Marbella abuzz over Obama visit

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 09:36

Written by Editor

The news that Michele Obama and her youngest daughter are to spend five days in Marbella – from August 4th to 8th – has set the local and national press speculating as to whether the President will accompany them. And repeated denials by the White House have not stilled the rumours, fueled by the fact that President Obama celebrates his 49th birthday on August 4th.

But with him or without him, the visit will do more to restore Marbella – and the Costa del Sol – as a desirable destination for US travellers than all the advertising campaigns in the world. Some 40 rooms have been booked at the luxurious Villa Padierna hotel for Mrs Obama, her daughter and an entourage of some 60 bodyguards and other White House staff. Any empty rooms at the hotel were filled within hours of the news about the Obama visit hitting the headlines.

The president of the Costa del Sol's Hoteliers Association (Aehcos), José Carlos Escribano, said the visit was of “incalculable value”. He added: “It will give a tremendous boost to the brand image of the Costa del Sol with Marbella at the head of it.” The Junta de Andalucia's tourism councillor, Luciano Alonso, could not contain his satisfaction when he heard the news in Shanghai where he is visiting the Universal Expo. He described it as the best promotion the Costa del Sol could have, but asked people to respect Mrs Obama's privacy. “We want to make her visit as pleasant as possible,” he said.

From Marbella, Mrs Obama and her daughter will go on to Mallorca, where they  are expected to have lunch with the Royal family. King Juan Carlos did not meet Mrs Obama when he lunched with President Obama during a visit to Washington in February.