Brand New Lanzarote Business and Residents Association Website Launched

We are very proud to announce the launch of our brand new website which has been in development for several months. Late last year we made the decision to retire our old website as after many years of faithful service it definitely deserved a break. 

While our new site has been in development we launched this blog back in November. This is where we have been posting all our news articles and then sharing them to our Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus profiles. It is time to wish this blog a fond farewell though, as our blog posts are now integrated directly into the new site which we hope you'll agree works really well!

As the old website was starting to look very dated, we made the decision of starting again from scratch in order to make the new website really look totally different. We didn't want to take a half measure and just tweak the old site, it was time for a totally fresh and modern site. Since our last website was launched the Internet has changed immeasurably, and web users expect websites that reflect the speed and ease that they are now used to. 

A big part of this change has occurred due to mobile Internet, as now people can browse sites from almost anywhere they go on their mobile phone. Websites need to be built with mobile users in mind as this is where an increasing amount of web traffic comes from. 

Our new website is smooth, simple to navigate and designed to showcase the best of Lanzarote via the different sections that have been included. Various tabs have been included at the top of the website for simple access to different sections that we feel are most important to our users. 

We have our blog which will be updated to include all of the posts from this blog and all new posts:

There is a tab in which you can access all of the videos we have added to our YouTube channel: 

The about section gives all the information you need about the LBRA such as our history, aims and values:

From the directory tab you will find links to all of the great businesses that are members of the LBRA:

 Last but not least on the far top right hand corner there is a tab that will take you to a page with all the information you need for joining the LBRA:

Our new site is designed with social media in mind with our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds directly integrated into the website. There are also links to our social media channels along the bottom of the page and the ability to share our blog posts and other sections of the site to any social media channel of your choice. Along the bottom of the site you will also find links to job listings, as we aim to be useful as well as informative.

We really hope that you like the new site as much as we do, and if you like it please let us know via our social media channels as we would love to here what you think! Our new site can be found here: http://lanzarotebusinessassociation.com/

The site was designed by Ashley Pearson, who is a IT Executive and Google Rising Star with many years experience of web design. You can find out more about Ashley via his LinkedIn profile including information on how to contact him if you would like a website developed.

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ashpearson

Excellent Full Time Job Opportunity with Lanzarote One Property Management Company

If you are currently seeking employment in Lanzarote, an excellent job opportunity has arisen  with Lanzarote One, a long established property management company and travel agency. The company are currently looking for a full time person to join their team at their office in Puerto del Carmen.

 If you are interested in this position you will need:

• A passion to offer a high level of customer service to their property owners and holiday guests
• To be able to work quickly and efficiently under pressure during busy periods as part of a team and to exercise a degree of initiative
• To be computer literate with accounts knowledge and experience
• To have a very good ability, written and spoken, in both Spanish and English.

 To apply please email your CV with a covering letter to lesley@lanzarote1.com

For more information about the company please visit their website: www.lanzaroteone.com/

You can also follow Lanzarote One on their social media channels: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LanzaroteOne/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lanzarote_One

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanzaroteone/

The Lanzarote Business and Residents Association turns 8 today!

We are absolutely delighted to announce that the Lanzarote Business and Residents Association turns eight today! Since the association was founded we feel we have made a real difference in improving the situation for foreign residents living in Lanzarote, and visitors to the island. We also feel very confident about this year, and future developments for the LBRA!

Our membership continues to grow, and there is a real buzz now in the team about being able to offer even more services to our members and the general public here on the island. We are extremely happy with the continued support we have received from the Ayuntamientos and Cabildo of Lanzarote, who appreciate the benefit we bring to the island. By supporting our efforts here on the island, they are helping to ensure the future harmony between local residents and foreign residents who now call Lanzarote their home. In turn this will lead to the continuing development and success of businesses around the island, and long term economic growth. 

 It is great that the vision of the founder of the LBRA, Daniel Trigg, to create an organisation to help foreign nationals residing in Lanzarote, continues to go from strength to strength all these years later. We couldn't have achieved this success without our members though, and Daniel and the team would like to offer our many thanks to all our members and everyone who has supported us over the years. 

 We have many exciting projects in development including a brand new, modern and interactive website, new initiatives in collaboration with the local councils, and of course more informative and entertaining videos, social media, and blog posts. We are looking forward to a great future with all of you, with much anticipation for a successful year ahead!

Leave a comment below with any questions you have about the LBRA that we could answer in future videos or blog posts, or via our social media accounts:

• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook 
• Google Plus  

For further information about the services that we offer please see this section of our blog > About us

An Introduction to the LBRA from founder and president Daniel Trigg

Over the next couple of months we will bring you a series of video interviews from Daniel Trigg and other members of the LBRA, in order to bring you a greater understanding of why the Lanzarote Business and Residents Association was founded, and what the aims and objectives are.

 Below you will find an introduction to the LBRA from founder and president Daniel:

This video was filmed at the lovely "El Cafe de Manny" at Playa Bastian in Costa Teguise. It is owned and run by the friendly and hard-working Manny who kindly agreed to let us film at the cafe (https://www.facebook.com/elcafedemanny/).

 Leave a comment below with any questions you have about the LBRA that we could answer in future videos or blog posts, or via our social media accounts:

• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook 
• Google Plus 

Free weekly translation service every Tuesday in Teguise

Over the last three to four decades, tourism has greatly increased in Lanzarote meaning you can hear many other languages spoken in the streets, especially in the more touristic areas such as Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise. If you decide to become more than a tourist though and move here permanently, then we definitely recommend trying to learn at least some Spanish as it makes life a lot easier, improves integration, and is a great skill to have. This does take time though, and is not always feasible. This can make things complicated when dealing with certain aspects of life on the island such as setting up a business, paying bills, and dealing with paperwork. 

Thankfully help is at hand, as there is now a weekly translation service every Tuesday in Teguise, at the Teguise Ayuntamiento (la Villa). This is being offered by the Ayuntamiento in Teguise in partnership with the Lanzarote Business and Residents Association. It runs every Tuesday morning between 10:00am - 1:00pm, when there will be an English speaking person dedicated to helping you with any translation based services you may need. 

To take advantage of this excellent service, simply visit the Ayuntamiento during these times. Due to the popularity of the service though, it may be of benefit to you to make a prior arrangement by email if your issue is more urgent: teguiseassistance@gmail.com

Best of all this service is being offered to you completely free of charge! So if you need any translations needed for paperwork, bills or any other type of interpretation, don't hesitate to make use of this excellent free service!

For more information about Teguise Ayuntamiento visit their website: http://www.teguise.es/

Address:

Calle Santo Domingo, 1, 35530 Teguise, Las Palmas

Prices to Lanzarote are perfect right now to enjoy some cheap winter sun!

Following all the fun and festivities of  the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the dreaded January hangover looms large! For most families Christmas consists of presents, lots of eating and drinking, and some much needed time off from work and studying. It is a time to forget the stresses of the year, and have fun with family and friends. The build up to Christmas time lasts for weeks or even months, but the big day comes and goes quickly. January arrives as a real anti-climax for many people, who realise that life for the most part will continue as normal, despite all those promises made on New Year's Eve. Now is the time when most people's thoughts will turn to holidays!

You might be thinking "how can I afford a holiday right now?" because while waistlines might be a little larger, bank balances will certainly be lighter from buying all those Christmas presents and extra food. Rather than hibernating at home and watching Netflix though, this is the perfect time to get away to Lanzarote and escape the cold and gloom of the Northern European January and February!

Right now there are some amazing deals for vacations in the sun that many families will find affordable, especially if you choose not to get sucked into the January sales. If you are from the UK it is even better due to the strength of the pound against the euro. In fact according to The Telegraph, Lanzarote is the second cheapest place abroad after Cyprus for a last-minute winter sun escape. This is according to research by Post Office Travel Money that found that a seven-night package holiday to Costa Teguise in Lanzarote including flights and evening meals costs just £268 per person!  

While temperatures have been unseasonably high across the UK this winter, you still wouldn't want to go sunbathing or swimming at the beach. In the Canary Islands you can do this almost all year round, including now in winter with average temperatures of 19-20 degrees Celsius. This accounts for why Lanzarote and the other Canary Islands are some of the most viewed holiday destinations online right now by those in the UK hoping to enjoy some winter sun, according to data published by TravelSupermarket in The Guardian. With prices so low there is no better time than now to book a holiday to Lanzarote to escape the winter gloom, get some much needed sun, and even indulge in some shopping in the sales here where prices are even cheaper. We hope to see you here! 

We would love to hear your comments below.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. (Photo credits: Simon Turkas.)

 

An End of Year Thank You from Founder and President of the LBRA, Daniel Trigg

"It seems incredible that another year has almost passed and Christmas is once again upon us. It’s been an extremely busy year and as ever December is a hectic month for us. As always our members are our number one priority and we continually work hard to look after your interests. The LBRA was established as an association to work for and support its members, and to help and assist them on a daily basis whatever their needs. As an association we are a collective of like minded people who can share knowledge and information and whose aim is to work together as a united group for the benefit of Lanzarote and its future.

As the year draws to an end I like to take this opportunity to thank all of our members for being part of the association and for your continued support. I am pleased to report that with your support the LBRA, as well as being the only official association for Europeans on the island, remains one of the largest. It has been a good year and one with more highs than lows. We are extremely proud to have been awarded a contract from the Cabildo, working on the promotion of Lanzarote. We also secured a contract with Teguise Ayuntamiento, and now work with them on a weekly basis providing translations and assistance for non Spanish speakers and helping in other general areas. We are at present in talks with other Ayuntamiento’s and associations and hope to be able to bring you news of further contracts in 2016.

I should also like to thank my team at the association, particularly Silvia and Rita, and to the member representatives for the work and support they give. My family play an important part in supporting me and allowing me time away from my own businesses to concentrate on association matters, and for that I am grateful and thankful. When I formed the association in 2008 after many years of planning and work, it was my wish to be able to help others and I feel that this has now been successfully achieved. The association as you will be aware is now a respected “member” of the community and is acknowledged by all the authorities and I hope that makes you feel as proud as it does me to be part of our organisation.

Our members are the most important part of the organisation, and our commitment is to work hard on your behalf and take care of your interests. As always our overall objective is to continually increase tourism, improve the facilities, standards and services that the island has to offer, and to support and create unity in the community. We have the knowledge, capabilities, enthusiasm and dedication to work on your behalf and with your support we will continue to do so. Best wishes Daniel Trigg (President Lanzarote Business and Residents Association)"

Once again from everyone involved in the running of the LBRA, we would like to say a big thank you to all of our members and to anyone who has supported us during the year. This year has been excellent for the organisation in many ways, and we hope to continue with our success in 2016. We are sure that with all the excellent support we receive from our members, the public and the Cabildo of Lanzarote, next year the Lanzarote Business and Residents Association can achieve even more!

To keep up to date with the LBRA as well as reading our blog please follow us on social media:

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Discover the Best of Lanzarote with this List of Useful Websites

Despite its relatively small size and low population, Lanzarote is an island rich in culture, events and tourist attractions. If you are here on holiday for a week you will almost certainly not be able to see everything that Lanzarote has to offer, and will need a second or third trip back. In fact many people love the island so much as a destination that they come back here year after year! Even if you live here there are different events at least once a week or more. These can be regular attractions like the biggest market in Lanzarote, every Sunday in Teguise, or events that only happen once a year. 

Teguise Market every Sunday

 Some of these are major annual events which attract people from all over the world such as the Lanzarote International Marathon, taking place this Saturday, or the Lanzarote IronMan which happens every summer. Lanzarote is becoming known more and more on the global stage as an excellent sporting destination due to its amazing year round climate. Other sporting events that attract international competitors include the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship (WMSC), and
PWA World Championship Wind Surfing Competition in Costa Teguise. 

I Love Graciosa Catamaran Excursion

 Of course Lanzarote is not just renowned for sport, there are activities and events for everyone, whatever age you are and catering for a range of different interests. This includes markets across the island on everyday of the week, many different fiestas throughout the year, music concerts with lots of musical variety from rock, to pop, to dance music and some excellent clasical music concerts held in the Jameos del Agua tourist attraction! One of the biggest music events on the island is called 'Arrecife en Vivo" in which over a series of four days (two in September and two in October), bands from all over the Canary Islands and beyond come and play live in Arrecife. This is a really popular and free annual event!

Just over a week ago there was a huge food tasting event called Saborea Lanzarote held over a weekend in Teguise which attracted 1000s of tourists and residents. The event gave the opportunity to taste lots of different tapas and drinks from restaurants, cafes and food producers from all over Lanzarote. Another great event that combines sport and food and drink is called 'The Wine Run' and this takes part every year in Lanzarote in June.

Discover Lanzarote by Bike!

 How can you find out about these events though? With so many different events and things to see and do, it can be easy to miss some of them. Here at Lanzarote Business and Residents Association we like to help out residents and tourists alike in discovering all that the island has to offer. We have compiled a list of different websites so you can keep on top of what is happening at different times of the year here.

Local institutions:  

Lanzarote Government (Cabildo):
 

http://www.cabildodelanzarote.com/

7 Town halls/Ayuntamientos:

http://www.teguise.es/

http://www.ayuntamientodetias.es/

http://yaiza.es/

http://www.sanbartolome.es/web/

http://www.arrecife.es/portal/

http://www.ayuntamientodeharia.com/haria/

http://www.tinajo.es/

For cultural information:

• The Cultural Programme of the Cabildo of Lanzarote (Programación cultural del Cabildo de Lanzarote):  

www.culturalanzarote.com

• Tourist Centres (Centros Turísticos):

http://www.centrosturisticos.com/centros/CENTROS/published_en/DEFAULT/index.html 

• Lanzarote Tourism (Turismo Lanzarote):

http://www.turismolanzarote.com/en/

 

Events  websites:

• Hola Lanzarote:

http://holalanzarote.com/en/

• Ocio Lanzarote:

http://ociolanzarote.com/en/

• Al Solajero:

http://www.alsolajero.com/

• Lanzarote Information:

http://www.lanzaroteinformation.com/

On Facebook: 

• The Lanzarote Business and Residents Facebook Page

•  Guia de Ocio y Cultura 

 There are always new websites being added and many of these sites have a presence on social media so it is worth following them there. We hope that this list gives a good idea of the extent of different events, and tourist attractions that you can find on the island. 

If you have any suggestions for other useful websites or social media accounts please leave a comment below, as we love to hear about sites to let others know about. Thanks!

Get Ready for the Annual Christmas Santa Parade in Puerto del Carmen on December 19th!

It's incredible to think we are just three weeks away from Christmas, and summer was months ago. One of the reasons it is hard to believe is that the temperature here in Lanzarote is still in the mid 20's almost everyday, and we've had an amazing start to December weather wise. Lanzarote is definitely living up to its reputation as one of the best places to visit for winter sun! Many of the beaches are packed during the day, with people sunbathing and swimming. Temperatures back home in the UK are at least 10 degrees colder, cloudy, grey, and rainy. We know where we would prefer to spend winter!

Photo Credit: Lanzarote Information

 As Christmas is almost here it is also just two weeks tomorrow until the hugely popular LBRA Annual Christmas Santa Parade in collaboration with Tías Ayuntamiento, set to take place in Puerto del Carmen. Unfortunately the event didn't take place last year to the disappointment of many, but this year it will be back and bigger and better than ever! After meetings and a final confirmation from the authorities, we are pleased to announce that the parade will take place on Saturday 19th December, with a meeting time of 5.30pm, and the parade set to start at 6.00pm.

Photo Credit: Lanzarote Information

 We hope to make it a great event this year, and would love to see as many Santa's as possible taking part. Anyone who wants to dress up as Santa is more than welcome to join us, or you can just come along and show your support for all those taking part. It is definitely a case of the more the merrier! Please contact us via email: lanzaroteba@gmail.com or on our Facebook Page if you wish to take part or if your business wants to get involved.

We will be sharing more information over the next couple of weeks on our Facebook Page and Twitter, so make sure to follow us there to keep up to date with news about the parade. The most important news though, is that the parade is officially back on, so get ready to party!

 We would like to wish a huge thanks to John and Irene from Go Karting San Bartolome for helping to organise the event,and thanks also to the councillors Amado Vizcaino and Francisco Aparicio from Ayuntamiento de Tías for their cooperation.

You've Probably Never Seen Lanzarote Like This Before!

Lanzarote is an amazing island of contrasts. You have the bright blue ocean and sky, the golden yellow sandy beaches, and the black lava fields that cover much of the island. It is an amazing and unique place, that millions of tourists love to visit each year. Many of them come here to enjoy these aspects of the island just mentioned as it is the perfect place to come and escape from the stresses of 'normal life'. 

 

The Canary Islands are often classed as having "the best climate in the world" and a lot of this is down to the year round sun and few rainy days. Much of the interior of Lanzarote is quite a barren landscape, due to the lack of rainfall throughout most of the year. The majority of Lanzarote's tourists come from the UK and Germany, where they experience enough rain to last a lifetime in one year. It is a welcome relief to stay in a place where you can literally sunbathe all holiday.

Contrary to what some people might believe though, it does actually rain sometimes, and when it does it can be torrential. This can be disruptive, but many of the locals love the rain as it is great for the crops that are grown here. It also transforms the island, especially in the north. The hills and fields are transformed from a dull brown with little to no plant life, to a verdant green. It is quite amazing what a couple of days of rain can achieve here. 

 

Around a month ago there were several days of torrential rain which was unusual for that time of year. Since then though much of the island remains green and full of life! If you explore the countryside especially near to Haria and other towns and villages of the north you could think you are in a completely different place. You've probably never seen Lanzarote like this before!

 

There are grassy fields and hills that look like they could be in the UK or mainland Europe. It is the palm trees and bright blue sky that will remind you that you're somewhere more tropical.  Lanzarote is an amazing place any time of the year, but the rain has really brought it to life, and perhaps made it even more beautiful (if that is possible)! 

We would love to hear your comments, and if you like this post then make sure to share on social media below! 

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(Photo Credit: Simon Turkas)

Teguise Market Every Sunday has Something for Everyone!

Being a small island with a relatively low population, Lanzarote is not what you describe as a shopper's paradise, and most people that live or visit here are totally fine with that. Of course there are ample shops in some parts of the island such as Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, Arrecife and Deiland Shopping Centre but the island has much bigger strengths. Some of the big names are starting to arrive on the island such as Mercadona and H&M, and this will surely increase as more people from abroad move here. 

What Lanzarote (currently) lacks in big name brands though, it makes up for with small independent and artisan stores and markets. There are a number of thriving markets around the island such as in Arrecife high street, Playa Blanca, and Puerto del Carmen's old town harbour. These are great to see as these are local people running their own businesses, and often selling locally produced items. The biggest and best market by far though happens every Sunday in Lanzarote's old capital of Teguise.

This market runs from 9am to 2pm each Sunday, and is one of the main tourist attractions on the island. There are literally bus loads of people arriving in Teguise every ten minutes or so on Sunday to see this wonderful event. It is great to see so many people walking around enjoying themselves, and it is great for the local economy. Unlike with big brand name superstores where the profits often leave Lanzarote and head to the company headquarters abroad, the profits from these market stalls stay with the locals that work there every week. 

There are so many different things on offer at the market that you will be spoilt for choice of what to buy. There is hand made jewellery, loads of aloe vera products, art, books, clothes, house hold decorations like candles, handmade soaps and beauty products, and lots of stores specialising in individual products like lovely handmade bookmarks, or handmade hanging wooden flower pot holders. These kind of products are quite unique and not easy to find elsewhere, so they make great gifts.

There is also a special food section with lots of products unique to Lanzarote or the Canary Islands such as Lanzarotian wine, or a stall selling cactus based food such as delicious cactus omelet or cactus jams.

If you are staying in Lanzarote for a week or more then we definitely recommend a trip to the Sunday market in Teguise. You will get a real flavour of Lanzarote and Canarian culture, with a real vibrancy and good vibe. In addition Teguise has centuries of tradition and history with some really interesting and beautiful features such as the impressive church, and square with an attractive fountain. As well as the food from the market stalls there are a huge number of different bars, cafes and restaurants where you can sit and put your feet up after exploring the market. These are perfect to sit at and people watch, with delicious local and international flavours and often live music to enjoy!

If you liked this post then please give us a plus one, leave us a comment and share on social media!

See Incredible Sunsets in Lanzarote

Anyone who has been lucky enough to visit Lanzarote, or better still live here, will know that the sunsets are incredible! There is rarely a dull, completely cloudy day on the island. Instead you generally have clear beautiful blue skies during the daytime. This is all part of the often talked about "best climate in the world" of the Canary Islands. It might sound like a cliché, but the climate here in Lanzarote really is amazing!

Incredible light in Arrecife

These clear skies contribute to some absolutely stunning sunsets that sometimes seem almost unreal in their beauty. The colours that are created by the sun as it makes its descent below the horizon are mesmerising. Another contributing factor to the beauty of Lanzarote's sunsets has got to be the relatively small number of obstructions like big buildings, and artificial lights. Due to the small size of the island it is easy to reach the horizon and see the sun dropping down beneath the ocean. 

Stunning sunset at Los Hervideros

 Unlike other places, like the UK, where the climate and therefore the sunsets (and sunrises) are very much dependent on the time of year, you more or less have a great year-round climate here in Lanzarote. That means that at most times of the year here you are able to see beautiful sunsets, some of which are simply breathtaking.

Let us know in the comments below where in Lanzarote you have seen the best sunset and if you have any photos or videos we would love to see them. If you liked this blog post then please share on social media!

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Photo and video credit:
Simon Turkas

Welcome to the Lanzarote Business and Residents Association Blog

Lanzarote is a fascinating, beautiful and incredible island to both visit as a tourist and also to live on. In fact many people who come for a holiday decide to make this their home either straight away, or later on when they decide to retire. Although the Canary Islands are a Spanish territory, and the official language is Spanish, the number of foreign residents is high and continues to grow.

Of course a large part of the island's success at attracting new residents is down to the fantastic climate, with year round warm weather and blue, sunny skies. It is hot but not too extreme in the summer, and never gets cold in the winter. In fact the climate almost has a year-round spring like state.

Apart from the amazing climate which has been described by many as "the best climate in the world," the island has so much more to offer for both residents and businesses. With the amazing weather, the island is almost guaranteed tourists. This is absolutely ideal for businesses related to that sector, with around 90% of the islands working inhabitants employed within the tourism sector. Millions of people visit Lanzarote every year because of the climate, stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, variety of activities and things to see, and the high level of safety.

While Lanzarote is a amazing place to live, work, and visit on holiday, there are certain difficulties that may be experienced by both residents and tourists. One of the main barriers is language. Of course, non-Spanish speakers will face some difficulties if they don´t speak the language and need access to the local government, public services, or the legal system for example. While there have been improvements made over the years to accommodate the growing number of foreign residents, this is still a difficulty for foreigners on the island. This in turn is linked to setting up businesses, the local tax system, and dealing with the local council on any kinds of issues like planning permission.

Lanzarote Business and Residents Association was set up in 2009 to help its members to deal with these kind of problems, and also to work towards the common goal of improving tourism to Lanzarote and future investment in the island. This is achieved by the proactive involvement of the Association in public life of the island by meeting with local businesses, administrative bodies and other associations.

To help the Association to grow and to improve awareness of the benefits it can provide to its members, their friends and families, and the wider community within Lanzarote we have decided to set up this blog. Here we will share posts about upcoming events, members of the LBA, and the amazing island of Lanzarote that so many of us are lucky enough to call home!

We welcome any comments or suggestions below our posts, or alternatively you can contact us via our website or social media channels. Thanks for reading and make sure to subscribe to the blog.

If you would like more information about the LBA then you can contact us via email: info@lanzarotebusinessassociation.com

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  Photo credits Simon Turkas Photography