Our Clave! team had the good fortune of being invited to Salinas, Ecuador´s premier beach resort, to stay in the first “All-Inclusive” hotel. Opened in 2000 as the Barceló Colón Miramar hotel, the name changed November 2016 to Barceló Salinas. Simultaneously, a new tower on the seashore was opened.
The name change is good news as it reflects the regional growth of the Barceló Hotel Group, Spain´s third largest hotel chain and one of the largest in the world. Barceló Salinas is the new brand for the Group´s only hotel in Ecuador.
As a seashore hotel in a well-known resort town, Barceló is easily the best choice for conventions, weddings and other events. Five large ballrooms, the biggest able to seat up to 280 guests, plus all the necessary equipment, are available to cater successfully to any type of event.
Special packages for weddings include a wedding planner, custom decoration for the ceremony and a variety of amenities for the bride and groom. The quality of the facilities and its sophisticated staff set an example, not just in Salinas, but for the entire hospitality industry in the country.
Another advantage is that Barceló Salinas is only ninety minutes by car from Guayaquil´s international airport, a great convenience for foreign guests. The hotel provides transportation to and from the airport. The layout of the hotel offers an incredible balance between the energy provided by an in-town location with the quiet calm desired of any beach vacation. Customer service and Barceló´s All-Inclusive package make this hotel stand out in Salinas, as its guests can take advantage of all its services and facilities at no extra charge.
To entertain and pamper its guests, the hotel has two swimming pools, a hair salon and spa, a disco, a handicrafts shop, a business center, a gym, a sauna and Turkish bath, a children´s playground, beach volleyball and soccer fields, plus tours to nearby attractions.
The Barceló´s cuisine is something else. The daily staple is the Café Colón restaurant offering three daily meals, buffet style. Other options are the Océano, with its menu of Spanish and Mediterranean dishes, and the Kioto Sushi Bar, with exotic Oriental fare in the ambiance of an elegant Japanese restaurant. Last but not least, the Rincón Miramar Bar&Grill.
Snacks and quick meals are found in the Coco Bar, together with a wide range of beverages and house cocktails served around the pool. Even better, the Black Marlin, the Lobby Bar and the Space Sports & Bar were opened to round out a full range of places ready to please any guest.
The newly opened seashore tower was designed to host families as well as participants in corporate events. It´s connected to the main building through a flying bridge that shortens the trip to all areas of the hotel.
This new tower has 29 suites, each with a private terrace and a magnificent sea view. Rooms can be integrated in order to create small apartments for families on vacation. Amenities include wi-fi, a minibar and a coffe maker, plus luxury tour services to make the most of Salinas´ attractions.