Dean Morgenthal
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Primitivo January 2014
Ingles, September 2016
Muxia-Fisterra October 2016
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Very good advise!Welcome @Dean Morgenthal I see that you are a new member. You will see that this is a wonderful community of dedicated pilgrims and hospitaleros. Look around as there have been threads in the past about starting up an albergue along the Camino.
Your plans sound interesting but my first question is if you have any experience as a hospitalero. By working "behind the scenes" one gets an entirely different view of the Camino and what it means to run an albergue, albeit during a short period of time.
IMHO running an albergue is not something you do "on the side". I suggest that you talk to as many people as you can.
Good luck and report back during your search.
Cheers
LT
Alli can say is already said by the people of this forum!I would like to run a Albergue for the next foreseeable future, I have spent the last 29years in kitchens ranging from 5 star hotels, Qe2 and my own restaurant for 7.1/2 years after spending 2 years woofing and paid work on an organic farm and doing Hospice work here in Jersey. I am ready to set my plan into action...So what is my vision what do I need.
My vision is to provide wholesome organic food from a property which with accommodation on the side.
Providing a service and not trying to get rich in the process.
I am under no illusions.
For me it will be a lifestyle choice and keep me busy, doing something I am passionate about ie Food.
What I think I need..Property with land 20 acres.
Any leads greatly appreciated.
Buen Camino Dean
..., and will include the bed bugs established permanently.
As usual...first rate advice from S Yates!Just noticed that you wrote under your avatar Caminos: "Planning for this January" So the first step is to walk the Camino and the second would be to spend some time as a volunteer in an albergue on the Camino (make notes which albergues you liked whilst walking and how to contact them). Buen Camino, SY
Rather than looking for an albergue perhaps you can find an old property that needs renovating . These old villages seem full of them. Then go through the proper channels. I would have thought Spanish local government would be quite approving of more camino business . Consider the ones at end of stages as would be more busy . I would love to see more albergues having musical instruments so impromptu singing and music groups could be created each night! Good luckI would like to run a Albergue for the next foreseeable future, I have spent the last 29years in kitchens ranging from 5 star hotels, Qe2 and my own restaurant for 7.1/2 years after spending 2 years woofing and paid work on an organic farm and doing Hospice work here in Jersey. I am ready to set my plan into action...So what is my vision what do I need.
My vision is to provide wholesome organic food from a property which with accommodation on the side.
Providing a service and not trying to get rich in the process.
I am under no illusions.
For me it will be a lifestyle choice and keep me busy, doing something I am passionate about ie Food.
What I think I need..Property with land 20 acres.
Any leads greatly appreciated.
Buen Camino Dean
Be aware that local politics usually intervene to toss a wet blanket on your plans. Some locals, already having commercial interests along the Camino, are not fond of added competition. Count on them to try to thwart your plans, politely, but thwart them nonetheless...
This said, you need to get on the ground scouting the area, meeting people, making new friends and allies. Don't forget a business plan that employs mostly locals. Sometimes, having a local person as a "front" and the public face of your development effort is advisable. Seek the advice of others who have done this. This forum is a good place to start.
I am not trying to rain on your parade, just to interject a note of reality to your plans.
With 2016 being a special Year of Mercy at the Pope's proclamation, and plans underway to handle some 460k pilgrims during the next Holy Year in 2021, more lodgings are urgently needed. Already, at some times of the year, the major Camino routes are at total carrying capacity. However, the existing albergue and hostal owners would prefer to turn people away once they are "completo" than have to deal with added competition year round.
I wish you the best of luck with your plans.
We'll know the answer to that when we come out of the other side of the pandemic and see which establishments have survived the huge economic challenges and which (sadly) have not.Hi @t2
Interesting comments here (albeit I am reading them years after the time you issued it).....now in sept 2020 and please god with a good 2021 to look forward to on the camino, where would you say in your experiences on the caminos, has there been a lack of good accommodation or needs some better qualitry accommodation?
2020 is not a great time to start a new albergue project. Everything is so totally up in the air!2020 is not a great time to start a new albergue project. Everything is so totally up in the air!
Agree @David Tallan . I think for a while at least, those albergues with multiple guest use rooms and large groups capacity could struggle. Accommodation with private room and small group dorms willl survive better.We'll know the answer to that when we come out of the other side of the pandemic and see which establishments have survived the huge economic challenges and which (sadly) have not.
On the other hand, there may be more establishments for sale shortly (also sadly) and there will be a reasonable amount of pent up demand to provide customers for those establishments that survive or those who are trying to start up.
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