Belgian hotelier Jan de Clerck, tourism pioneer in Cádiz, dies at 83

Jan de Clerck, a Belgian entrepreneur born in Kortrijk in 1943, died on 6 August at the age of 82‑83. He moved to the province of Cádiz, Spain, in 1969 and founded the hotel chain Hoteles Andaluces con Encanto (HACE), operating properties in Rota and Jerez such as Hotel Playa de la Luz, Hotel Duque de Nájera, Hotel Jerez & Spa, Hotel Villa Jerez and Punta Candor Suites. De Clerck is credited with opening the Cádiz tourism market to European operators, especially from Belgium and Germany, and was honoured with the 2023 Clúster Turístico Destino Jerez award and the title of honorary ambassador of the province. He also served as Belgium’s honorary consul in Spain. After stepping back from daily management, he remained president‑honorary of HACE, while his son Stefaan de Clerck now runs the company and chairs the Provincial Hotels Association of Cádiz.