• Pirates Adventure has been recognised for its four-decade track record in the family tourism sector in Magaluf
• The president of the Casa Regional de Valencia in Calvià, Óscar Blanco, presented one of the awards
• During the gala, tribute was paid to Mr Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, recalling his contribution to the touristic modernisation of Calvià

Success in the celebration of the second gala of the Calvià Excelentes awards organised by the Town Hall. Nearly 200 people gathered this Thursday in the Palmanova Hall to attend the awards ceremony. The mayor, Juan Antonio Amengual, highlighted the high participation as a reflection of the success and consolidation of these awards. In fact, the promotional videos of the finalists on social media have generated a great impact, with tens of thousands of visits, capturing the attention of Calvià residents thanks to the emotional connection they manage to awaken in Internet users.

In this edition, the prizes, in addition to a heart-shaped sculpture by the artist Carlos Terroba, consist of a cash prize of 300 euros for each winner. A new category has also been created, that of local businesses, which recognises companies that maintain a close relationship with the Calvià community, based on personalised customer service.

In this edition, five awards have been given. In the category of family businesses, the award has been won by Muebles Palmanova, with four decades of experience and a reference in home decoration in Calvià. Inma González and her sister Laura manage the business that their parents started, aimed at residents of the municipality and those who have second homes in Calvià.

The 365 award for businesses open all year round has been given to Droguería y Ferretería Calvià, a company that has been providing practical solutions for the home and DIY for 48 years. According to its owners, Salvador Cladera and Cati Barceló, they focus on the needs of their long-time clientele from Calvià village.

The innovation award has gone to The Glamping, which has been specialising in luxury camps that offer a unique experience combining nature and exclusive comforts for just three years. Its owner, Blanca Salas, says that the aim is to promote a sustainable, simpler, slower and more conscious life through retreats with outdoor workshops, amongst many other experiences.

In the Tourism category, the winner was the Hotel Bendinat, built in 1952 by the architect Francesc Casas, which has 60 rooms and enjoys an exclusive and relaxing atmosphere in the coastal area of ​​this centre of Calvià. According to Montse Oliver, many of its clients regularly return to the tourist establishment, passing on this tradition from generation to generation.

In the new category of Local commerce, the award has gone to Uco Bakery, an artisan bakery that makes fresh products. Caterina Stanton and her husband decided to open their third shop and expand in Portals Nous, where they sell to residents their sourdough breads made with organic ingredients from Mallorca that they make in their workshop.

Special recognition for a long history linked to tourism goes to Pirates Adventures, which after forty years of show in Magaluf, has brought together more than four million spectators from all over Europe. According to Catherine Sasson, at first they focused on the British market, but they diversified and adapted to new times and types of tourists.

In addition to the Excelentes gala, there was space to remember the recent death of Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, a prominent businessman who transformed Magaluf and Palmanova into tourist references. Escarrer was a key player in the economic and social development of Calvià, leading modernisation projects that raised the quality of tourism. His legacy, deeply rooted in the history of Calvià, will be remembered as an example of innovation and commitment.

In addition, during the event, a special tribute was paid to those affected by the DANA on 29th October. The president of the Casa de Valencia in Calvià, Óscar Blanco, presented one of the awards and recalled that on Sunday, 1st December, a charity paella was cooked in the Plaza Europa in El Toro to raise funds for the victims.

Video: https://fb.watch/wd9MOkypHI/