New hotels trust in Sitges

Next week, Madrid will host FITUR - International Tourism Trade Fair. FITUR is the leading professional forum devoted to tourism in the Spanish state. Sitges will be there again to promote our tourism and exhibit our town as a first class tourist resort, with an offer tailored to different compatible sectors and segments. Sitges will present its card at FITUR, fully convinced of having infrastructure and services capable of meeting our current needs.

Despite the growing crisis and the fact that the economic situation does not show any real sign of recovery, the tourism industry in Sitges is weathering the storm and our town continues to maintain its power of seduction. In fact, tourism has increased because our resilience makes it more attractive than other destinations that have been forced to backtrack on tourism and gambling projects.

The data confirms this situation. During the past year, which so far has been the worse in the current crisis, Sitges opened seven hotels belonging to different categories. From top class hotels to pensions and mid-level hotels, our town received several investments that are a living proof of confidence in our capabilities and our future. 

Some of those hostelry businesses are brand new. Probably, the most significant new hotel is Avenida Sofia Hotel & Spa. Past week, the hotel opened doors thanks to an arrangement between ownership and the City Hall, until justice finally settles issues related to balconies. The present municipal Government is totally compromised with economic promotion and creation of jobs, but always in full compliance with the law.

Other new hotels have been the result of restructuring old facilities, some of which were closed or only opened for the season. This is the case of Medium Park (at Carrer Jesús), Hotel Sitges or Hotel Utopia (both in the Vinyet sector), three flaming brands that have arrived with new ideas, a renewed passion and a suggestive offer geared to different segments.

And finally, there are three new facilities that transformed old houses in the center of town into attractive small hotels: Led (Carrer Sant Pere), Terracotta (Carrer Carreta) and Deluxe Devallada (at the street of the same name). Those three facilities play a role of great importance among Sitges' tourist attractions: on one hand, they offer services totally demoted from large crowds that take care of every detail, and secondly, they knew how to preserve the charm and the rich heritage of the buildings they occupy. One factor, the latter very important for the current City Council, which triggered actions favoring heritage conservation.

Tourism entrepreneurs believe in Sitges because the town offers many possibilities. At a time of recession, when most economic sectors are experiencing serious economic troubles, the news that tourism, our tourism, maintains its bearing and has projects for the future should be welcomed with caution, but also with the satisfaction that generates confidence in our possibilities.

At FITUR we will exhibit the potential of Sitges to hostelry investors, with the aim of strengthening tourism related with our beaches, culture, shopping, dining, entertainment and sports. The compatibility and diversification of the aforementioned options are guaranteed.

The Chapel of Sant Sebastià is celebrating its 150th Anniversary

Today Sunday we held a very special celebration. The commemoration of the 150 years of the chapel of Sant Sebastià (Saint Sebastian). I will ask your permission to reproduce my words on that occasion:

"Residents of Sitges, gathered this afternoon at the esplanade of the Chapel of Sant Sebastià. 

Today we commemorate the blessing of the Chapel of Sant Sebastià in 1861. With two years of delay due to necessary refurbishment works carried out on the chapel, we are celebrating today the 150th Anniversary of one of the extraordinary events that happened in our town because of such blessing.

The day after the Town Festival of Sant Bartomeu, August 25, popular dances and their music accompanied the tabernacle with the image of Sant Sebastià around all around village streets, from the Parish Church to the new Chapel, as we did this afternoon in January. During the Festival Cycle in Sitges, the exit of dances and music has always been a symbol and sign if a big festival, and even more if due to extraordinary reasons. And such was the case on that memorable occasion of 1861.

Let's envisage Sitges during the mid-nineteenth century. A small walled town still without roads or railways, surrounded by Malvasia and Muscat vineyards, with their good folk living a humble existence toiling the land and the sea, spending a vast number of hours on such tasks. People that were so devoted to work that waited eagerly all festivities to gather and share, especially among those assisting to the festivities held in our chapels: Sant Sebastià (Saint Sebastian), la Mare de Déu de Gràcia (Our Lady of Grace), la Trinitat (the Trinity), el Vinyet and Santa Bàrbara. Let's imagine the stir that provoked such an important Festivity back in 1861.

The fact is that, since ancient times, people throughout Europe invoked Saint Sebastià as a protector against plague and other epidemics during the Middle and Modern ages. So the chapels were erected under his invocation at the entrance of towns and cities, to protect the people from evil and not allow the entry of disease into streets and squares. Sitges was not untouched by such matters, and that's why the town raised the Chapel of Sant Sebastià at the outskirts of town, close to the portal that gave entrance to the walled enclosure of Port de n'Alegre since at least 1513. That is, for more than 500 years.

This celebration is also an opportunity to discover or rediscover heritage and tradition, a tradition that is increasing in value during recent years, in order to know more about our history. Sant Sebastià is the chapel that lends its name to one of the most iconic and beloved enclaves in our town.

In ancient times many diseases provoked havoc in our land. The advance of science and research has allowed us to fight them, though not enough in some specific cases. Humanity is still weak against cancer, AIDS or rare diseases ... zealously looks for remedies for all such plagues. But humanity still suffers plagues that scourge the lack of equality, opportunity and social inclusion: unemployment, evictions, intolerance, gender violence, abuse of power, including torture. Those are the current plagues that can undermine any vestige of humanity. 

Our forefathers commended themselves to the Saints. We can still feel the need of their intervention. But beyond religious beliefs, we need men and women engaged with mankind. 

The XXI century society suffers the scourge of many plagues under the form of human suffering. We need men and women who are good tools to fight them. From our civil society, from unions and employers, from public institutions. 

Freedom, prosperity and social justice are achieved with the commitment of everyone, with their personal and collective contribution. This is the only way to achieve a more just and prosperous world. Our town, like so many other things, as it has happened throughout history, must also be a benchmark.

We should all have courage and commitment. Long live Sitges!”.

A budget that hopes for a better future

The City Council's Plenary Session approved last week the Municipal Budget for the year 2013. The proposed budget submitted by the City Council will mark this year's municipal agenda that has a double edge: on one side, the implementation of social policies in support of people, especially groups in need, and on the other side, to maintain the challenge to narrow the deficit inherited by the Socialist – Eco Communist government, a condition that unfortunately is affecting all the institutional and governmental programs enacted by the City Hall.

The Policy designed by the Government for 2013 contains some of the actions to support individuals and families in need, who were covered by the Plan Mandate, but the economic situation prevented its implementation in 2012. The Blue Card and Soup Kitchens are the two most significant initiatives and in the coming weeks they will be a reality.

The Blue Card is a tool that will allow people with lower incomes to access certain services at no cost and with significant reductions. The type of card, which obviously will be only available to residents in Sitges, also offer discounts at local businesses, thereby also giving a concrete answer to those most in need, the card will also be a direct stimulus to promote local businesses. For its part, the soup kitchen is also part of this policy, immediate concrete actions aimed at those who suffer most from the effects of the crisis.

The budget includes works that have been necessary for years: the refurbishment of Santiago Rusiñol Popular Library, which we recently celebrated the 75th anniversary. This action is part of a new culture of defense of our architectural and artistic heritage, an action we decided to implement and that will define the Sitges to come. The active and affirmative support of the City Hall to the refurbishment of Casino Prado Suburense, reopening this 2013, Cau Ferrat (according to the criteria of the heritage conservation board) and the development of a new catalog of Architectural Heritage (which is in his due course) are part of this heritage defense policy, included the agreement of the Municipal Government: preserve rather than build.

Actions to improve public services, to strengthen urban cleaning, strengthen the Sitges Brand and collaboration with the business sector of the town ... the Municipal Budget 2013 is an open folder to answer the immediate needs of the town and plan the future with criteria, determination, austerity and efficiency.

The municipal budget shows a public expenditure of 38.5 million €, while revenues will be 41.1 million €, the difference between these two figures will be used to reduce the large deficit found when this Government took over municipal management, a year and a half in the past. In this municipal corporation, we have used all the technical and financial resources at our disposal, as well as a painful but vital increase in property tax to reduce the serious deficit that characterized the city of Sitges.

The year 2013 spells dire straits for Sitges, Catalonia and Spain. The recession is expressing itself in a more virulent way than ever and such a fact is latent in all sectors. However, the rigor that characterizes this budget suggests that, at least in the recovery of municipal finances, this year could be a turning point. Nothing will be like before, since it was necessary to implement a new culture of spending and use of public money in our City Hall. I have full confidence in this budget, both in spirit and rigor of execution. This budget must be a recovery tool for increasing confidence in the future.

Residents of Sitges, I wish that 2013 will be a year of hope.