to replace the natural grass with artificial tur f. In this way we managed to save more than half a million liters of water per year.

We continue to offer a magnificent space for celebrations, weddings, banquets or corporate meeting breaks while maintaining our commitment to sustainability.

Another of the measures that we started to apply is also related to the company meetings and celebrations that we organize in our hotel.
We collect about 55 liters of excess water per week from our events and from the Summum Restaurant, which results in an annual saving of more than 2,600 liters just in the water we recycle from these actions. This water is then used for cleaning or watering plants.

In addition, at Summum, our commitment to sustainability goes beyond the water in our service. We also use local and proximity products to create a delicious and sustainable menu.

YOUR COLLABORATION IS ALSO IMPORTANT

When you stay in our renovated rooms, you will notice that we have also implemented measures to help you enjoy your stay and contribute to a more sustainable world.

We will ask for your help to know if you want us to send towels to the laundry only when you leave them on the floor and we have removed the plugs from the bathtub to save water (although you can still ask at the front desk if you wish).

In this way, we can continue to offer the highest quality of service and customer experience, while working together to become more sustainable every day.

THE BIOSPHERE SEAL, EMAS CERTIFICATION AND ISO 14001

The transparency of our actions to be a more sustainable hotel every day is very important to us. We undergo internal and external audits to assess our environmental impact.

Last year we also participated in the CIRC Hotel project, a pilot program with 5 specially selected hotels in Barcelona to design the sustainable hotels of the future.

The publication of our environmental statement year after year is an act of transparency so that all stakeholders can evaluate our environmental achievements.

And we are very pleased to announce that we have recently been recognized for best practices in sustainable management and have been certified with the Biosphere sustainability seal, one of the most recognized seals in Europe in terms of good environmental practices.

THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING TOGETHER AGAINST DROUGHT

The average water consumption in Catalonia isabout 117 liters per inhabitant per day (the WHO establishes that the minimum necessary limit is 100 liters/ inhabitant/day). This generalized containment is a great ally not only to help ensure the availability of water, but also to raise awareness of a culture of saving and sustainability towards the environment.

Saving water is just one of the measures that we at Hotel Alimara have implemented to be more sustainable, a goal we work hard for every day of the year.

We are committed to sustainability and aware of our social impact, adapting more and more responsible and sustainable practices out of conviction and to meet the demands of the most conscious travelers.

COME AND TASTE THE WINNING DISHES OF THE CETT CATERING CONTEST

March 4, 2024 (updated February 28, 2024) | By Sergio | 0 Comments

The Summum Restaurant of the Hotel Alimara offers you the possibility of tasting the winning dishes of the XXVIII edition of the Cooking and Pastry and Catering Services Competitions of the CETT-UB.

These dishes will be available in the lunch menu of the Summum Restaurant, in limited edition and only during the month of March.

The winning proposals that you will be able to try are:

Calero "suquet" version - Proposal by Arnau De Diego Rubiol
Acid apple and cider - Proposal by Biel Ramírez Triguero
Bubble Tikki Cocktail - Proposal by Noa Jie Vernia Silva

The maître d' of the Hotel Alimara, Josep Maria Arcos, participated as a jury member during the competition and highlighted the creativity and professionalism shown by all the participants during the event.

Participation in this type of competition is a unique experience for CETT-UB students. They have the opportunity to value and demonstrate the knowledge and skills acquired throughout their training. It also serves to reinforce and improve skills such as work organization, autonomy and initiative, as well as responsibility and communication under pressure.

Don't miss it!

ALIMARA HOTEL EXPLAINS LIVE ITS WATER SAVING MEASURES

February 28, 2024 (updated February 28, 2024) | By Sergio | 0 Comments

Last Tuesday, at the Hotel Alimara we made a live connection with the program "Tot es mou" of TV3. Within the framework of the Mobile World Congress and the high hotel occupancy in Barcelona, with most hotels close to 100% occupancy, the public television magazine put in the focus of the debate how this high occupancy can be made compatible with the generalized drought situation that Catalonia is currently going through.

Eva Viciano, our manager, explained the measures that Hotel Alimara is implementing to fight against water waste and to become a more sustainable hotel every day. At the Alimara we have managed to stay below the water consumption per guest per night set by the European Union.

We have achieved this through various measures such as changing the natural grass for artificial grass or the use of the water left over by the clients of the Summum Restaurant and corporate meetings to water the plants or use it for cleaning the hotel.

To put it in perspective, we collect about 55 liters of water per week from our meeting rooms alone, which translates into annual savings of more than 2,600 liters of water. Overall, and in comparison to previous years, we are managing to consume 25% less water than before we implemented these measures.

If you are interested in recovering the live, you can do it in this link starting at 02:05:30

DISCOVER SUMMUM'S NEW SEASONAL MENU

February 12, 2024 (updated February 12, 2024) | By Sergio | 0 Comments

We would like to invite you to discover the new winter menu of our restaurant Summumwhere we offer you a unique and sustainable culinary experience. This time of the year brings us a wide variety of seasonal and local products, which are the basis of our new creations. Vegetables such as artichoke, eggplant and red cabbage will fill with color and flavor our classic meat and fish dishes.

We are proud to offer a selection of dishes carefully prepared with fresh, high quality ingredients sourced from local suppliers committed to sustainability and responsible consumption. At our restaurant, we strive to reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainable food consumption.

Our menu includes options for all tastesOur menu includes options for all tastes, with the best vegetables and legumes, as well as meat and fish dishes selected with care and attention. In addition, we offer a wide selection of wines and beverages that perfectly complement each of our dishes.

This winter you can try proposals such as our warm artichoke coca with mozzarella, Iberian ham and arugula, our Catalan-style stuffed free-range chicken, creamy sweet potato and "palo cortado" sauce or the reinvention of a classic dessert such as bread with chocolate, oil and salt .

If you are looking for an authentic, sustainable and seasonal culinary experience, come and try the new winter menu at Summum restaurant! We're sure you'll love it.

WE INVITE YOU TO A FREE YOGA CLASS

January 25, 2024 (updated February 1, 2024) | By Sergio | 0 Comments

We want you to start your day in the best way!

Every Friday, from 8 to 9 a.m. and completely free of charge, you can take a yoga class in an event room of the Alimara Hotel.

You only have to worry about bringing comfortable clothes and we will take care of the rest. You will be able to enjoy a yoga class adapted for all ages and you will have a yoga mat at your disposal.

You will take a free yoga class with instructor Xevi Dorca, a certified Hatta Vinyasa instructor. The source of inspiration for his classes are the fundamentals of Yoha Iyengar, a practice that focuses on postures as well as breathing and attention to the senses, which are the keys to integrating body and mind.

The first class is on February 2 and will be held periodically every Friday from 8 to 9 am.

You don't need to register, just come and enjoy a free yoga class in Barcelona 😉.

Are you going to miss it?

DISCOVER THE CETT SEMINAR RESEARCH AT THE HOTEL UNIVERSITARI ALIMARA

December 21, 2023 (updated December 19, 2023) | By Sergio | 0 Comments

As part of the university hotel proposal that CETT and Hotel Alimara are beginning to implement, the CETT Seminar Research, monthly academic research seminars open to the entire research community, are born.

Merging the academic and hotel environment, CETT and Hotel Alimara reinforce in this way their commitment to enhance the academic research culture of the CETT Campus. The theme of each seminar, about 45 minutes long, will always be related to tourism and / or hospitality and will take place, free of charge and open to anyone who wants to attend, in the Foyer of the Hotel Alimara. In the near future, these actions will be transferred to the Alimara Lab, the applied research laboratory of CETT and Hotel Alimara that will be launched in 2024.

This proposal also aims to create synergies among the research community and to carry out post-seminar networking sessions that may crystallize into future research collaborations with other universities.

During the first CETT Seminar Research, we had the pleasure to meet Dr. Rob van Ginneken. Trained in Groningen, Leuven and Paris, he is currently full professor of Hospitality Finance at the University of Applied Sciences in Breda where he conducts research on hotel management.

Dr. Rob van Ginneken opened the CETT Research Seminars to share his research on hotel management agreements, fairness in negotiation and refining the mastery of negotiation skills.

The second edition of the CETT Seminar Research was led by Dr. Oriol Anguera-Torrell, professor at the CETT Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality and Gastronomy (Universitat de Barcelona), where he teaches Tourism Economics and Hotel Revenue Management.

His current main areas of research are Tourism Economics and Hospitality.
This seminar analyzed one of the consequences of hotels charging a fixed amount to add lunch to a room reservation, an exciting topic to be able to implement improvements in the user experience of our guests.

Don't miss the next sessions! Interested in attending? Write us at marketing.alimara@cett.cat and we will keep you updated on the next actions of the Alimara University Hotel.

ALIMARA WEDDING NIGHT: FIND OUT WHERE YOU WILL CELEBRATE YOUR WEDDING

September 6, 2023 (updated September 19, 2023) | By Sergio | 0 Comments

Come and find out where to celebrate your wedding!

Come to the ALIMARA WEDDING NIGHT open house to get to know our halls and spectacular garden. Unique days deserve special places, celebrate your wedding at Hotel Alimara.

Are you ready? It all starts with an idea and our team of wedding planners will make it come true! We offer you to organize your wedding in our modular rooms for celebrations with a unique outdoor garden near the center of Barcelona.

Can you imagine celebrating your wedding in a garden 10 minutes from the center of Barcelona? We make it possible. Trust in our extensive experience for the organization of your most special day. We have a team of wedding planners ready to advise you so that everything goes perfectly.

In addition, we offer you the best gastronomic offer of our Restaurant Summum so that everything goes perfectly and extra services to organize a wedding to your needs. Personalize your celebration with floral decoration, makeup and hair services, entertainment and live music, photography and video ... and everything you need and can imagine. Leave it in our hands.

KNOW OUR ADVANTAGES

7% discount if you celebrate your wedding on Friday or Sunday.
Free disco for weddings over 65 adults.
The wedding night is included with free breakfast buffet so you don't have to worry about anything the next day.
Free menu tasting for 6 people in weddings with more than 65 adult guests or free for the couple and 50% discount for 4 other people in celebrations with less than 65 adults.

SAVE THE DATE!

📅05/10/2023
🕖From 6pm to 9pm
📌Berruguete, 126, 08035 (Barcelona)

Reservation at: ✉️alimara.banquets@cett.cat
📞935 040 444
👉https://alimarahotel.com/