ARCHIVED - Historic Benidorm hotel to be demolished to make way for homes
Gran Hotel Delfin was one of the first hotels built during the Costa Blanca's early tourism development
The days of one of the historic landmarks of Benidorm's skyline, the Gran Hotel Delfin, are numbered, with plans to demolish the building to make way for a residential development.
Developer Goya Real Estate has already submitted plans to Benidorm Town Hall to pull down the hotel, which is owned by the firm, with a view to building a "more striking" residential development in its place.
However, Goya must also get approval from the Provincial Coastal Service (Costas) to go ahead with the project.
Hotel Delfin is located on the front line in the Poniente coastal area, and because of its proximity to the sea, Costas will have to green light its demolition because part of the site where the swimming pool is currently located is affected by the demarcation which was approved in 2005 and is still in operation.
Back in 2017, Goya bought part of the land on which the hotel stands but hit administrative delays due to demarcation issues.
The Delfin Hotel tower has become one of the landmarks of the Benidorm skyline and is known as one of the symbols of the first years of tourism in the resort.
Its construction dates back to the Franco years and since 1963 it has been one of the most luxurious hotels in the municipality, attracting artists and celebrities during the boom of the 60s.
It was also the setting for important films of the time. Manolo Escobar was one of the first to show the falchada and its corridors in 'Beso en un puerto' released in 1966.
The dolphin mural on the back façade has been an icon since its inauguration, and the perfect backdrop for countless holiday snaps and postcards.
Historian Francisco Amillo has charted the history of the hotel. His account explains that the hotel was founded by Felipe Pastor González, who also built the Los Dálmatas hotel, which later passed into the hands of Rumasa and is now owned by the former president of the Hosbec employers' association, Toni Mayor.
"You are stepping on gold", he told his wife and companions in the summer of 1957 when he saw the plot for sale.
At that time, Benidorm was a small town of 3,000 inhabitants and pretty much undeveloped.
When construction began five years later, the resort's hotel portfolio had grown to 22 hotels and the population had doubled.
Image. Visit Benidorm
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