The official publication of Law 1/2026 marks the beginning of a structural transformation in the operational management of the Canary Islands' accommodation sector. The legislation, which amends the 1995 Tourism Planning Law, mandates a standardized ergonomic modernization model focused on protecting hotel chambermaids. Southern Gran Canaria, the heart of the industry, with municipalities such as San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Mogán, becomes the primary testing ground for the implementation of adjustable beds and motorized trolleys, a measure that aims to align the destination's competitiveness with international standards for occupational health and social sustainability.
For southern Gran Canaria, this law represents a decisive step towards the "smart tourism" promoted by the Canary Islands Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. By integrating employee health into the bottom line, the accommodation sector seeks to differentiate itself from competing destinations in the Mediterranean. The image of the Canary Islands as a safe destination now extends beyond visitors to include the workforce, consolidating a model where productivity is measured not only in revenue per available room (RevPAR), but also in the well-being of the human capital that sustains the Maspalomas brand in the global market.
The severity of the law is evident in its system of infractions. Failure to meet the deadlines for installing adjustable beds will be considered a very serious infraction, with the corresponding financial penalties that could affect the business license. Furthermore, the regulation introduces the need to specifically assess the impact of items such as large duvets, whose daily handling increases physical fatigue. Every five years, the Administration will publish epidemiological studies that will dictate new preventative measures, ensuring that the regulations are not static but rather a process of continuous improvement.
The legislator bases this reform on the need to harmonize workplace safety with service quality. Accident statistics from 2024 revealed that 74% of workplace accidents resulting in sick leave in the archipelago occurred in the service sector, with the hospitality industry accounting for a third of these incidents. The introduction of mechanical or electronic bed-lifting systems aims to reduce musculoskeletal injuries caused by physical overexertion by 34%. For the large hotel complexes in Meloneras and Playa del Inglés, this measure is not only a legal requirement but also a strategy to reduce absenteeism and enhance the dignity of a profession critical to maintaining standards of luxury and comfort.
The new Article 44 mandates the installation of beds with adjustable bases in all accommodation units of hotels and other non-hotel establishments. This system allows cleaning staff to operate mechanisms that raise the mattress to an ergonomic height, facilitating both the removal of bed skirts and the cleaning of the floor beneath the bed without compromising spinal health. This requirement is extended, for the first time, to tourist apartments (VUTs), provided the operator manages five or more units or twenty beds on the same property. This necessitates the professionalization of the holiday rental sector in high-density areas such as Puerto Rico and Arguineguín.
The law is not limited to lounge furniture. The introduction of motorized trolleys for transporting textiles and cleaning supplies addresses another major cause of work absences: manually pulling heavy loads. The regulations require these trolleys to be standard, although they provide for an exemption system for small establishments with up to 30 rooms that demonstrate, through a technical report from the Canary Islands Institute for Occupational Safety (ICASEL), that the building's dimensions preclude their use. This distinction is relevant for boutique hotels and rural tourism establishments in the interior of Gran Canaria, which operate in buildings with greater architectural restrictions.
Given the scale of the investment required to renovate thousands of accommodation facilities, the Government of the Canary Islands has designed a framework for financial support. The seventh additional provision mandates the creation of specific subsidies and the study of a more advantageous IGIC (Canary Islands General Indirect Tax) rate for the acquisition of this equipment. The objective is to ensure that the renovation of the facilities does not compromise the financial stability of the companies, allowing for a gradual modernization process. Establishments have twelve months to submit their adaptation plan, integrating these changes into their occupational risk assessments under the supervision of the health and safety committees.
