AGALBER (Galician Association of Private Hostels) held its annual meeting which served to take stock of the entity’s actions, give way to the new board of directors and president and present its new website www.agalber.com
The annual meeting, in which half of its associates were present, thus served to make effective the change of the board of directors to give way to other professionals who can continue the process initiated by AGALBER. Thus, the new president will be Borja Rodríguez Costoya, manager of Albergue Vía Láctea in Arzúa, who was already a member of the previous board of directors, and who replaces Pedro Xosé Quintana, manager of Albergue A Casa de Carmen in Barbadelo, who will continue as secretary of the Board of Directors, and “at the disposal of the association for whatever it takes,” he said.
This is a continuous change, seeking a necessary rotation after four years of work of the previous board. After thanking all those present for the representation of the 4 years of the association’s history, in which significant and very valuable achievements have been obtained, both for the sector and for each of Agalber’s associates, the proposal for a new board of directors was made, in which, in addition to the president and secretary, Pepe Formoso Mourelos de Albergue Bela Muxía repeated. Manuel Santos de Albergue Villa San Clemente de Tui, Raquel Carregal Salgueiro de Albergue Ultreia de Arzúa, and María José Gómez Barreiro de Albergue Cruceiro de Pedrouzo have joined the new journey. The six members, who represent the hostels of the four provinces, have expressed their enthusiasm to be part of this project, and have assured that they will do everything in their power to represent Agalber.
Challengues for the future
In addition, the annual assembly also dealt with current issues of the sector that concern most of the associates; the commitment to seek a permanent improvement of the sector was renewed, and the pilgrim recognizes quality when he sees the identification of Agalber. Among the challenges for this mandate, Borja Rodriguez gathers for the present the task of continuing working from the collaboration and not only with Tourism of Galicia and the Xacobeo, before which they will demand to advance in a homogeneous signage that contributes to promote the Way with an image of own brand, as well as “an equal treatment because I sing more near Santiago, mais coidan or Camiño”. They also hope to strengthen relations with the Mancomunidad del Camino Francés in order to advance matters such as the use of sports centres for the nightlife of pilgrims. They also exercise unfair competition. The collective. Agalber was founded four years ago and has fifty members from the French, Portuguese and Fisterra and Muxía Roads, new associates. The directive aims to reach 100 members this year with hostels on all routes.