Booking.com Blocks Mallorca Luxury Hotel Linked to Sanctioned Iranian Banker
The luxury Steigenberger Camp de Mar hotel in Mallorca has disappeared from Booking.com’s platform, with all new bookings blocked through the popular travel portal. First reported by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), this action affects one of Mallorca’s most exclusive addresses frequented by German celebrities and business elites.
Iranian Ownership Connections Prompt Booking Suspension
International media investigations revealed the five-star property’s ultimate beneficial owner as Iranian banker Ali Ansari, who the British government sanctioned in January 2024 for allegedly financing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The European Union formally classified the IRGC as a terrorist organization on January 23, 2024.
Hotel management confirmed the Booking.com suspension in a statement: “It is correct that Booking.com has temporarily suspended reservations due to unverified assumptions in recent reporting.” However, they emphasized that “hotel operations continue unaffected for guests, partners, and staff.”
Broader Portfolio of Luxury Properties Affected
According to Financial Times analysis of offshore accounts, Ansari controls multiple European properties through complex corporate structures:
- Steigenberger Camp de Mar (Mallorca) – €22 million valuation
- Schlosshotel Kitzbühel (Austrian Alps) – partial ownership
- Hilton Frankfurt City Centre – €80 million valuation
- Hilton Frankfurt Gravenbruch – €80 million valuation
- Bero Oberhausen shopping center (Germany) – €68 million valuation
All these properties have been removed from Booking.com following the sanctions revelations. The Dutch-based booking platform operates under strict EU compliance regulations regarding sanctioned individuals and entities.
Hotel Management Responds to Ownership Claims
When questioned about their connection to Ansari, Steigenberger Camp de Mar described a “standard landlord-tenant relationship” with Royal Golf Hotel Camp de Mar SA, stating they are “long-term tenants” without further operational ties. The hotel declined to comment on ownership structures or sanctions implications.
Industry analysts note that while the booking suspension impacts new reservations, existing guests and direct bookings through the hotel’s website remain unaffected. The property continues to operate its 169 rooms, three restaurants, and beachfront facilities normally.
Geopolitical Implications for Luxury Hospitality
This case highlights increasing scrutiny of property ownership transparency in European luxury hospitality markets. According to Transparency International, Germany has seen a 34% increase in unexplained wealth investigations involving high-value real estate since 2020.
EU sanctions experts note that while Ansari isn’t personally sanctioned by the EU, businesses face growing pressure to distance themselves from individuals linked to designated terrorist organizations. Major booking platforms now routinely cross-reference property ownership data against global sanctions lists.
For travelers, the situation underscores the importance of verifying reservation channels directly with hotels during ownership disputes. The Steigenberger maintains its status as a Leading Hotel of the World member despite the Booking.com suspension.
Source: Mallorca Magazin
Images Credit: www.mallorcamagazin.com