Vivemar Hotel Closure: What Happened in Benalmadena?

On Tuesday 17 June 2025, police sealed off the Vivemar Hotel in Benalmádena after authorities discovered the property was not registered in the official tourism registry required for legal operation in Andalusia. More than 200 guests found themselves stranded inside the four-star establishment as local police secured the main and emergency exits with steel cables, leaving access only through a parking garage elevator. This article reconstructs what happened, why it happened, and what it means for travelers who booked or were planning to stay at this Costa del Sol property.

Last checked: 2026-05-23

Hotel name: Vivemar (formerly Vistamar) ·
Star rating: 4-star ·
Location: Benalmadena, Costa del Sol, Spain ·
Closure ordered by: Benalmadena council ·
Police action: Entrances sealed off ·
Guests affected: Over 200

Where is the hotel Benalma Costa del Sol?

Benalmádena is a coastal municipality in the province of Málaga, part of the Costa del Sol region in southern Spain. The Vivemar Hotel sits in this town, which lies between Torremolinos and Fuengirola along the Mediterranean shoreline. Benalmádena is a well-established tourist destination, known for its beaches, the Puerto Marina waterfront complex, and the Benalmádena Cable Car offering views of the coast and surrounding mountains.

The Vivemar case illustrates enforcement of registry rules at the municipal level: Benalmádena council executed the closure order based on information from the Junta de Andalucía confirming the hotel’s revoked registration status.

Benalmádena’s location on the Costa del Sol

Benalmádena sits approximately 20 kilometers west of Málaga city along the A7 coastal highway, making it accessible from Málaga Airport (AGP), which serves both international and domestic flights. The town’s position on the Costa del Sol places it within one of Spain’s most visited tourist regions, where tourism infrastructure ranges from budget apartments to four-star hotels like Vivemar.

At the time of the closure, the hotel was actively listed on booking platforms including Jump2Spain, which advertised the property as a four-star hotel with half-board options. This commercial presence on travel deal sites underscores that sales channels treated the Vivemar as a fully operational tourist hotel prior to the sealing.

What precipitated the closure of the Vivemar Hotel?

The closure stemmed from the hotel’s absence from the Registro de Turismo de Andalucía, the official registry maintained by the Junta de Andalucía that all hotels and tourist accommodations in the region must appear on to operate legally. According to councillor for businesses Raúl Campos, quoted in Euro Weekly News, registration in the Andalusian registry is a compulsory requirement for a hotel to function legally.

Benalmádena town hall told SUR in English that the establishment was closed and sealed by local police on Tuesday 17 June after it was found not to be listed in this registry. The Junta de Andalucía confirmed that the hotel’s registration had been revoked over “unauthorised operations” carried out by the previous operator, according to Euro Weekly News reporting. The operating company Vive Resort Management S.L. had taken over the hotel in September 2024, according to manager Alberto Tusquellas, who described the situation as an “administrative problem” caused by the previous operator and noted that the closure notice was legally addressed to that prior management.

Regional news outlets including Murcia Today and Spanish News Today framed the incident in the context of Spain’s evolving tourist accommodation regulations, suggesting that recent legal changes had tightened conditions for hotel registration and operation across the country.

The legal framework behind the closure

Under Andalusian regional tourism rules, hotels and apartment-hotels must appear in the official Registro de Turismo de Andalucía. Operating without current registration can lead to fines and closure orders by local councils, which coordinate with the regional government when registry violations are identified.

Guests reported receiving written notices stating that the closure order referred to the previous hotel entity, while physical signs posted at the property explicitly named Vivemar as closed. This created confusion among some guests about which legal entity the enforcement action actually targeted, according to reporting by SUR in English.

How many guests were stranded by the closure?

Around 200 guests were staying at the four-star Vivemar hotel when police sealed the entrances and exits on Tuesday 17 June 2025, SUR in English reported. Euro Weekly News put the figure at more than 200 guests, creating a total of over 200 travelers affected by the unexpected closure action.

Reactions among guests ranged from indignation and confusion to resignation and indifference, according to SUR in English. Some guests interviewed outside the Vivemar garage were told the closure would last only two or three days and chose to remain in the hope that the issue would be quickly resolved. Others faced more uncertainty about their travel plans and accommodations.

Were guests able to leave the hotel?

Despite the closure order, guests were not evicted from the Vivemar. Local police sealed the hotel’s main entrance and emergency exit with steel cables, leaving access only through the parking garage elevator, according to Euro Weekly News. SUR in English reported that guests were told to stay where they were and use the car park to come and go as necessary.

This created an unusual hybrid situation where the hotel was technically under a closure order but continued to accommodate guests on site. Both Euro Weekly News and Murcia Today emphasized this point: the property was physically constrained and technically “closed” under the municipality’s order, yet guests remained inside with freedom to enter and exit through the designated garage route.

What should I do if I have a reservation at Vivemar?

If you hold a current reservation at the Vivemar Hotel, you should contact your booking platform or travel provider immediately to understand your options for refunds or alternative accommodations. At the time of the sealing, the precise duration of the closure and whether future reservations would be honored remained uncertain, according to Spanish News Today coverage.

Travelers who booked through online travel agencies should review those platforms’ cancellation and compensation policies. Direct bookers who paid the hotel or its operator should retain all confirmation emails and payment records in case assistance from consumer protection services becomes necessary.

The Vivemar timeline: key dates and events

• September 2024: Vive Resort Management S.L. takes over hotel operations, rebranding it as Vivemar from the former Hotel Vistamar.
• Approximately three months before closure: Benalmádena town hall sends closure notification to the operating company, according to guest accounts relayed by SUR in English.
• Tuesday 17 June 2025: Local police seal the hotel entrances and exits. Over 200 guests are inside.
• 17–20 June 2025: Regional English-language news outlets publish detailed coverage of the closure, guest reactions, and official statements.

What is the nicest town in Costa del Sol?

Benalmádena ranks among the most frequently recommended towns on the Costa del Sol, alongside destinations such as Marbella, Estepona, and Ronda. The municipality attracts visitors with its combination of beach access, family-friendly attractions including the Selwo Marina marine park, and a nightlife district centered around the Puerto Marina complex.

The Costa del Sol encompasses coastal communities from Manilva in the west to Nerja in the east, spanning roughly 160 kilometers of shoreline. Among these, Benalmádena occupies a middle position in terms of scale and tourist infrastructure, offering accommodations ranging from apartment complexes to four-star hotels like the now-closed Vivemar. For more information on the closure of the Vivemar hotel in Benalmádena, see Як помер Джок Зонфрілло.

Ranking of Costa del Sol towns

Perception of “nicest” varies by traveler type. Families often favor Benalmádena and Torremolinos for their mix of beach access and amusement parks. Luxury travelers gravitate toward Marbella’s Golden Mile, while budget-conscious visitors may prefer the eastern Costa del Sol towns of Nerja and Torre del Mar. The region’s tourism board promotes Benalmádena as a destination offering “sun, beach, and leisure” in a compact urban area.

Why Benalmádena stands out

Benalmádena’s distinction comes from its Puerto Marina, often cited as one of the most visited ports in Europe, and the Benalmádena Cable Car providing mountain views. The town also features the 33-meter Benalmádena Buddhist Stupa, one of the largest Buddhist monuments in Europe, reflecting the diverse cultural influences on this tourist coast.

What does the name Benalmádena mean in English?

The name Benalmádena derives from Arabic. Linguists and local historians believe it comes from the Arabic phrase “Bani al-Mardina,” which translates loosely to “the minaret’s sons” or “the miner’s son,” depending on the interpretation. The town sits in a region with a history of mining activity, particularly lead and iron extraction, which some scholars connect to the name’s etymology.

Etymology of Benalmádena

During the Moorish period of Iberian history, from 711 to 1492 CE, many place names across Andalusia carry Arabic roots. Benalmádena’s name reflects this Islamic heritage, similar to other Costa del Sol municipalities such as Málaga itself and Almuñécar. The Arabic influence remains visible in the town’s architecture, including older neighborhood structures that predate the modern tourist development.

Is the Vivemar Hotel still accepting new bookings?

The Vivemar Hotel was not accepting new bookings at the time of the police sealing on 17 June 2025. As the property was physically closed and sealed by municipal authorities, the hotel could not operate normally. Any listings remaining on booking platforms after the closure date would have been outdated or reflecting cancellations.

The hotel’s own website was still online but did not display availability for upcoming dates. The status of any future reopening remained unclear based on available reporting as of late June 2025.

Alternatives near Benalmádena

For travelers seeking accommodations on the Costa del Sol near Benalmádena, several alternatives exist within the same four-star category. Hotels in the nearby Torremolinos area, just east of Benalmádena along the coast, offer comparable beachfront access with verified operational status. Properties in Fuengirola, to the west, provide additional options in the mid-range segment.

Travelers should verify current operating status directly with hotels or booking platforms, as situations can change rapidly following enforcement actions like the one that affected Vivemar.

Official updates from Benalmádena council

For official information about the Vivemar Hotel closure and any subsequent proceedings, travelers should consult Benalmádena town hall directly. The municipality’s official website provides contact information and may publish press releases regarding ongoing enforcement actions.

The Junta de Andalucía’s tourism registry website allows users to verify whether a specific accommodation is currently listed, providing a tool for travelers to check a hotel’s legal status before confirming a booking. This registry verification represents a practical step for travelers concerned about booking accommodations that may face regulatory issues.