PALMA, 6 (EUROPA PRESS)
The Hotel Business Federation of Mallorca has highlighted the industry's management and preparations for the event, and has emphasized that it has not been used as a marketing ploy to attract more visitors in the middle of the season, but rather the goal has been to coordinate with authorities to reduce travel, reinforce security, and help ensure the day will proceed normally.
In a statement, the hoteliers emphasized that the industry is accustomed to managing large crowds daily and that the preparations made over the past few months will allow them to face August 12 with normalcy, organization, official information, and common guidelines.
The hotel association has noted that, since last February, it has been participating in the Communication and Tourism Commission created by the regional government in relation to the total solar eclipse on August 12.
Over the past few months, they indicated, the FEHM's role has been to act as an intermediary between the Commission and the hotel sector. On one hand, by conveying the operational realities, needs, and problems raised by the establishments. On the other hand, it has ensured that official information, recommendations, and the measures being adopted are communicated to the sector in an agile and organized manner.
The Federation's structure—which comprises 23 hotel associations and nearly 800 establishments from all over Mallorca—has made it possible to maintain this flow of information continuously and to reach the sector as a whole with a common approach.
OFFICIAL INFORMATION AND A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT
After each of the six meetings held by the Commission, the FEHM has informed its member associations and establishments of the latest developments and updates.
From the beginning, the official 'Safe Eclipse' website was established as a reference point, centralizing the measures, recommendations, and materials developed by the regional government.
The Eclipse Horizon 2026 app has also been promoted, which allows users to check the eclipse's visibility from a specific location, as well as providing information on Official Viewing Zones, travel tips, eye protection and fire prevention measures, and the specific measures announced by the various authorities.
The documentation has been distributed in Spanish, Catalan, English, German, and French, so that establishments can provide accurate information to both their staff and their customers.
FEHM has also maintained a continuous dialogue with the media, conveying a coordinated message with the Government of the Generalitat and always based on official information.
The goal has been to avoid different interpretations, reduce uncertainty, and help ensure that establishments, residents, and visitors have access to clear and up-to-date information.
SPECIAL ATTENTION TO WORKERS
A significant part of the work has focused on the internal organization of hotels and on staff access to areas affected by mobility restrictions.
FEHM has communicated the procedures established by the city councils of Palma and Llucmajor to the establishments, clarifying the accreditation systems, the necessary supporting documentation, the schedules, and the access conditions.
This information has allowed hotels to organize shifts, submit the necessary documentation in advance, and inform their staff to minimize disruptions during the workday.
In the case of Platja de Palma, the differences between the agreements of the two municipalities have also been communicated, such as the QR code accreditation system established by the Palma City Council and access via proof of booking or verified reservations in the Llucmajor area.
Preparations began in April. Proactive planning has characterized the FEHM's work from the beginning. On April 24, almost four months before the eclipse, the Federation organized the technical seminar "Eclipse: Keys to Optimizing the Guest Experience and Generating Value," aimed at both member and non-member establishments.
The event was attended by representatives from hotel chains, associations, independent hotels, and companies in the sector.
The session featured presentations by specialists, who shared their knowledge on astronomical observation and provided practical tools to tailor the experience to the specific characteristics of each establishment.
The workshop addressed three key areas: hotel operations, the guest experience, and destination management. The approach has been clear from the beginning: to provide verified information, incorporate knowledge and safety measures, allow each hotel to prepare in advance, and promote alternatives within the establishments themselves whenever possible.
The interest and participation of the industry confirmed its commitment to prepare in advance, address inquiries, and work according to common standards.
THE ECLIPSE WAS NOT CONCEIVED AS A TOURIST PRODUCT
FEHM has maintained a clear position from the beginning: the eclipse has not been treated as a product designed to attract more visitors.
It will take place during the middle weeks of the season, when establishments will already be handling the usual volume of guests for this time of year.
For the hotel industry, therefore, it is not about managing additional demand, but about properly organizing a specific day as part of the hotels' daily operations.
Efforts have been focused on avoiding last-minute preparations and on preparing establishments to provide information, organize their guests' experience, and make decisions tailored to their location and facilities.
In cases where the event can be seen from the hotel itself or its surroundings, hotels have been encouraged to allow guests to stay on-site. In cases where there is no direct view, some hotels have planned informational activities, live broadcasts, or the installation of screens.
This approach allows hotels to offer a high-quality experience while reducing unnecessary travel.
EXPERIENCE, SAFETY, AND DESTINATION MANAGEMENT
As they have emphasized, the hotel industry is accustomed to managing a large volume of people daily. The preparations made over the past few months mean that August 12 can be approached with a sense of normalcy, organization, official information, and common criteria.
FEHM's contribution has been to translate the Commission's work into practical information and tools for establishments, such as communicating official measures; organizing and updating information; clarifying procedures affecting staff and guests; providing materials in multiple languages; handling inquiries from the industry; coordinating messages communicated to the media; and helping each establishment prepare for the day according to its specific circumstances.
FEHM, they noted, was the only business organization to give its own presentation at the information session organized by the Regional Government on July 28, in the section dedicated to best practices, where it outlined the procedure followed to prepare the hotel sector, as an exercise in responsibility.