Azora acquires Costa Brava resort (ES)

Azora acquires Arenas Resort Giverola (ES)

Azora has acquired the Arenas Resort Giverola, in Costa Brava, Spain, from the leading Swiss hotel group Arenas The Resorts. The acquisition has been made on behalf of the Azora European Hotel and Lodging, and represents the Fund’s first purchase since Azora assembled its seed portfolio ahead of a €680m first close last summer.

 

Spread over 35 hectares in a prime location at the heart of Costa Brava, the beachfront resort comprises a 213 apartment hotel complex, as well as a large campsite. It currently offers a number of high-quality amenities, including five restaurants and bars, sports facilities and swimming pools including a spa, as well as plentiful parking. Located in the popular Tossa del Mar region in northeastern Catalonia, the resort benefits from direct access to two of Costa Brava’s most picturesque beaches, Cala Pola and Cala Giverola. The area is also renowned for being one of the best locations for cycling in Europe.

 

Azora has appointed Med Playa, one of Spain’s largest hotel operators, to manage the resort, strengthening their existing working relationship. Azora believes there is potential to create value and improve income at the asset, which was originally built in 1988, and plans to invest c. €40m to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment and expansion of the existing facilities across both the hotel and camping elements. Work is already underway to transform the campsite into a modern ‘glamping’ destination, which on completion, will offer 125 bungalows, 62 tents and 126 caravan spots. The 213 apartment hotel element will be upgraded to achieve a 4-star rating with work undertaken two phases, the first of which is due to start in November 2021. Azora and Med Playa will reopen the hotel to the public next June.

 

Monica Garay, Senior Partner and Head of Alternative Lodging at Azora, commented: “Having completed the initial capital raise for our latest hotel fund last summer, we have patiently observed the sector against the backdrop of the pandemic while assessing a number of opportunities. This significant acquisition is our first for the Fund since assembling its seed portfolio and presents us with an opportunity to fully reposition an extremely well-located resort in a popular destination area for domestic and international tourists. By utilising our deep asset management expertise we will aim to add value and increase operating income at the resort in order to deliver attractive returns on behalf of its investors. Following a period of limited tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we retain our long-held conviction in the sector as an investment that will continue to be supported by societal trends.  With the vaccine roll out successfully underway across Europe we expect a rapid rebound in many parts of the sector as travel and other restrictions are gradually eased. Costa Brava has historically attracted high numbers of tourists, while the resort’s outdoor focus has not only increased its resilience to the impacts of Covid-19, but will also allow it to recover faster than traditional resorts.”

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