Salvador Urbistondo, the entrepreneur of the Aroztegia project, has assured that this is a tourism project "that bets on the future of Baztan and the whole of Navarre". Urbistondo has highlighted that this macro-project is characterized by its "identity, authenticity and respect for people and goods, sustainability and harmony". “We want it to be a hotel that the baztaneses feel,” added Carlos Miró, representative of the US multinational Hilton in the Spanish state.

The Hotel Palacio de Arozteguía Baztan Curiosity Collection by Hilton will be the name of the 14th century Lekaroz Palace, which will offer "comprehensive tourism", as explained by Urbistondo, advisor to the Sabadell Bank. The hotel is completed with the urbanization of 226 homes, golf course, fitness area, swimming pool, spa-weelnnes area and a gardening school. The works have already begun so that the hotel, with 126 rooms and four stars, can open its doors in 2022. At the press conference, they have suggested that, although they have not used the word "luxury", there will be an offer for "high level" tourists. According to the employer, the hotel will have a staff of between 65-70 employees and it is planned to give priority to the population of Baztan.

 

 

 

 

 

The US multinational Hilton manages about 6,000 hotels in 117 countries around the world. Miró stressed that they have a very close link with the local communities, which he has called textually "Travel with Purpose". It should be remembered that both the Baztan City Hall and many neighbours of Baztan have shown their rejection of the project over the last decade.

Protest 'tumultuous'

At the end of the press conference, members of the opposition to the Carpinteria have informed ARGIA of the launch of a smelly bomb "to spread the smell of the project".

Carpentry, secret from the beginning

Although the idea of making the Hotel and the Spa came from before, the project began to be born in 2001 when the children of a Baztan family bought Aroztegia. When they started cutting some public roads in the area, Lekaroz's neighbors realized something was going on, and the company recognized them that it intended to make a hotel. Until 2008, the current urbanization projects did not appear. That year, Palacio de Arozteguia S.L. The company is created and the social objective of the previous company is modified: with the first tourist destination the urban project is incorporated with the new company. What was a project launched by UPN, was assumed by the government of Uxue Barkos of Geroa Bai.

Since then, in Baztan there have been citizen protests, concerned about the effects of this macro-tourist project in a town and a region like this. "And then the carpentry?" The platform has been the most active.