Malmö to Marbella With a Song.

Malmö, is the Swedish City is where I began my campaign for a better balanced view of Marbella’s image, which was then being severly criticized and attacked by the International media all over the world.

It started  whilst I was in the Elite Hotel Savoy Malmö in April 2007 and watched a CNN broadcast on TV, which shocked and deeply disturbed me for it’s, in my opinion, generally negative content about Marbella and the Costa del Sol in general and I felt it reflected a bad image of those of us who holiday or reside there.

Furious, I  decided there and then to fight back and do what I could to redress the propaganda. To calm down I left the hotel and with these thoughts racing through my mind I walked into a nearby park almost opposite the hotel, expecting to finally relax. Instead, an idea of a using music as an instrument to help the town emerged from my mind, and without warning a strong  melody began to form and establish itself firmly in my head. I returned to the hotel and wrote it down, and later when I returned to Spain I completed the music and called it “Marbella Marbella” after the City expressing my affection for the town. The lyrics were later added by English TV professional performer Alan De Ward (based in Austria) and I; the song registered at  S.G.A.E in Malaga, then sung by Alan and later produced and recorded by arranger  David Mairs in his Fuengirola Studio.

The song has been recorded by professional singers Alan de Ward and Samantha Mairs in English, as well as the popular Cuban Star Yanela Brooks in Spanish, http://marbellamarbella.es/marbella/

Since that fateful CNN programme my supporters and I fight for Marbella has intensified as the song has been played on  numerous radio ( even reaching Scotland) and TV programs  and more than 80 Newspapers and International magazines have carried our story that have led me into positive situations I  did not anticipate. Some restaurants invite me to dinner as their guest, as their way of thanking me for my efforts in helping the area.  I am still working to have the song “Marbella,Marbella” played all over Europe spreading the good news about the town and is working with others in the media to bring the tourists and property buyers back to this glorious area and this website is proving to be of great assistance in the campaign, as visitors to this site are steadily growing, thus increasing the public awareness of what we are engaged in.

On the 20 March 2009, I received this letter from the General Manager of the Hotel Savoy; here is an extract.

Dear Dario,

I was astonished to recently find out that a campaign to promote Marbella and the Costa del sol was created by you in  our hotel in April 2007.  and according to what I have read, you even wrote the music in your favourite suite. The news of your initiative has spread even to us here in Malmö ….my colleagues and  I are delighted that we may have played a small part in his exciting and positive enterprise especially during these difficult economic times…..We would like to encourage more Spanish visitors to come to Sweden and stay in our hotels and with all the promotion via the media here, we would encourage Swedish people to holiday in Marbella…

Kind regards

Frederik  Gustafsson General Manager- Elite Hotel Savoy & Elite Hotel Residens Malmö

I really like Malmö as a City, as it has feel of a large village, relaxed and comfortable with itself and past, filled with friendly service-minded people. Malmo is the Swedish City with the most restaurants per inhabitants and is famed for its international cuisine, which one soon discovers in elegant designer restaurants, deep cellars, bistros and cosy locals. I can vouch for this.

Malmö’s amazing twisted tower is architecturally something worth seeing and with a drive across the spectacular new suspension bridge, one is rapidly connected to the charming Danish Capital of Copenhagen, it’s airport and the roadways to Europe.

The Elite Hotel Savoy is one of Sweden’s two oldest and most prestigious hotels,  built in 1862 and has entertained Royalty, some of the most famous international film stars, politicians, and sports personalities in a century of of turbulent history. For reasons too many to explain in this short article, I enjoy staying here, as the  management  and staff of the Savoy are courteous and professional at all times. The hotel is centrally situated, within easy walking distance to all the main historic squares and shopping districts, with access to rail and road transport connections and faces directly towards the sea giving one the feeling of being on holiday, as the seagulls fly overhead welcoming visitors with their distinctive cry.

I wish all the management and staff of the Elite Hotel Savoy continued success as they carry on the tradition of this famed hotel, and thank them for all the hospitality we have received at all times. E-post: info.savoy@elite.se  www.elite.se

Here is a plaque commemorating the many famous and interesting personages who have graced the doors of the Elite Hotel Savoy. Click on plaque to enlarge and read the interesting names displayed.