A scandal has erupted in Aragón over four hotels that in recent months provided temporary housing for migrants awaiting decisions on their humanitarian asylum applications. Regional authorities decided to revoke these hotels’ licenses, citing non-compliance with current requirements for tourist accommodations. Hotel owners argue that they continued to provide standard services—meals, cleaning, lodging—but officials insist: holding hotel status requires a different format of operation.
One of the affected establishments is the La Pardina hotel in Sabiñánigo, which had operated under a license for four decades. According to the owners, the initiative to accommodate migrants came from social organizations that signed contracts with them to provide temporary housing. Most of the new guests are from sub-Saharan African countries.
Authorities emphasize that hotels participating in social programs for migrants no longer meet the criteria for tourist businesses. Specifically, this concerns requirements for accommodation, service provision, and transparency in dealings with clients. Although the services for residents have not changed, these establishments are no longer formally considered hotels in the traditional sense.
The administration’s decision has sparked discontent among hotel owners. They point out that they acted within the law and cooperated with official bodies. According to them, the license revocations threaten jobs and business stability. Some entrepreneurs have already announced plans to challenge the decision in court.
At the same time, local authorities insist that hotels must be used exclusively for tourism purposes. Any deviation from this profile, even when standard services are maintained, is considered a violation. As a result, four establishments have lost their right to operate as hotels, which could impact the accommodation of migrants in the region.
If you didn’t know, La Pardina is one of the oldest hotels in Sabiñánigo, opened back in the 1980s. Over the years, it has changed owners several times but has always remained popular with tourists. In recent years, the hotel has participated in various social initiatives, including programs for accommodating migrants. The Aragón authorities are actively regulating the tourism sector, placing particular emphasis on compliance with standards and operational transparency.
