MARBELLA on the MOVE

TOWN HALL BULLETIN

25 March 2010

Marbella was in the headlines in New York, for the right reasons, when the mayoress, Ángeles Muñoz, presided over the Closing Bell ceremony at the Nasdaq market, as part of a promotional campaign in the Big Apple.

29 March 2010

The town hall concluded its project to regain 7,000 square metres of public space with the inauguration of the Puerto Deportivo terraces on the Paseo Marítimo – a ceremony presided over by the mayoress, Ángeles Muñoz, and the regional Minister for Commerce, Sport and Tourism, Luciano Alonso.

29 March 2010

Officially opened by the mayoress, Ángeles Muñoz, in the presence of the regional Minister for Commerce, Sport and Tourism, Luciano Alonso, the pedestrian walkway across the Rio Verde, linking Marbella and San Pedro Alcántara, is said to be the longest in Spain without any intermediate supports.

8 April 2010

José Luis Hernández, the councillor for tourism, formally presented “Marbella Open City”, a pacesetting project aimed at enhancing the international community’s integration into municipal affairs, both in a social and a business context. He was joined by Begoña Castillo, from the Centro de Iniciativas (CIT) and Laura Stanbridge, representing the British Chamber of Commerce. Also present was a member of the town hall’s “Think Tank Advisory Group”, Michael R. Foltinger.

15 April 2010

The mayoress, Ángeles Muñoz, welcomed foreign businesspeople resident in the municipality to the inaugural Annual Assembly of International Business Associations as part of a new initiative, “Marbella Open City”, aimed at boosting the town’s investment opportunities.

20 May 2010

The eagerly-awaited approval of the urban town plan (PGOU) was hailed by the mayoress, Ángeles Muñoz, as an opportunity “to return Marbella to the path of urban normality and to open a new era of economic reactivation”.

26 May 2010

The town hall has launched a new tourism website (marbellaexclusive.com), incorporating information about the municipality’s services and promoting local businesses. At the official presentation, the mayoress, Ángeles Muñoz (accompanied by the councillor for tourism, José Luis Hernández), said the interactive site would include a directory of 30,000 businesses, in such categories as hotels, golf courses, culture, gastronomy, nature and congresses.

1 June 2010

Former Wimbledon (1966), French Open (1961, 1964) and US Open (1965) champion, and long-time Marbella resident, Manolo Santana attended the official presentation of the Marbella Masters tournament, to be held from 17 to 19 September at Puente Romano.

10 June 2010

The town hall has called on the Junta de Andalucía (regional government) to guarantee expansion of the La Bajadilla port to enable the town to capitalise on business from visiting cruise liners – including the über-luxurious World of Residence Sea, which anchored off Puerto Banús.

26 June 2010

The town hall named Spanish national basketball coach Sergio Scariolo an “Ambassador for Marbella” in recognition of his successful career (he coached the team to victory in the 2009 EuroBasket competition), his charity work and his close association with the town.

14 July 2010

The largest blue topaz in the world now bears the name “Marbella”, following the signing of an agreement between the town hall and Fulgencio Alcaraz, vice chairman of the owners of the piece, Royal Collection. The 8,225-carat gemstone remains on show at the Museo de Grabado Español Contemporario for two more days before becoming a part of the permanent collection at Art Natura in Málaga, due to open in December.

20 July 2010

Many of us will have wondered what happens to items confiscated by the police from “illegal street traders”. According to the town hall, over the past year they have accumulated 30,000 items (some of which – pictured – were destroyed in Puerto Banús in the presence of local businesspeople), in a “zero tolerance” battle against a trade that “seriously harms small and medium businesses”.

23 July 2010

Seven hundred people enjoyed the Vargas Llosa Literary Forum, making it the most important literary event held in the municipality, according to the councillor for culture, Carmen Díaz. In addition to Mario García Llosa himself, six top Spanish writers also took part in the forum.

27 July 2010

Triumphant Spanish football manager Vicente Bosque was officially received by the mayoress Ángeles Muñoz, who congratulated him on behalf of the town for La Rioja’s historic World Cup victory – and for “choosing Marbella as a holiday destination with his family”.

28 July 2010

The mayoress, Ángeles Muñoz, presided over the presentation of a special concert on 12 August at the Marbella bullring, in aid of Manos Unidos and featuring performances by Siempre Así, Los Morancos and José Manuel Soto.

4 August 2010

The mayoress, Ángeles Muñoz, offered the town hall’s full support for the inaugural Starlite Gala, to be held at Villa Padierna on 7 August – co-hosted by Antonio Banderas and Eva Longoria and promoted by Sandra García and María Brava (pictured).

6 August 2010

Top Spanish radio presenter Carlos Herrera (second from right) was one of the guest speakers at the closing ceremony of the University of Málaga’s summer course programme in the municipality.

30 August 2010

The mayoress, Ángeles Muñoz, presided over the start of the third stage of this year’s national Spanish cycling Vuelta (the 65th), in what she said was another example of the town hall’s commitment to promoting elite sporting events in the municipality.

20 September 2010

How to take advantage of the “Michelle Obama effect” was one of the key subjects on the agenda when the mayoress, Ángeles Muñoz, and councillor for tourism, José Luis Hernández, met with the US embassy in Spain’s counsellor for consular affairs, Peggy Gennatiempo, and the Costa del Sol consul, Roberta Aaron.

23 September 2010

After a long period of commercial uncertainty and industrial unrest, Los Monteros – one of Marbella’s most venerable hotels – re-opened under new ownership and with an ongoing commitment by the Town Hall to support the establishment and its staff.