Formentor beach sunlounger hire prices more than double those authorised by the government
By Andrew Ede
Copyright majorcadailybulletin
Pollensa Town Hall has launched an investigation to determine whether the Four Seasons management of the Hotel Formentor – Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor – has been breaching conditions of the contract for sunloungers and parasols on the Formentor beach.
On Thursday, a technician from the environment department went to the beach to review signage, prices, equipment and the surface area occupied by the sunloungers. The intervention follows complaints that a ‘private beach’ has been created for exclusive use by hotel guests. Neither Four Seasons nor Emin Capital, who own the hotel, have commented on the complaints.
The hotel has traditionally always operated the beach facilities. The contract for the concession is granted by the town hall. Other service providers have rarely shown an interest because of the costs and logistics involved in operating on an isolated beach some distance from Puerto Pollensa. The town hall, in turn, has to obtain authorisation for service. This was previously from the Costas Authority and is now from the Balearic Government’s coasts department.
It has emerged that the prices being charged for hiring sunloungers or Balinese beds are way over the maximum permitted by the relevant authority – the coasts department – for this concession. The approved rates are 80 euros for a Balinese bed and 25 euros for a ‘premium’ sunlounger; ten euros for others. The rates to hire are 210 euros for a Balinese bed and 157.50 euros for two premium sunloungers with parasols.
Although the concession granted by the town hall does not expressly limit the rates for hiring, expert opinion is that maximums authorised by the government should not be exceeded under any circumstances. If hire charges exceeding those authorised and the private use of the beach are confirmed, the coasts department could sanction the town hall and the hotel and even revoke operating rights.
Environment councillor, Steffy Pozo, says that the town hall opted for a contract that does not require setting maximum limits, although she accepts that there is a “difference of opinion”.
