Grupo Forty bets on Manises airport for its first major project outside Alicante

Grupo Forty is looking forward to 2025 with "enthusiasm." With an investment of around five million euros, the Alicante-based company is planning several major projects for this year, especially the future leisure and dining space at the former Dársena del Puerto de Alicante, Béton Brut, an ambitious four-story venue offering cocktail bars, restaurants, and a rooftop that promises to be the crown jewel of the project.

Among the array of new developments, the first expansion of Grupo Forty outside the province with its own project has been confirmed. It will consist of various leisure and dining spaces at the Sky Business Center, a business complex of nearly 40,000 m2 located next to Manises airport in Valencia. The project was presented this Tuesday by the company at its Puntapiedra restaurant in the Alicante quarry.

There, the Alicante company will develop several projects ranging from cafes to restaurants and gastronomic spaces, as well as a children's leisure area inspired by Willy Wonka, the character from the chocolate factory, and a gaming area designed to experience the benefits of virtual reality.

Grupo Forty will begin implementing these new projects starting next March, with the opening of two Vitha Healthy Bar cafes, while by September or October, before the end of the year, they expect to open the gastronomic space and the restaurant. Everything is currently underway, and the tenders to undertake these projects are already in progress.

Antonio García, director of Forty Gestión and one of the founding brothers, explained that the idea "came up a couple of years ago" and advances that they will also develop "the entire wellness part following the model we have developed in Alicante, just like Sanax." Thus, García refers to the restaurant they will open as "a space of product and grills comparable to Petímetre." This will be joined by a gastronomic space led by who is already "one more of the family," chef Pablo Montoro.

A project that continues to expand and to which, according to the company, "new spaces will be added in future phases." It is the first own venture of Grupo Forty outside the province of Alicante, an adventure they face with "enthusiasm."

In addition to Béton Brut, the Alicante-based leisure and dining group will carry out several projects, such as the renovation of Logozo or their innovative Forty Hotel Services, a comprehensive service conceived from the many trips made by the brothers.

According to them, they detected several needs in many hotels and have therefore devised this complete and comprehensive service that will offer consultancy, dining, personnel selection, events, interior design, or marketing and communication. The group's CEO and founding member, Héctor Del Barrio, has advanced that "we are already being asked for quotes" and details that they even consider implementing their brands and restaurants in hotels that match the offer: "why wouldn't we think of including a Puntapiedra in a coastal hotel," expresses Del Barrio.

Another major bet for next year is Forty Congress. The group's president, Emilio Del Barrio, has highlighted the importance of these in the conglomerate and its strategy. "Our goal in the next two years is to increase congresses in our spaces by 200%," he indicates, which would mean "a 25% growth in congress production in the province." Added to this is Forty Events and the push from the Del Barrio brothers' conglomerate to "be leaders in the offer in the Levante."

With a focus on events, projects, and congresses, the brothers do not overlook sports. Following the success of the Forty Golf Cup, which gathered 1,200 attendees, the event considered the "best amateur golf tournament" will return to the province.

It will not be the only sporting tournament. The Forty Run Fest will also arrive, to be held on March 30 at San Juan beach, in the Golf and La Marjal Park area. An event that will offer a light running competition along with musical experiences such as DJ, batucada, or a live concert.