From the robot waiter, to the eco-friendly umbrella and the "chiritardeo", the latest in the sector at Torremolinos Expoplaya

Issues such as regulatory changes, stemming from the need to be more environmentally friendly, energy efficiency, or artificial intelligence create new business opportunities, including in sectors like tourism.

Attracted by these possibilities, many companies have attended the 49th edition of Expoplaya, the reference fair for this sector, which takes place at the Palacio de Congresos in Torremolinos this Friday, with 70 participants and visitor numbers around five thousand, as highlighted by the organizers, which belong to the Andalusian Federation of Beach Entrepreneurs (Faeplayas), sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and Andalucía Exterior of the Junta de Andalucía and in collaboration with Fesempla, Efebe, and Tourism and Planning Costa del Sol.

At the opening, which included a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the mayor, Margarita del Cid; the Government delegate of the Andalusian government in Málaga, Patricia Navarro, and the president of Faesplaya, Manuel Villafaina, among other institutional representatives, the speeches focused on the need to ensure that, among other administrations, including the central government, which has been asked for a beach stabilization plan as soon as possible, the coast recovers its appearance after the damage caused by the storm series, and repairs its facilities as soon as possible, as the high season is about to begin. On the positive side, there is a commitment to a new formula to maintain activity, the "chiritardeo," a new consumption band linked to sunset that seeks to extend profitability by transforming the transition between morning and afternoon service into a differentiated experience with added value.

Regarding the companies, one of the exhibitors was the manufacturer of a robot, with a seal from Algeciras, called Efidroid which, as Eva Alconchel from Efipos, where it was created, makes clear, is not a substitute but an assistant to waiters who, indeed, is capable of singing while delivering smiles and dishes of food to customers. The idea, she explains, is gaining considerable acceptance on the Costa del Sol.

Achieving efficiency in electricity spending, thanks to comprehensive advice, is what Javier Santana, from Rainbow Energy, offers. He explains that an average beach bar has a bill ranging between 800 and 1,500 euros, and that this type of business also has the disadvantage that, due to the size of the establishment, it cannot resort to solutions such as the installation of solar panels, as the investment is not profitable in the short term.

And, amid the exhibitors of major beer or food brands, a classic of the coasts, the umbrellas, whose production also has its intricacies, as explained by Francisco Granero, from Artesombra, a family company from Rute. They take advantage of regulatory changes that favor parasols with natural fibers to offer articles crafted, in an artisanal manner, with wicker from Cuenca or 'carritx' from Mallorca, which, in addition to avoiding the "greenhouse effect" of synthetics, have the advantage of not being blown away by the wind.

In search of a new niche, Vaso Fiesta, from Terrassa, a division of a company dedicated to plastic injection, was born, which produces what its name suggests, as pointed out by María Zapata, who has come to present her proposal in Torremolinos. Although already a supplier for Starlite, it seeks to increase its turnover with beachside venues on the Costa del Sol, offering cups that, thanks to the employed system, can be decorated with images in photographic quality, combined with traditional contact information and QR codes.