A tribute to the soul of Maspalomas: Pedro del Castillo, the architect who laid the foundations for tourism with dignified housing

SEE ALL THE IMAGES FROM THE EVENT AT THIS LINK

The Hotel Santa Catalina, a silent witness to the history of Gran Canaria, was the setting this Monday for an event that resonated with the memory and future of the archipelago. La Gaveta Económica, Antonio Salazar's brilliant liberal magazine, presented its first Honorary Award to Pedro del Castillo y Bravo de Laguna, a figure whom Professor Antonio Macías described as an act of "justice for our collective identity."

It wasn't just a tribute to a businessman; it was a recognition of the pioneering spirit that shaped the landscape and economy of southern Gran Canaria. The central moment of the gala, which brought together the President of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo, and Councilor Jessica de León, was the gesture that encapsulated the legacy: Eustasio López, president of Lopesan Hotel Group, a current force in tourism, presented the award to the founder, Pedro del Castillo.

It was a handshake symbolizing the union between the person who had the original vision and the one who has continued to drive the area's development. As former minister José Manuel Soria pointed out, the vision of Del Castillo and his family not only created hotels, but also "generated opportunities for thousands of Canary Islanders and established a strong middle class."

The emotional root: "Decent homes first"

In his speech, Pedro del Castillo y Bravo de Laguna revealed the true emotional roots of the Maspalomas Costa Canaria project. With the architect's understated elegance and the founder's warmth, he recalled: "Maspalomas Costa Canaria was born from a family idea and the decision to prioritize creating decent homes for workers."

It was an act of faith and risk: "When no one believed in our project, we chose to do it alone, with our own effort and risk, and that's how it all began." His pride was directed towards those who have continued that "vision of working always looking further ahead," a legacy that ranges from the first irrigation with purified water to the support of global innovation projects.

Tourism as a development policy

The speeches converged on the idea that Del Castillo understood tourism was not an end in itself, but a means to economic development. Councilor Jessica de León thanked him for his work in consolidating a destination of which the Canary Islands are now proud, while Inmaculada de Benito (CEOE) stated: "Pedro del Castillo understood long before many others that tourism was not merely an industry for receiving visitors, but a genuine economic development policy."

The director of La Gaveta Económica, Antonio Salazar, concluded by describing the honoree's true legacy: "What truly defines him is his ability to transform land into prosperity and convert ideas, infrastructure, and effort into shared well-being for all of society." The day was, in essence, a reminder that the South of Gran Canaria was not a coincidence, but the result of the audacity and vision of a generation of pioneers.