Brian Taylor
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recent news about the Lopesan control from the Spring 2025 newsletter
==============Lopesan Takes Control of Anfi Del Mar
After years of uncertainty, our beloved Anfi at last sees a promising future. Anfi Inter was the lead bidder for the shares held by the failed Cazorla companies. Anfi Inter is a company linked to IFA Hotels and is controlled by the Lopesan Group. This represents a definitive respite from uncertainty for more than 700 Canarian families whose livelihood depends on the company.
It also marks the beginning of an ambitious investment plan, which will serve not only to refloat ANFI and get it out of the bankruptcy proceedings in which it has been mired since 2021, but also to modernise its facilities and guarantee its positioning within high-end tourism.
The Lopesan Group’s commitment to the Canary Islands is evident. A forward-looking rescue plan means the operation is not just limited to Anfi. Lopesan has pledged investment of more than 100 million euros in Anfi and to expand its hotel network on the islands. In addition to the acquisition of Anfi, the company plans to build a 1,000-room hotel in Meloneras, which will generate around 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, and another in Mogan with 250 rooms, which will boost employment in the area with more than 600 new jobs. Work has just started on the new hotel near the Meloneras Exhibition Centre. At the same time, a proposal for an agreement has been presented to the Santana Cazorla Group, SL, with financial support from IFA, to establish long-term viability through the capitalisation of credits.
The challenge is that there are two quite separate legal processes going on here. One is the fallout resulting from the liquidation of some companies in the Cazorla Group. The other is the administration of Anfi Sales and Anfi Resorts. Although Lopesan may have secured the shares in Anfi, there is no immediate resolution to Anfi’s administration, as some creditors are holding out against the court approved resolution. Therefore, everything will depend on the support of the creditors and judicial approval, but the horizon seems clear for what was once one of the main tourist promoters of the archipelago.
This business move not only saves Anfi, but also strengthens the position of the Canary Islands as a tourist destination of excellence. With Lopesan at the helm, Anfi’s history is being rewritten with a chapter that promises growth, stability and, above all, a future where uncertainty gives way to prosperity.
What does this mean for us as owners? To be honest, we don’t know yet. There are all kinds of rumours flying around. They range from “Lopesan will turn Anfi into a hotel.” or “Maintenance fees will massively increase.” at one end, to “Nothing will change” at the other. It is clear that some scammers are continuing to use the uncertainty to call people and try to scare them into surrendering their ownership or join dubious ‘compensation claims’. It is actually quite difficult to change a resort from timeshare to anything else as we own rights, called RERs, in the property. What we hope is that the new owners will instill a culture or management more willing to engage openly with us owners who, after all, provide a regular and guaranteed income stream through our maintenance fees. One of the key benefits of belonging to a club like ours is that we will always try our best to avoid spreading speculation and represent your views and concerns directly to Anfi. If you meet other people around the pools, ask them if they are members and, if they are not, point them in the direction of our website. It’s only by working together and growing our numbers that we can really build influence.
Sources:
https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/Deadline-set-for-contesting-timeshare-contracts-in-Spain 8/1/2025
Bill Taylor / Roger Byatt
The Monte committee met on the 27th February 2025 – one of the main purposes of the February meeting is to review the outturn of the 2024 finances and to discuss Anfi’s proposals for the allocation of the replacement fund budget for 2025.
Key points discussed included update on administration / budget outturn for 2024 / replacement fund projects for 2025 / guest certificate fees / lifts / furniture replacement / drainage and artificial grass / TV’s / soap dispensers.
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Club Monte Anfi Liaison Committee report: February 2025
The first meeting of the year took place on 27 February.
We learnt shortly before the meeting of the sad news that Mrs Christine Johnson, the director of the Anfi Del Mar clubs, had died a few days previously. She had been a senior manager at Anfi for many years and Club committee members had regular contact with her and she will be greatly missed. Christine had a great knowledge of all things at Anfi and yet was also helpful on all sorts of practical matters.
We held a minutes silence at the beginning of the meeting in memory of Christine.Luis Martinez has taken Chritine’s place on the committee & there will be a restructure as Chritine’s role will not be directly replaced. The two administrators responsible for the committees have left. Carolyn Cusack recently retired and Heike Schirmer has moved to Germany to be closer to her family and will leave Anfi in the next few months.
The ongoing committee is made up as follows:
Anfi management: Emilio Rodriguez (Anfi Legal Dept), Luis Martinez (Anfi Resorts), Maria Hidalgo (Anfi Customer Services)
Elected Representatives: Mr Peter Siegler (Germany), Mr Brian Taylor (UK), Mr Fred Anderson (Norway).Budget
The Club has a budget of over €7m per year. It ended 2024 with a surplus that added to the Replacement Fund (RF), though the RF itself at around €1m is low for future needs.Replacement fund 2025
– We had hoped furniture replacement would begin in 2025, however only the design and display of two demonstration apartments has been planned. In part due to increasing cost of the project and a change in approach to selection of furniture. The replacement will be made during 2026-27 and there are some uncertainties over the total cost though circa €2m.
– There are a number of civil works projects including improvements to the grounds, increasing the area for sunbeds and seating, tiling, the reception staircase etc. Also improvements to drainage in the grounds and artificial grass to cover the brown soil next to the pool areas.
– The ceiling in the roadway outside Monte/Puerto reception will be repainted and funded from the communal fund that Monte, Puerto and the other resorts pay into.
– Lifts – the severe problems since October appear resolved now that Schindler are back as maintenance contractor. The update of lift displays and controls has been delayed due to this change.
– Guest certificate fees were discussed and complaints from members raised. The decision was made in Anfi Sales/Resorts and is outside of the committee’s scope – and Anfi show no sign of changing their minds on the fees.
Anfi did confirm that any owner who bought direct from Anfi could join AVC and gain the benefits of AVC membership.
Guest Certificates fees are €30 per booking for AVC members and €180 per booking for non AVC members. However AVC membership is over €200 per year, and is more attractive of you have more than one week, as only one AVC fee (Unlike AVC weeks membership which is a per week cost)– Plans for the replacement of the door locks and cards by proximity cards are well advanced and expected in May/June when occupancy is low.
– The expected spend from the RF fund in 2025 is about €1m.
Flexible weeks and AVC
At our October meeting, we had discussed the issue of flex weeks converted to fixed, which the new contracts allow. Members who have tried to do this were told they would lose AVC membership if they convert to a fixed week.
Anfi feel that if they allowed this it would damage the points system by members who had more attractive weeks, converting to fixed weeks, and are not likely to change their policy.TV’s, Chromecast and HDMI connections
The streaming of UK channels has produced some complaints about picture quality and interruptions. Some hotels have discontinued UK channels.Anfi have tested Chromecast devices at Emerald and plan to role out to all resorts this year. To use them you need a phone, tablet or laptop to stream to the Chromecast. For UK channels you will need a VPN to connect via a UK server – I use NordVPN, there are others and if using check first which work best for streaming.
Or download films and programs before you leave the UK!At Monte I found the TV HDMI connection did not work when trying to connect an Amazon Firestick. Turned out reception have to ask IT to enable it for the week you are there. Seems unnecessary and Anfi management have said they will look into it.
I suspect this is related to the Chromecast role out, as the TV system menu was also restricted.Administration
The Administration process is ongoing and timescale dependant on whether appeals are lodged to proposed settlement. Should know more in next month or so.Soap dispensers
Wall mounted soap dispensers are being fitted to all apartments. Anfi are considering whether to provide dispensers at the washbasins to reduce the usage of soap tablets.
Hi Vee
You’re right, the guests name and address is at the top on the guest certificate I had in January. The owners name is shown near the bottom of the certificate.
Regards, Brian
I was told last week by Anfi management that siblings are included as family.
If anyone is asked to pay they should raise that with Customer Services
Ref family and siblings – I am told
– direct family pay no fee i.e. children, grandchildren and parents
– also siblings i.e. brothers and sisters pay no fee – but sister-in-law and brother-in-law do pay guest cert fee
– any other relatives pay a guest fee
I’m told this is on Anfi’s website though I can’t find it yet!
On your second point about internal transfer
– when you check in at Beach make sure they know you have a follow on at Gran
– a day or two before end of Beach week, Anfi leave you a transfer form in your apartment
– you list everything you want moved, and bag up in fridge & freezer chilled and frozen food.
They move everything for you. Normally you are in by 1pm, though moving between resorts can take a bit longer if a lot of transfers on same day. Ask reception who will give you a guide.
I’m not sure about your first question, others may know more.
Hi Robert
The fee for weeks not in AVC is going from 60 to 180€, which is a huge increase.
For weeks in AVC, members still pay 30€, plus either 240€ per year for points AVC, or 129€ per year for each week in AVC Weeks.
I agree it is a shame Anfi never got a good solution for managing rentals
For families, children and parents of members pay no fee. I’m going to check this week if siblings are exempted
Regards, Brian
Please let me know asap if you have any questions for the Monte meeting on the 27th Feb
Our agenda already includes guest certificate fees, and the lifts and a number of other topics, including progress on the outside area near block B and apartment furniture replacement.
You will be aware that installation work on the chromecasts has not completed yet, and that some of the kitchen cabinet units are showing their age.
Please note on Anfi’s website they also say
“For any questions or complaints regarding the personal data process, you can contact our Data Protection Delegate via the email address: DPO-officer@anfi.es or you can file a claim with the Spanish Agency of Data Protection, the control authority. http://www.agpd.es”
Anfi have today added price information to their website regarding guest certificate fees (to see this on their website log into anfi.com members area and look at the holiday planner topic) which confirms our understanding of the fees:-
“4. Should you decide not to use your week/s yourself, but invite guests, please complete this form stating the full name and home address of your lead guest and send it to the Customer Services Department or to the Anfi Vacation Club who will issue the required guest certificate for the corresponding fee.
The fee is applied per reservation, and costs €180 (per reservation) for those not in the Anfi Vacation Club, and €30 (per reservation) for Anfi Vacation Club members”
Hi Richard
Your advert was “paused” – adverts are live when first purchased and you manage the status via MyAdverts (https://anfiukmembers.co.uk/my-adverts/)
I have unpaused it for you.Please also see the email we sent when you advertised, that gives info about managing your adverts, & links to our webpages with more detailed advice.
Kind regards, Brian
A member has reported that Anfi have confirmed that weeks in AVC remain at €30 for guest certificate
Please remember you can place a Wanted advert and either make it visible just to members or to anyone.
Create the advert from the “My Wanted Notices” section which is within My Club – https://anfiukmembers.co.uk/my-wanted-notices/ – it is free to set up Wanted notices.
Or look to see what other members are looking for here https://anfiukmembers.co.uk/wanted/
You were unlucky Robert, on their Facebook page they closed on the 3rd and opened again on the 13th Jan
===============
Restaurante Cueva Pirata
13th January 2025We’re back today!!!
After a short break we face 2025 with a lot of eagerness, excitement and the embers lit..=======================
Restaurante Cueva Pirata
3rd Janaury 2025Today we say goodbye to one of the most important people in the history of our home: its founder, owner, first cook, and the driving force behind the last 10 years of those of us who have followed her legacy.
We thank God for allowing us to enjoy her until the age of 96, and we say goodbye with the certainty that we will remember her every day because angels are never forgotten.
We will be closed SINCE TOMORROW for the next few days to honor her memory and gather strength for the rest of the season.
We will announce our reopening a few days in advance.
Hi Robert
There has been quite a bit on our Facebook group though not in forum – I had meant to add into forum so thank you for doign that.
It gets good reviews
Anfi have recently published a letter warning about bogus calls regarding maintenance fees
==============
Dear Members,
The Anfi Management wishes to inform you about a situation we have recently detected. Over the past few weeks, several members have reported receiving calls from companies claiming to act on behalf of Anfi. These companies request payment of overdue maintenance fees, threatening legal action by Anfi if the payment is not made.
We want to emphasize that these practices are entirely fraudulent and that Anfi has no connection to these companies or their communications.
If you receive such calls, please:
1. Do not provide any personal information or make any payments.
2. Contact our Customer Services Department directly to report the incident.
At Anfi, the security and trust of our members are our top priorities. Any official communication regarding maintenance fees or other matters related to your membership will only be made through Anfi’s official channels.
We appreciate your attention and cooperation in helping us put an end to these fraudulent practices.Sincerely,
The Anfi Management
ANFI
I’ll be paying my maintenance fees soon using Halfix Clarity and will update on how the currency rate looks – I have a Wise card too, after Roger suggested that so will see what looks best before I pay up.
thanks Robert – good to know the potential saving on maintenance fees with a better exchange rate & your postive experience with Currensea
more news of phased introduction in 2025 – on EuroNews.com
and then the visa requirement will follow 6 months after the EES is introduced
The letter from the independent review of the accounts has been added to the accounts documents. Apologies for delay in publishing, as the letter is dated August.
You will see it mentions potential legal fees. Your Club has agreed fees of up to €3000 as a 1/3 share, along with the other 2 main European clubs, as a contribution to cover the costs of the legal challenge to the Anfi Beach OGM elections, where Anfi used their own unsold weeks votes to elect their own manager as “your” elected representative to the Beach committee.
Any costs incurred this year will be included in the final 2024 accounts.
Liaison Committee Meeting – October 2024
The liaison committee met on 15th October. Sr Luis Martinez, General Director of Anfi, was present though had formally been replaced in June by Sr Emilio Rodriguez, Head of Anfi Legal Services, who was not present due to business commitments. Ms Christine Johnson and Ms Maria Hildago were also present.
We looked in some detail at the club results. Occupancy in Monte is very high with over 80% of available apartments being used across the year, and around 91 – 93% in use from January to March and October-December is expected to be around that level too. The only months with lower vacancy levels are May and June with 66% and 57% respectively.
Costs this year are close to budget and expected to be breakeven at the year end. Savings on electricity, and some wage costs along with much higher bank interest offset higher costs on laundry and maintenance and replacement.
Anfi are still planning to provide body wash and shampoo dispensers in the showers to reduce the plastic waste caused by the small toiletry containers. The items have been purchased but not arrived yet.
Some members have still not paid their maintenance fees – British owners are about 16% of the fees still owed. The fee invoices are on the Anfi web site in the Members Area under the ‘Collections’ heading. Paper invoices are not routinely sent out.
Chromecast – installation has been delayed due to problems connecting the units to the Wi-Fi system and tests are being carried out.
Furniture replacement – I mentioned above the frustrating delays on making progress. The items to be changed are lounge chairs and coffee table, dining table and chairs and the bed headboard and bedside tables – as the beds, sofa beds and curtains have already been renewed. We are promised more info by the end of December.
Work to paint the corridor railings and varnish the balustrades will be carried out next year.
Lifts – the upgrade to electronics and displays has been deferred, due to appointment of new lift contractor who started at the beginning of October. The contractor will be carrying out a detailed review of the current system over the next few weeks.
In the weeks after the meeting the lifts appear to be very unreliable with some days when only 1 of the 3 main lefts were working.The change of the cards used to access apartments will be made next year during a low occupancy period, probably May and June.
Regarding the debt balances in the accounts, Sr Martinez will try to arrange a meeting with the committees with Anfi CEO Sr Jose Luis Trujillo to discuss this and related matters.
The future committee meetings will take place on:
· 27/02/2025 – Thursday
· 24/06/2025 – Tuesday
· Budget Videoconference (13/10 – 19/10/2025)
· 04/11/2025 – Tuesday
· OGM 06/11/2025 – Thursday
2026
· 26/02/2026 – Thursday
· 23/06/2026 – Tuesday
· Budget Videoconference (13/10 – 19/10/2026)
· 27/10/2026 – Tuesday
Monte Anfi Report – October 2024
The contents of this report are confidential and should not be published outside the Anfi UK Club.
The committee meeting on the 15th October set the budget for 2025 and also was a regular liaison committee meeting. I have had a few queries from owners since the last meeting and have done what I can to answer the queries or refer to Anfi management.
Budget Meeting
We only had the budget proposals given at the committee meeting, despite having requested in advance. Last year we had asked for a higher increase to replenish the replacement fund, but that request was not accepted, resulting when combined with a higher spend by end of 2023, with a lower replacement fund than forecast.
Work on replacement furniture has been deferred into 2025/26 in part due to shortage of funds. Very frustrating! The furniture choice has not yet been made and the idea of a demo suite changed, as Anfi are now selecting based on experience at Puerto.
Maintenance fees in 2024 are very little above the 2020 fees. An additional aspect this year is that Anfi advised that for the weeks tied up in the court process and the weeks cannot be used or rented out and the owners not paying, and that Anfi Sales will no longer cover this lost income. Therefore, it must be made up by the remaining owners, otherwise the club would face income roughly €200,000 lower than it needs. At Monte 292 weeks are caught up in the legal process.
For a 2 bed 2 bath apartment the extra cost to make up for these weeks adds 2.57% to the fees which is about €20 per apartment.
Whether any of this money might be recovered when the weeks are finally released from the court process remains to be seen. It seems doubtful. There is also some backdating of none payment which is likely to require a slightly higher fee increase to be maintained over the next few years.
The final fee increase is 5.41% which allows for a 13% contribution to the replacement fund – about €790,000 – which may sound a lot but the furniture changes may be circa €1m and will have to be spread over 2 years.
The final figure for a 1 bed will be about €42 more than 2020, and for a 2 bed 2 bath €51
Thanks Roger, I stand corrected!
Last chance to send any photos in the next few days – we’ll be working on the newsletter this weekend.
If you have any photos, especially any seasonal Xmas ones, you feel we could use in the newsletter please send using this link – member photo upload – please put a title and a brief description.
From a bit of Google searching I can’t see how FNTC relates to Anfi
For FNTC see this info https://www.travelandleisure.co.uk/fntc-first-national-trustee-company/ and has link to FNTC siteNow our weeks at Anfi are registered with Continental Trustees and this article has a bit of info on trustee companies https://timeshareconsumerassociation.org.uk/2014/10/20/timeshare-trust-companies/
Members might like to scan over the info as it explains a bit how trustees work in the timeshare worldI can’t see that FNTC and Continental are linked though maybe I missed something!!
And Philip who is the Director Chairs all the Anfi OGM’s and was at the Gran Anfi OGM last month
Companies House info:-
[Continental Trustees Limited is a private company limited by shares that is registered in the Isle of Man. The company’s officers include:
Philip Michael Broomhead: Director and solicitor
Brigit Scott: Director and chartered secretary]
