THE high-spending UK party crowd could bring in as much as 20% of Marbella’s income from tourism, believes nightclub mogul Neil Acland.
The boss of nightclub Sleek explains that the partygoers, that include footballers, soap stars and the huge retinue of hangers on, bring in a steady stream of revenue unaffected by the recession.
The group – found each weekend at Marbella hotspots also including La Sala, Aqwa mist, Nikki Beach and Ocean Club – have no concerns about spending vast sums of money.
“They spent a lot of cash whatever is going on with the economy and create a lot of jobs, not to mention social security and money in licences for the town hall,” says Londoner Acland, who also runs hotel Sisu.
“This is a young group of 20 to 30-somethings with a lot of disposable income. They don’t get affected by the recession.”
The businessman, who previously worked in security in Denmark, explains that groups of professional footballers happily spend between ‘20,000 and 50,000 euros’ in one weekend.
“We have just organized for one group to come here for three days and then go to Ibiza for three days with a chartered jet taking them around,” he says. “We sort out the cars, the tables, the restaurants… money is no object.”
He adds that his Puerto Banus hotel sells 5,000 bottles of champagne and around 7,000 bottles of vodka a year. “And around 10% of those bottles of champagne will get sprayed around,” he admits.
He also believes that Marbella is increasingly getting a reputation for its music and acts.
“It is getting increasingly more like Ibiza here with better quality music and DJs,” he continues.
Glad to hear things are on the up in Marbella and Puerto Banus. However, some of those same people that are bringing the extra cash to the area are actually putting families off from going by the drunken antics of some of the hen and stag parties and (I’m told by people who have been there in the last year or two) of ladies of the night.