ILUNION Hotels and GMA: Inclusion and Accessibility in the Hospitality Sector
In a world increasingly aware of the importance of inclusion and accessibility, the hospitality sector plays a key role in creating welcoming environments for everyone.
14 March 2024
With initiatives such as the renovation of the ILUNION Les Corts Hotel to enhance accessibility, ATOM Hoteles SOCIMI reaffirms its commitment to inclusion and adapted environments across its managed assets.
ATOM Hoteles SOCIMI, continuing its asset rotation and improvement plan, has completed the first phase of a joint investment in the ILUNION Les Corts Hotel in Barcelona, in line with the values of ILUNION Hotels: a global leader in sustainable, inclusive, and accessibility-focused hospitality. This initiative involved upgrading the accessibility in the necessary rooms at the ILUNION Les Corts Hotel, in line with both organizations’ shared commitment to corporate social responsibility and the creation of inclusive environments in the hotel industry.
The ILUNION Les Corts hotel is located in Barcelona’s city center and is operated by the renowned ILUNION Hotels brand, the first hotel company to receive the Global Certificate in Universal Accessibility (UNE-170001-2) and the EFQM 600+ seal.
In this context, the asset, part of the ATOM Hoteles SOCIMI portfolio, has completed the first phase of its comprehensive renovation plan, focusing investment on adapting rooms and bathrooms for people with reduced mobility, with the aim of providing a more accessible and welcoming environment for all guests. The renovation also included the hotel’s entrances and the entire ground floor. These improvements not only meet the accessibility standards required by law, but also reflect the commitment of ATOM Hoteles SOCIMI and ILUNION Hotels to creating inclusive and accessible spaces for everyone.
“At ATOM Hoteles SOCIMI, we recognise the importance of promoting inclusion and accessibility in our establishments, and everything we are building with ILUNION as a company — and especially with the people we collaborate with — is a true source of inspiration and learning,” says Víctor Martí. “Having the opportunity to manage assets operated by leading and unique hotel chains, such as ILUNION Hotels, is yet another example of our commitment to the society in which we operate and our support for stakeholder diversity.”
With this initiative, both the managing SOCIMI and the asset operated under the ILUNION Hotels brand strengthen their position as leaders in advancing inclusion and accessible tourism, demonstrating their commitment to society and the environment.
About ILUNION Hotels
ILUNION Hotels currently operates 30 hotels across Spain’s main urban and holiday destinations. Its business model is a pioneer and benchmark in universal accessibility, diversity, and the social and labour inclusion of people with disabilities in the tourism sector, born from a strong belief in true equality of opportunity.
It is the first hotel chain to hold a Global Universal Accessibility Certificate (UNE-170001-2) across all its establishments, along with the EFQM 600+ Seal. ILUNION Hotels offers guests unique experiences backed by a dedicated team of 1,700 professionals, over 700 of whom have some form of disability or face barriers to employment. In its 14 Special Employment Centres, this figure surpasses 70%.
About ATOM Hotels SOCIMI
ATOM is Spain’s first hotel-owning SOCIMI (REIT), an alternative investment vehicle focused on the hospitality sector. It was launched by Bankinter in January 2018 in collaboration with real estate asset manager GMA. To date, following two capital increases, it has attracted nearly 800 shareholders.
Its strategy has been based on building a portfolio of four- and five-star urban and resort hotels in priority destinations, leased on a long-term basis to top-tier national and international operators and independent hoteliers.
Currently, ATOM’s portfolio comprises 28 hotels, totalling 6,713 rooms, with asset values exceeding €900 million.
For the management of its assets, it has consistently adopted a model based on strategic partnerships with specialised companies in each investment segment of every fund or SOCIMI. These sectors include renewable energy, hospitality, logistics real estate, student housing, infrastructure, retail spaces, private equity, and venture capital.
About GMA
GMA is an independent capital firm specialising in the hospitality sector, with a strategic focus on investment, asset management, and real estate development. The company boasts a highly experienced professional team with over 30 years of expertise in both domestic and international markets.
GMA has managed both proprietary and third-party investments, assuming a wide range of roles depending on the nature of each company and project—ranging from opportunity identification and fund structuring to acquisition, management, co-investment, development, operation, and asset divestment.
In recent years, the company has been involved in over 500 transactions and projects, representing a total value exceeding €5 billion. It currently manages more than €1.4 billion in assets across all entities in which it holds a stake.
Sobre Bankinter Investment
Bankinter is Spain’s fourth-largest bank by market capitalisation and one of the most financially robust institutions in the country’s banking system. Bankinter Investment, the group’s Investment Banking division, has developed a leading alternative investment platform that has become a benchmark in the Spanish market.
Over the past seven years, it has successfully launched 22 alternative investment vehicles in partnership with specialised asset managers across a range of sectors, securing a committed capital of €4.462 billion. Bankinter Investment currently manages an asset portfolio representing over €7.2 billion in deployed capital, including project financing.
Its asset management approach consistently follows a model of strategic partnership with expert firms in each investment segment of every fund or SOCIMI, spanning sectors such as renewable energy, hospitality, logistics real estate, student housing, infrastructure, retail space, private equity, and venture capital.