Marbella’s hotels are facing an employment crisis due to surging rents and a lack of public transport.
Workers are increasingly unable to afford to live near their work, while a lack of decent bus services – and zero train networks – makes getting to work a nightmare.
Adding to the chaos are the busy roads in the high season, which are constantly gridlocked or witnessing dangerous crashes.
Now, some of the more luxury hotels are being forced to provide accommodation for their workers or arrange travel for them – with managers warning it’s ‘just not worth it’ to work in Marbella anymore.
The iconic Puente Romano Hotel, for example, has confirmed the purchase of a building to serve as future staff accommodation, with plans to open it by 2026.
The hotel said the plans are in response to what it calls an ‘unsustainable’ rental market that has made it nearly impossible to find qualified hospitality staff during peak seasons.
Hotel director Gonzalo Rodriguez said the newly purchased building – originally designed as a hotel but never operated as one – is located 10 minutes from Puente Romano.
While most of Puente Romano’s team is local and permanent, Rodriguez acknowledged that the lack of affordable housing made the decision ‘necessary’ and described it as ‘innovative for the area’.
The hotel expects the accommodation to be ready by 2026 or 2027, pending planning approval and licensing.
Staff shortages and housing crisis affect entire hospitality sector
Other hotel chains are also exploring similar solutions. Federico Lopez, regional director of Monarque Hotels, told Malaga Hoy that while properties in Fuengirola benefit from staff commuting via the Cercanias train from Malaga, the situation in Marbella is far worse.
‘In Marbella, it’s almost impossible to find staff,’ said Lopez. ‘Asking someone to pay €600 a month for a room with a shared kitchen is simply unworkable.’
Lopez warned that even existing employees struggle with delays caused by saturated roads, and that the unreliable transport network impacts hotel productivity, especially during summer.
‘People just don’t apply for jobs in Marbella anymore. It’s not worth it,’ he said.
Though Monarque currently houses some seasonal staff through external contracts, Lopez noted the group may need to expand housing options in the future for new hires.
Wyndham Grand plans private bus service for 2026
Curro Marcos, director of Wyndham Grand Costa del Sol in La Cala de Mijas, revealed that the hotel is now seriously considering launching a private bus service to connect staff from Malaga, Coin, and the Guadalhorce Valley, with a goal of starting by 2026.
‘It’s no longer feasible to rely on public transport,’ said Marcos. ‘We’re dealing with increasing traffic, fuel prices, and a shrinking pool of seasonal workers who no longer see Marbella as worth the effort.’
The lack of accessible housing is pushing workers to abandon coastal cities altogether in favour of smaller towns like Ojen, Monda, or Guaro – sometimes hours away from where they work.
Noelia Castillo, director of Gran Melia Don Pepe, said her hotel is more stable, with mostly local staff, but acknowledged that new openings in the area will struggle to find workers unless housing is addressed.
Castillo said: ‘At some point, we may have to consider it. For now, we only offer a shared flat for interns.’
Maria Antunez, who runs El Fuerte Marbella, put it bluntly: ‘We’d love to have housing for summer staff but we simply can’t afford it. The prices are just as high for businesses as they are for individuals.’
Antunez added that public transport in Marbella is virtually unusable, with no reliable bus routes and no infrastructure to support alternatives like electric scooters.
She suggested the city explore park-and-ride shuttle services to reduce congestion between San Pedro, Marbella and Las Chapas.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
