- The Arrecife Tourism Council approves these awards for what it considers “outstanding professionals and entities that strengthen tourism activity and the external sports projection of Arrecife as the capital of events.”
- The Mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, alongside the Councillor for Tourism, Eli Merino, will preside over the official presentation of these awards on World Tourism Day.
The Arrecife Tourism Council approves these awards for what it considers “outstanding professionals and entities that strengthen tourism activity and the external sports projection of Arrecife as the capital of events.”
The Mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, alongside the Councillor for Tourism, Eli Merino, will preside over the official presentation of these awards on World Tourism Day.
The Mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, will jointly preside over the official presentation of the awards given by the Arrecife Town Hall on World Tourism Day, alongside the Councillor for Tourism, Commerce and Sports, and spokesperson for the PP, Eli Merino.
This institutional event will take place on the evening of 23 September in the inner courtyard of La Recova, a site closely tied to the history of Arrecife that has been valued during this term as a space for events, tourism, and culture.
Awardees 2025
The Arrecife Tourism Council, comprising representatives from institutions, groups, businesses, and professionals linked to tourism activity in both the capital and the island of Lanzarote, has approved the granting of the Arrecife City Awards for professional business expertise to Héctor Fernández Machado, CEO of Turismo Lanzarote, and former Marketing professor at the School of Tourism of Lanzarote, affiliated with the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
The Town Hall highlights that under Héctor Fernández’s leadership of the Society for External Promotion of Lanzarote, which includes the Arrecife Town Hall, the island has been projected nationally and internationally, establishing it as one of the top international destinations for European travellers. Recently, efforts have been made with travel operators to attract other high-spending tourists from America and Asia.
The award for sporting achievement has been awarded to Ambrosio Martín. Known as Ambos Martín, Ambrosio José Martín Cedrés (Arrecife, 30 April 1968) has served as the coach for Romania and Russia and is currently the national women’s handball team coach. His connection to handball began in the Titerroy neighbourhood of Arrecife, and he is celebrated as Spain’s most successful coach, having won four Champions League titles. His city recognises his sporting journey.
The Arrecife Town Hall, led by Mayor Yonathan de León, will present the award for the sports event to the organisers of the Lanzarote Summer Challenge, the most significant international CrossFit tournament held in Spain and one of the most important in Europe, with Arrecife as its epicentre. This initiative aligns with the municipal strategy to position Arrecife, through the Councils of Tourism and Sports led by Eli Merino, as the capital of events and sports. During each edition of the Summer Challenge, Arrecife transforms into the largest outdoor gym in natural settings, attracting high-level athletes.
Antonio Orosa (Toni Orosa), now retired, has been awarded the 2025 award for artistic and cultural achievement by the Arrecife Tourism Council. Orosa has been associated with the celebrations of the patron saint festivities of San Ginés, recognised as of National Tourist Interest, and as a worker at the Lanzarote Tourism Board (precursor to Turismo Lanzarote), assisting in the organisation of national and international events with the support of the now-defunct Tourism Board. At international tourism fairs where Lanzarote participated, Toni Orosa consistently served as an ambassador for his native island.
Arrecife Tourism Award for RCN Arrecife
The Arrecife Tourism Award 2025, as decided by the Tourism Council, has been conferred to the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife, an entity involved in the nautical and social activities of Arrecife, currently presided over by Julio Romero Ortega.
The Real Club Náutico de Arrecife organises various sporting events, including international regattas (such as the International Regatta Arrecife – Agadir and the Regatta San Ginés), along with triathlons and swimming competitions (such as the RCNA City of Arrecife Triathlon and the San Ginés Swimming Challenge). It also maintains a calendar of events featuring additional nautical competitions and sports-related activities. The club has produced a significant number of sailors who have achieved great success for Canary and Spanish sailing.
Mayor Yonathan de León has congratulated the awardees, emphasising that both the professionals and institutions have contributed to establishing Arrecife as a notable reference for sports, culture, and tourism, thanks to the collaborative efforts of these honourees, just as those recognised in previous editions. Their achievements embody the pride of the entire city of Arrecife and its citizens.
Meanwhile, Councillor for Tourism and Sports, Eli Merino, highlighted that these awards acknowledge and value the extraordinary contributions made by the individuals and entities recognised, which help Arrecife to continue strengthening its position as an ideal destination for sports, tourism, commerce, leisure, and events, where favourable weather, facilities, infrastructure, beaches, and marinas make us unique.
Those distinguished by the Arrecife Town Hall will be present at the institutional award ceremony for the City of Arrecife Tourism Awards. This event will be held on the evening of 23 September in the inner courtyard of La Recova, a venue deeply intertwined with the history of Arrecife.
The deliberation of the members of the Arrecife Tourism Council took place during a meeting held in early September at the House of Culture of Arrecife.
