The Hesperia hotel chain has requested 55 million from the Strategic Companies Solvency Support Fund managed by SEPI to face the situation created by the pandemic, the restriction of activity and the almost total absence of tourists and business travelers . To questions from this newspaper, company sources explained that “various alternatives are being analyzed with the aim of further strengthening the financial position and keeping the company in an optimal situation at the time of recovery in the tourism market.” The objective is to study the financial conditions available to strengthen liquidity in the current situation of pandemic, added the same sources.
Hesperia has around 4,500 rooms spread over 28 hotels, both holiday and urban, and some 1,800 employees on its staff. In 2019, before the current crisis, revenues stood at 137 million, with a consolidated net result of 15.5 million. The coronavirus plummeted sales and led the company to a loss.
In the year that has elapsed since the declaration of the state of alarm, the company has activated all the levers it has had to weather the storm, from bank loans with ICO endorsement to subsidized ERTEs, which are now one year from now. its entry into force. However, the persistence of the virus and the measures to contain the pandemic have made it impossible to recover the sector and the hotel chain itself, which has always shown its solvency.
The measures to contain the pandemic have made it impossible for the hotel chain to recover
In July last year, the Government created a fund of 10,000 million to grant participative loans and very long-term debt under very favorable conditions to key companies – by their sector, employment or the weight in a territory – that needed help. Since then, three companies have already received the money: the airlines Air Europa and Plus Ultra and the industrial projects company Duro Felguera.
Many others hope to receive it soon, among which companies related to tourism or services are the majority, such as Wamos, Soho Boutique, Selenta, Hotusa, Petit Palace or Holmes Place, among others.
In addition to Hesperia, two other companies are already awaiting the tender for consultants by SEPI so that the study of their needs and the validation of their business plan and the return of aid can begin. These are the Hoteles Playa chain, which was also very affected by the drop in income due to the lack of tourists, and Sidenor Forgings & Castings. Yesterday it was not possible to contact either of the two companies. In the case of Hoteles Playa, the request to SEPI is 50 million, while Sidenor Forgings & Castings has limited its request to 30 million. As the management of the fund marks, at least 51% will be made with a participating loan and the rest, with senior debt.
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