Mallorca hoteliers are developing added-value tourist experiences designed to encourage guests to view the upcoming solar eclipse on 12 August from their own premises, aiming to reduce island-wide travel during the event. This approach was discussed during the technical session titled "Eclipse: keys to optimising the customer experience and generating value," held on Friday morning at the Federation Empresarial Hotelera de Mallorca (FEHM).
The initiative aligns with recommendations from the Commission of Communication and Tourism of the Eclipse, established by the Govern. The goal is to equip businesses with the tools needed to prepare in advance for the phenomenon, deliver valuable experiences to visitors, and support orderly management of people flows across Mallorca.
FEHM's executive vice-president, María José Aguiló, highlighted the sector’s aim to professionalise eclipse observation at hotels with assistance from experts. She explained that they are working on developing touristic and scientific experiences that guests can voluntarily participate in, allowing them to watch the event without leaving their accommodation.
Aguiló told reporters, "We can better manage people movements on the island, especially with potential crowding and road closures expected. Anything we can do to keep customers within the hotel... people will travel as they wish afterwards, but if we offer something appealing voluntarily, it can reduce unnecessary trips from hotel guests."
She added that this might be achieved by providing "a product that has an added value and helps create a memorable experience," featuring "a creative element tied to knowledge and science."
Similarly, Javier Ares, founder and director of Polaris Menorca, underlined the importance of planning ahead for this "unique and unrepeatable" event that will attract a large number of people to a confined area such as Mallorca. "The message we are sending is to understand and prepare so as not to contribute to possible traffic chaos and safety issues," he emphasised. Ares suggested that hotels could seek to retain their customers by offering an "unrepeatable experience" encompassing not only the eclipse itself but also the moments before and after.
Regarding hotel bookings, Aguiló noted that many individuals from the scientific community have already made reservations to ensure their presence during the eclipse. However, she clarified that these guests will not receive any special treatment and hotel capacity will be managed as usual. "The capacity is what it is, whether because of the eclipse or any other reason. The motivation doesn’t change the capacity, and it won’t affect our operations," she concluded.