15/03/2021
From Textile Factory to Hotel: The story of Neptuno Hotel & Spa
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By the end of 1958 the Nogueras family, made up of a married couple and their two daughters, decided to buy an old textile factory in the center of Calella. That is where the story of Neptuno Hotel & Spa began. Do you want to know it? Read this post!
The Origin
Although the textile industry was the booming sector of the 1960s, the family saw that tourism was beginning to be important and that the first foreigners in Calella were staying in private homes. As an entrepreneurial family and with many concerns to overcome and new challenges, they set out on the great adventure of turning the factory into a small hotel.
At that time the factory consisted of two buildings, although they only occupied one, which had Sant Josep street’s views. Until that day, the ground floor of the building was rented to a car mechanic workshop, the boss of which fell in love with the youngest daughter of the Nogueras family, Josefa.
So in 1961, the one-star Tourist Hotel was opened. Without knowing anything about tourism nor speaking languages other than Catalan and Spanish, the family began to receive tourists in their small 28-room hotel.
It was a great success, the clients were very satisfied since almost all the workers were from the family and it became a very pleasant place as if they were staying at their home. On the same year 1961, Josefa married Gregorio Hernando (owner of the mechanical workshop).
Seeing the acceptance of the new business, in 1962 they occupied the second building obtaining 78 rooms and changed the name to the current one Neptuno. Josefa and Gregorio worked together with sister Benita and brother-in-law Ángel. Throughout the winter the four traveled by car to Central Europe looking for more clients.
Hotel Modernization
The business was modernized and the bathroom was incorporated into the rooms, thus achieving 2 stars. The family was growing and the two couples already had children. In the 80s (Tourist Boom), they bought a third building reaching 106 rooms and 3 stars. In 1985 the two daughters of the marriage, Alba and Marta, joined the business. They bought another building to build apartments, so they already had 106 rooms and 12 apartments.
In 1990, Marta Hernando, the oldest daughter of the couple, took over the management of the business so that her parents could retire permanently.
In 2009 they bought an adjoining house to build the second apartment building and parking spaces. At that time they had 106 rooms and 28 three-star apartments and three keys respectively.
New Project, same roots
In 2019 two of Marta's three daughters, Marina and Sònia Corral, join the family business. In winter 2019-2020, the family has embarked on the ambitious project to completely reform the hotel to achieve 4-star Superior, where comfort, sustainability and excellent personalized service are the main axes.
This is the story of the beginnings of Neptuno Hotel & Spa, a hotel that has always looked to the future. We are waiting to receive you, serve you and take care of you as a member of our family in this exciting project.
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