For those travellers in Spain seeking an authentic heritage feel in their venue and accommodation, yet eager to ensure international hotel chain-style guaranteed quality standards, a parador may be the answer. The state Paradores organisation has a broad selection of these venues suitable for meetings and events, places where Spanish heritage charm comes with a very modern take on preserving the environment and delivering venues and traditional Spanish backdrops for events keen to deliver a positive impact to local communities as well as an authentic experience to delegates.
Loosely described as a unique type of state-owned luxury hotel, the parador comes in many shapes, sizes and locations.
Paradores are invariably historic, many located inside restored castles, convents, and palaces. There are also paradores reflecting a major nature landmark or set in classic mountain scenery.
The concept was launched in 1928 by King Alfonso XIII to boost tourism and preserve Spain’s monumental heritage.
Profits from the hotels are used to maintain these historic structures, which include castles, monasteries, palaces, and fortresses.
The public company Paradores, operates a national network of 98 hotels and more than 100 dining venues, many of which are famous for their regional dining, with menus focusing on traditional cuisine made with local and seasonal produce and to ancient local recipes.
Sustainable credentials
All properties are committed to a sustainable tourism model that integrates environmental protection, social welfare, local development and service excellence.
The Paradores organisation holds certifications including the ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and ISO 22483, as well as the “Q” for Tourism Quality and “Ecostars” seals. They also set great store in measuring and reducing the carbon footprint with external verification.
Paradores may have more publicity and marketing serving Spain’s traditional leisure tourism market, but corporate events play a key role now.
Conferences and meetings held at paradores are an opportunity to create value in a responsible manner – an important part of today’s international meeting zeitgeist.
The organisation also offers a ‘Sustainable Events Guide’, designed to support companies, through practical recommendations, in organising events that are more respectful of the environment, people and the community.
According to the Guide, Paradores aim “to ensure that every event not only meets the highest quality standards, but also contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the transition to a more responsible and resilient tourism model”.
“At Paradores, we consider an event to be sustainable when it is planned, developed and evaluated with the aim of minimising its environmental impact, maximising its social value, especially in the local environment and the well-being of attendees, as well as ensuring the efficient use of economic resources, all in line with our principles of responsibility and excellence,” the Guide explains.
The organisation of events at Paradores is based on sustainability principles that guarantee environmentally friendly management, in line with corporate values and the commitments set out in the 2025-2028 Sustainability Plan.These principles are grouped into environmental, social and governance (ESG) pillars, which are applied across all stages of the event.
All of the electricity contracted by Paradores is guaranteed as coming from renewable sources.
Revitalising catalyst
One of the fundamental pillars of Paradores’ mission is to revitalise the areas where they operate. This contribution is particularly significant in smaller towns where all events held at Paradores in some way contribute to the development and growth of the local community. Paradores promote the hiring of local suppliers based on criteria of sustainability and they prioritise collaboration with social entities.
The Spanish Paradores organisation maintains strategic alliances with nationally and internationally renowned entities, including the Spanish Network of the UN Global Compact, Forética, EUROPARC-Spain, the World Heritage Cities Group, the Oceanogràfic Foundation of Valencia, the Global Nature Foundation and the Spanish Red Cross, among others. All collaborations help to advance environmental, social and cultural objectives.
Promoting responsible travel
Paradores put great emphasis on planning responsible travel, encouraging companies and attendees to prioritise public transport whenever possible. Access can of course, be limited, and in such cases the recommendation is for carpooling or the use of low-emission vehicles.
The Paradores network supports these practices by providing information on the different transport options and the availability of charging points for electric vehicles at many of its establishments. In addition, Paradores clients are provided with an Event Carbon Footprint Calculator, which allows them to simulate journeys and estimate CO₂ emissions based on the means of transport used.
Socialising environment
Paradores facilitate socialising in a relaxed environment and can incorporate activities for attendees, such as walks, or cultural visits. There is a Paradores programme of nature experiences to tap into called ‘Nature for the Senses’.
“As a South African event management company working with international incentive and conference groups, we’ve seen strong interest in destinations that offer authenticity and a sense of place,” says Stephanie Moss, director of Solutions Event Group.
“Spain’s Paradores deliver exactly that. Their unique combination of heritage architecture, regional gastronomy, and dramatic locations makes them especially appealing for incentive and business or group leisure travellers seeking memorable, story‑rich experiences.
“I have found Paradores ideal for leadership strategic sessions and smaller incentive groups.
“For example, the Parador de Santo Estevo in Galicia offered a remarkable setting for a strategy‑focused incentive, its monastic courtyards and canyon views are so different to African experiences and it was very well received.
The same for Parador de Carmona near Seville which blended charm and exclusivity and outstanding cuisine.
“For our market we feel the touch points and cultural angles resonate strongly with our guests and delegates.”
The choice is the hard part, as the Paradores collection is broad and varied. But, if your clients want bragging rights, impact, put sustainability high on their agenda, and are looking for something with plenty of heritage and somewhere off the hotel chain beaten track, then, provided your event is not for hundreds of attendees the Paradores option could be one to explore.
More information, visit www.paradores.es
