The Arrecife City Council presented the Arrecife Tourism Awards 2023 at the event for World Tourism Day. The ceremony, presided over by the city's mayor, Yonathan de León Machín, took place in La Recova in front of a large representation of the tourism, sports, social, and economic sectors of Lanzarote.
The Department of Tourism, through the Tourism Board, chaired by Councilor Eli Merino Betancort, awarded the 'Arrecife Tourism Awards 2023' to photographer Juan Méndez and international referee Alejandro Hernández Hernández for their outstanding merits in their professional careers, and to Cafetería San Francisco, for its entrepreneurial commitment in the capital of Lanzarote for 45 years. International referee Alejandro Hernández, as he has a match this Saturday, could not be present, and sent an emotional video thanking him for this award, "the first he has received on his native island." The award - the symbol of Arrecife Tourism in corten steel - was collected by his father, Gerardo Hernández, who spoke on behalf of his son. The other two winners were present. Juan Méndez, who said he was surprised and excited by the recognition; and Cristóbal Romero, owner of Cafetería San Francisco, who dedicated the award to the workers of his company, of whom he said he was very proud of all of them, who have been working in the same business for almost forty years, and one of them, recently deceased, who would have completed four decades of permanent work.
Mayor Yonathan de León stressed that "Arrecife is an example of tenacity and struggle and we have demonstrated it throughout our history, and we recognize the contributions of three residents, who, in their professions, make our city great."
The first mayor, in his speech - where he recalled the figure of César Manrique - stressed that "It is no longer enough with the slogan of sun, beach, the charm of the volcanoes, and the good temperature of this cosmopolitan city. It is necessary to pursue excellence and this cannot remain in the attempt, it is necessary to carry out new proposals, even if this means making mistakes and starting again. We must mark the new roadmap for the city model we want and dream of."
Yonathan de León remarked "Arrecife must look in this 21st century with broad minds, and that is where we politicians have to work, to improve the living conditions of our people, preserving the essence of our capital and betting on everything new that allows us to be an island capital with a future. For this we have many modernization projects underway."
The mayor concluded his speech highlighting his "gratitude to the tourism sector in general and to the citizens in particular, for the trust they have placed in our management, the support of those who are my corporation colleagues, because new ideas arise from the debate and criticism, having said that, I ratify my desire to continue working for Arrecife. We are a people with a coastal origin. And there is a very seafaring expression that defines what we want for our city: To carry the wind in our sails to reach a safe harbor. I congratulate the distinguished. Many professionals of those present here deserve to be recognized for the work done in these years, and we hope that they can be awarded in future editions of the Arrecife Tourism Awards."
From the Department of Tourism, the head of the Area, and spokesperson for the municipal group of the PP, Eli Merino, remarked during her speech that "together with the sector and entrepreneurs we are working to ensure that Arrecife is not a transit city for tourists, but that without the attractions of the capital Lanzarote would not be the same."
"There are already many new lines of work, which we will be announcing in these weeks, where the objective is to place Arrecife among the preferences of tourists. To become a different, attractive tourist destination," the councilor stressed.
La Recova hosted the event, which featured a classical music quartet, and was attended by civil authorities from other municipalities, the Government of the Canary Islands and Parliament, and a wide representation of the military authorities. Civil society participated with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Tourism Entrepreneurs, School of Tourism and sector associations, as well as entrepreneurs from the tourism sector, and professionals from sports, leisure, and the culture of Lanzarote and the Canary Islands.
- Award for business and professional career
Cafetería San Francisco is a classic of the conejera hospitality industry, linked to the famous churros on Calle Real in Lanzarote. In the summer of 1978, Cristóbal Romero gave life to the venture with the opening of this place and meeting point for many conejeros, and visitors. Even, at that time Calle Real had not been pedestrianized. Forty-five years later it is still open to the public and has a terrace area in the nerve center of the commercial and financial artery of the capital of Lanzarote.
- Award for cultural and artistic career
The prestigious magazine National Geographic has been publishing a series of wonderful photographs by the photographer from Lanzarote, born in Arrecife, Juan Méndez Quesada, a resident of the Valterra neighborhood. His publications and recognition in this publication have contributed to different images of Lanzarote, uniting landscape and volcanic nature, creatively and artistically reinforce the external promotion of Lanzarote, an island with tourist activity all year round.
The Arrecife City Council commissioned Juan Méndez to create an exhibition on spaces in Arrecife, which was exhibited in the José Ramírez Cerdá Park during the past month of August, coinciding with the San Ginés Patron Saint Festivities.
Award for sports career
In this category, and according to the established bases, the referee from Conejero, born in Arrecife, Alejandro Hernández Hernández has been awarded by the City Council with the award for sports career.
This Canary Islander referee has been promoted this summer to the highest category of European refereeing. He is the third Spaniard in the UEFA Elite category, the highest in Europe. Hernández is a Spanish referee who was born in Arrecife, Lanzarote, on November 10, 1982. His debut in Primera took place at the beginning of the 2012-2013 season after five seasons directing in Segunda. He has also directed matches of the Champions League, the Europa League, the Nations League and qualifying for the World Cup and European Championship.
Alejandro Hernández has directed a total of 199 matches in the Spanish First Division. In those matches, the referee has shown, 1149 yellow cards and 24 red cards directly. In addition, in all those duels he has signaled 73 penalties.
And since this month of September, he receives this institutional distinction from the city where he was born, and his father and mother live, and his whole family.
