Construction of new 5-star resort begins in Playa Blanca amid debate over tourism saturation
Canary Islands tourism hit a new milestone in 2025, surpassing 18.4 million visitors, as the regional government continues to speak, yet again, of the need to diversify the economy. At the same time, a new luxury resort has been announced for Lanzarote, an island whose Cabildo began proceedings in 2023 to declare it “touristically saturated”. Those plans were later shelved following a change in local leadership, with Coalición Canaria taking the presidency.
Three years on, holiday rentals have multiplied and new hotels and tourist apartment complexes continue to open. Healthcare groups have also renewed criticism of what they call the islands’ “tourism monoculture”, linking it to a mental health emergency and arguing that the current model “only leads to exploitation”.
The latest development is a five-star resort revealed yesterday, Wednesday, by Canarian Hospitality, which confirmed that construction has now started. The project will rise near Marina Rubicón in the popular Playa Blanca area.
According to the company, this is its third venture on the island, complementing its management of MYND Yaiza and the upcoming Radisson Blu Lanzarote, for which construction is scheduled to begin in February with an expected opening in spring 2028.
The new resort, promoted and built by Grupo Acosta Matos alongside a group of Canarian investors, will feature 97 high-end suites, designed to offer a high degree of exclusivity and privacy. Each unit will include direct access to a private swim-up feature, allowing guests to step straight into the pool from their suite.
The complex will include a dedicated breakfast restaurant and aims to add a premium à-la-carte dining venue open to both guests and the general public. Additional amenities will include butler service and luxury finishes throughout the property.
Francisco Fernández, CEO of Canarian Hospitality, said the project “strengthens our commitment to distinctive developments in strategic locations, capable of creating long-term value for both the destination and investors”.
He added that “Playa Blanca has the ideal conditions for a high-end product prioritising quality, guest experience, and harmony with the environment”.
The operation of the new resort is expected to fall under the strategic alliance between Canarian Hospitality and Radisson Hotel Group, announced at FITUR. Under this agreement, Canarian Hospitality becomes a strategic partner for developing Radisson-branded properties in the Canary Islands and for future openings elsewhere in Southern Europe.
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