Isha Sesay
AT least one Balearic hotel group has had a better summer than expected.
The OD hotel chain, owner of three hotels in Ibiza and one in Mallorca, managed to achieve an occupancy rate of nearly 75% in the key summer months.
And now the group that also owns the hip Ryans chain in Ibiza, plus two more hotels in Barcelona and near St.Tropez, is planning to open a new hotel in London.
“We have the location in Camden Town and are just making final decisions on which brand it will be. Most likely a Ryans,” its boss Marc Rahola told the Olive Press.
The group is also set to open in Madrid and Miami over the next two years.
“Out of every crisis come opportunities and I think 2021 will be a good year,” explained the Ibizan-born Barcelona and Tottenham fan.
Talking from his office in London, he added: “People have been so starved of leisure activities and there will be so much demand to travel I am sure we will see a big upswing.”
But he added: “I am a natural optimist, but also believe in persistence. I am a huge fan of Johan Cruff and his belief that out of every disadvantage you’ll find an advantage.”
The businessman, who founded the chain, had intended to keep half of his hotels open through the autumn.
“But the restrictions with England, followed by Germany and Belgium made things tough, followed by the COVID outbreaks on Ibiza with Neymar and the PSG team killed the market,” Rahola added.
He said they had clung on in August, but by the end of the month would close all hotels apart from Ryans in Ibiza Town.
