A New Era for a Historic Icon
The Gran Hotel Taoro is embarking on a new chapter. After a thorough and meticulous restoration, this historic establishment in Puerto de la Cruz is preparing for its grand reopening after being closed for nearly two decades. The €35 million renovation has revived an emblematic building, poised to become an icon of European hospitality and a new driver for tourism in the north of Tenerife.
Unveiling the new facilities
The newly restored complex recently hosted an institutional tour of all its spaces, from the guest rooms to the buffet. The event was attended by the President of the Tenerife Island Council, Rosa Dávila; the Island Vice President, Lope Afonso; other council members; the Mayor of Puerto de la Cruz, Leopoldo Afonso; and members of the local council. Also present were Ignacio Polanco, Manuel Polanco, and Borja Pérez, the president and vice presidents of the Timón group, the parent company of Tropical Hoteles.
Contemporary Colonial Design and Gastronomic Excellence
In this new stage, the hotel will feature 199 rooms and suites boasting a contemporary colonial design. The interiors utilize noble materials and feature the work of Canarian artist Alejandro Tosco. Every room preserves one of the area’s most attractive assets: panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Mount Teide.
The culinary offering is equally impressive, comprising five restaurants and a bar under the direction of Michelin-starred chefs Ricardo Sanz and Erlantz Gorostiza. Furthermore, the hotel will house a high-end wellness center named Sandará Wellness Center, offering premium treatments.
A Venue for International Events
Adding to these world-class facilities is a 625-square-meter Congress Centre with a capacity for 650 people. This space is designed to position the hotel as a premier venue for international events and conferences.
A Collaborative Achievement
The project, driven by Tropical Turística Canaria and operated by My Way Hotels & Resorts, required over five years of work, with three years dedicated solely to the construction. Architects Virgilio Gutiérrez and Eustaquio Martínez led a restoration that carefully preserves the building’s original architectural identity. The interior design, by Dishot, opts for a modern colonial aesthetic with noble materials and a warm colour palette that connects with the Atlantic tradition of the municipality.
President Rosa Dávila emphasized that the opening of the complex is “magnificent news for the economic and social impetus and for the revitalization of northern Tenerife.” She also highlighted that the facilities are “the fruit of collaboration between the public and private sectors,” thanking all the involved administrations for their work.
Echoing this sentiment, Lope Afonso noted that the rehabilitation has allowed them to recover “an asset that improves the quality of the tourist offering in the municipality.” Mayor Leopoldo Afonso also celebrated the reopening, stating it represents an opportunity to “continue promoting the municipality on a tourist level” and to advance improvements in the surrounding Taoro Park and other areas of the city.
Reviving 135 Years of History
The director of the Gran Hotel Taoro, Gustavo Escobar, expressed his satisfaction at bringing a property steeped in history back to life. “It is thrilling to see the transformation this building has undergone after three years of works,” he affirmed.
The Hotel Taoro first opened its doors on December 22, 1890. Within its walls lie 135 years of history, having hosted illustrious personalities such as the writer Agatha Christie, who spent long periods at the complex. In a nod to this legacy, the hotel will dedicate a special corner to honour the author and her entire bibliography, recognizing the inspiration she found there.
It was the first luxury hotel establishment in Tenerife, becoming the cradle of tourism in Spain and marking a turning point in the history of the Canary Islands’ tourism sector. It closed to the public in 1975 and remained shut until 1979, when it reopened as the Taoro Casino, which operated until 2006, the year the iconic site was forced to close permanently.
For almost 20 years, the building lay unused, serving only as a temporary headquarters for the Urban Consortium for the Rehabilitation of the municipality and for hosting occasional conferences. In 2019, after being closed for over a decade, the company Tropical Turística Canaria secured the adjudication of the space, paving the way for the start of the rehabilitation works. Today, after more than five years of labor, the reopening of the complex is imminent, allowing it to once again become a tourist reference in the Canary Islands.
