The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) has again raised concerns about the cost of accommodation for Juan Monzón, the Sports Councillor for Lanzarote’s local government, which amounted to €628 per night per person. Invoices provided to the PSOE detail a six-night stay at the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa from 6 to 12 October, totalling €3,769.87 for each of the three delegates. The total accommodation cost reached €11,309.61.
Benjamín Perdomo, a PSOE councillor, described the spending as “excessive” and called for an explanation from Oswaldo Betancort, the Cabildo president. “He needs to clarify why his government deems it reasonable to pay €628 a night for public accommodation without any justifiable results,” Perdomo stated in a press release addressing the ongoing issue.
The invoices highlight a total trip cost of €25,559.19, which includes €12,335.97 for accommodation during a layover in Los Angeles. Perdomo specifically questioned the government’s responses to PSOE inquiries regarding the trip’s impact on Lanzarote. The PSOE requested evidence of media coverage of the visit outside the island, as well as minutes from meetings and any agreements made.
In response, the councillor claimed that a thorough assessment of media impact would require hiring a specialised firm due to a lack of technical staff and tools. He provided a link to a promotional video but admitted that he still didn’t have access to the link or the specific air times requested.
Perdomo remarked, “When we ask about the trip’s impact, we receive a promotional video and a broadcast link that isn’t yet available. This material alone doesn’t explain the added benefits of travelling to Hawaii.”
He argued it was insufficient to suggest hiring a consultancy to quantify the impact, stating that the PSOE only requested specific information about media coverage of the visit. “Before approving such an expense, clear objectives must be established alongside measures to evaluate their outcomes. Tourism promotion requires planning, criteria, and accountability,” he insisted.
The PSOE claims the response lacked minutes of meetings or any formal agreements made during the trip. The councillor explained the discussions were preliminary and informal, offering to draft a document outlining the conversations if the Cabildo was interested and allowed time to prepare it.
“The government’s response reinforces our impression that this trip was a jaunt to an Ironman event at the expense of taxpayer money. Over €25,500 spent, and when seeking clarifications, we only hear about informal discussions without any agreements or tangible results to justify the expenditure. Oswaldo Betancort cannot expect us to accept such a bill as tourism promotion without proving what Lanzarote stands to gain from it,” Perdomo concluded.
