Hotel sector defends all inclusives

By Humphrey Carter THE Majorcan Hoteliers Association yesterday admitted that the controversial “all inclusive” hotel market is limited and that it is very close to reaching its peak in the Balearics. In response to claims by the Minister for Tourism Joan Flaquer on Tuesday that the number of all inclusive hotel complexes has actually fallen this year, hotel association chief Pedro Cañellas indicated yesterday that the market is reaching saturation point. However, Pedro Cañellas admitted that the all inclusive boom has been driven by market forces and changing holiday habits, thus it is going to be very difficult to know when it is going to end. That said, the hotel association boss was quick to defend his fellow colleagues whose hotels have been transformed into all inclusive complexes. He said yesterday that he is greatly concerned about the negative comments made about all inclusive hotels (food, drink and entertainment and certain activities are included in the package) and holidays and pointed the finger at politicians for helping to fuel claims that all inclusive “provide a poor service.” He said that hoteliers are merely meeting demand and claimed that, on the whole, all inclusive clients to the Balearics leave either very satisfied or satisfied with their holiday and the services provided. “We offer some of the best all inclusive hotels in the Mediterranean,” he said before adding that he, and the association, is against any kind of cap being put on the number of all inclusive hotels while he does back calls for better quality control measures, not only for the all inclusive hotels but the service sector in general. “What we need is a code of good practice,” Pedro Cañellas suggested yesterday. “There's nothing wrong with all inclusive hotels. They provide good quality service and should not be restricted or limited or prohibited, what the tourist industry here does need is a new code of practice,” he said.