TRAVEL

Are ‘adults only’ hotels legal?



  • 5% of Spanish hotels are “adults only”

  • They seek to attract adult tourists because their average spend is higher, but advertising these accommodations means discriminating against a group

“for couples only” or “Adults only These are some of the designations used to identify exclusively designed establishments Persons over 18 years of age This includes limitation of ageThat is, they do not allow boys and girls. They strive to attract travelers who want a more calm and relaxed environment during their trip. This often includes activities such as dinners, wine tastings, and massage treatments, Spa and night entertainment. “Accommodation is more expensive than usual because The search for more luxury, warmth and experiencesAnd they don’t mind paying more, explains Pablo Diaz, professor of tourism in the Department of Economics and Business at Universidade Operta de Catalunya (UOC).

during the The 1970s became fashionable Especially in the large tourist complexes in the Caribbean. Originally, the concept was intended for Couples from the United States Who were looking for childless vacations to rest. “Basically, it was a one- to two-week honeymoon for couples, with an experience Spa And healthComments Diaz, who adds that “this new trend focuses on holidays for a few days or weekends, especially on the coast, although as a result of the pandemic there is a new offer in rural areas such as Castilla-La Mancha or the Basque Country”.

Tourism focused on people over 30 years old

According to the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE), in 2019, about 23.6 million foreign tourists visited Spain for leisure purposes, of which approximately 13.3 million were 45 years of age or older. This represents a large part of the total tourism market in Spain. if this The type of tourism seems to focus on this market niche, especially due to age and spending. “these Products are focused on people over 45 years oldas well Young people between the ages of 30 and 45 who find these products attractive. But it is true that the tourism sector cares about it It attracts mature age tourists because there are more and more and because their average potential spending is higherDiaz details.

See also  CORTAR RAMAS DEL ÁRBOL |¿Puedo cortar las ramas del árbol de mi vecino si invaden mi jardín? El Código Civil lo aclara

In Spain, the first of these so-called “adults only” establishments opened in 2007 in Playa del Ingles, on Gran Canaria. Although it is nothing new, This type of adults-only tourism is experiencing a golden age. According to the report of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Facilities (CEHAT), 5% of Spanish hotels are “adults only”. “The increase is due to the dynamism of the tourism sector, which, in a constant search for new and attractive products, makes it suitable for an audience as interesting as that of Dual income, no children (DINKS) i.e. two salaries for adults without children. he The average expenditure on this type of product is higher than in simple tourist staysSo Interesting to biddersDiaz explains.

According to Hosteltur, after COVID-19 Couples bookings increased by 14%In 2020 it accounted for 51% and in 2021 65% of the reserves. “COVID-19 could have had something to do with the beginning of the fall of restrictions, when social distancing was sought and family confinement came along, with few prospects of escape as a couple. However, Once the pandemic is over, it seems like a trend driven more by the sector and the times than COVID-19 itselfHe adds: “Spain, in the European sphere, has been positioning itself as One of the European Union countries with the largest offer of exclusive hotels for adultsFollowed by Greece and Germany.

Concept Adults only It is discriminatory and illegal to object to the entry of minors

This is explained by Jorge Fernandez, Associate Professor of Law and Political Science Studies at the University of British Columbia. Yes, the definition itself It involves unequal treatment of a group of minorswhich put forward, It involves discriminatory treatment on the basis of age“Can this type of housing prevent the entry of a family with minor children?” Will be age discriminatory action, It would violate Article 14 of the Spanish Constitution, enshrined in the title relating to fundamental rights and duties,” he explains.

See also  Taking things from hotels: What many people do and no one matters

“the The common practice is not to deny, but to discourage families Children with minors from booking or contracting to stay in said hotels,” Fernandez adds. The forms of deterrence are very diverse: advertisements focused on adult activities, absence of children’s entertainment, children’s menus, extra beds or cribs, promotion of the hotel as a place of romantic rest, etc.” These are the measures that, in principle, discourage families with minor children from booking in the mentioned types of hotels, without expressly prohibiting access to itit states.

Related news

Making the reservation and realizing the mistake with the family and bags at the hotel does not give them the right to transfer these customers to another facility. If the reason for justifying the transfer is that it is a hotel Adults only And that minor children could not be in the hotel, without a doubt that would be age discrimination and would not be legal. The normal thing, in order not to be subjected to said discriminatory act, is that indicate other reasons that may justify the transfer, seasoned with other arguments that make the hotel they are going to move to more attractive to the family than the hotel they are booked into,” warns the legal expert.

hotels Adults only They are freely advertised on websites Reservations and travel requests that Fernandez believes Management should control this type of advertising more. “Departments are not overly active when it comes to inspecting accommodations that are advertised as adults only. In cases of inspections, the establishments response focuses on denying entry to minors and saying they simply focus on the adult audience, even though all types of customers They can access it without any restrictions in terms of age. Mentioning an error in ad expression is usually common, ”he concludes.

See also  A legal loophole opens the personal data of tens of thousands of freelancers to the public technology

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button