Coral Hotels: About us

First-person biography

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I am José Barreiro, CEO of Coral Hotels. My career in the tourism sector began in the early 1970s in Mallorca, working as a guide for the British tour operator, Clarksons Holidays. After the company’s bankruptcy in 1974, I moved to London to join Turavia, part of the Ceva Group, where I worked as a supervisor of guides in the inbound area. This role paved the way for my appointment in 1979 as Director of Viajes Ceva, S.A. in Ibiza, and later that same year, I held the same position in Tenerife while also serving as Turavia’s representative.

In 1981, my career took a turn when the Turavia Group was acquired by Viajes Barceló. At that point, I took on several roles within the company, first as Director of Tenerife, then as Regional Director of the Canary Islands, and finally as General Director of the Inbound Area for Spain and Portugal, a position I held until 1999.

That same year, I decided to fully commit to Coral Hotels, a family-owned company that I lead as its founder and CEO. Since then, Coral Hotels has grown significantly and currently operates 12 hotel and non-hotel complexes—eleven in Tenerife and one in Fuerteventura—offering over 4,100 beds and employing more than 500 people.

From the beginning, Coral Hotels has been focused on product specialization and consistent investment in environmental and social sustainability. Thanks to these efforts, we have earned certifications such as Travelife Gold and Biosphere Responsible Tourism, among others. I am proud to have contributed to the development of tourism in the Canary Islands and remain committed to promoting responsible and sustainable management.

Beyond my passion for tourism, I have had the privilege of sharing my life since 1978 with my wife, Margaret Elizabeth, with whom I have three children and four grandchildren.