The former Hotel Camino Real was promoted as having the only “private beach in Mazatlán”.
Francisco Córdova Celaya, Secretary of Tourism for the state of Sinaloa, confirmed to reporters that the old Camino Real, which has been closed for the last years, will be revived with an investment of 500 million pesos ($38 million). He added that the refurbishing of the closed hotel will create as many as 300 jobs for the area.
The hotel was originally opened in 1971 and was one of the first hotels to build on the beaches located in northern Mazatlán. Historian Enrique Ayala Vega said that in the beginning, Hotel Camino Real was promoted as having the only “private beach in Mazatlán.”
Secretary of Tourism said, “We already confirmed that the Hernández family (owners of the property) and an entrepreneur will invest, but there is much work to do, you practically have to rebuild everything.”
A labor dispute that began in 2003 at Hotel El Faro Mazatlán ended in 2011 with the payment of 3 million pesos ($228,000) to striking employees, but it broke the hotel. Governor Mario López Valdez, the governor of Sinaloa at the time, said this resort would soon recover, but it has taken almost three years.
As well as re-opening Hotel El Faro, the Secretary announced Mazatlán will soon offer 1,000 more hotel rooms due to additions to existing hotels and construction of new ones.
Among those, he mentioned that Grupo El Cid will build another hotel of 100 rooms to be constructed beside its present location in the Golden Zone. Pueblo Bonito, Playa Mazatlán and Luna Palace have all announced plans to expand, while the Hydra condominium/hotel project will be completed in the coming months.
Taking into account another new condo-hotel in the Marina to begin construction in June offering 256 rooms and 100 condo units, all totaled Mazatlán will increase its room inventory to 12,000 units.
Rooms, said the Secretary, that have been missing in Mazatlán because during tourist season there has not been enough accommodation available. Hotels are completely full, adding he didn´t know what would happen this summer because from June to August no rooms are available.
(from Noroeste)
