The collaboration seeks to foster equal opportunities, inclusion, and access to sports among children and young people in Bellvitge. The agreement has already contributed to the creation of a new girls' youth team and to the revival of the women's senior team after a six-year absence.
Hesperia Hotels & Resorts and Club Metropolitan have joined forces to support Unión Deportiva Unificación Bellvitge in the development of local sports, helping to create new opportunities for children and young people in the Bellvitge neighborhood of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona. This partnership, which will span the current sports season, places a special focus on promoting women’s football, inclusion, and equal opportunity.
The collaboration aims to bolster the sporting and social work of U.D. Unificación Bellvitge—an organization with over 40 years of history that brings together more than 500 players across 34+ teams, maintaining an active schedule throughout the season. Beyond competition, the club serves an educational purpose, acting as a hub for social interaction and helping hundreds of children and their families find a space for personal growth, inclusion, and community through sport.
The agreement includes the progressive development of various initiatives designed to improve access to sports, support the growth of women’s football, and promote inclusive programs. All three organizations share a commitment to using grassroots sports as a tool for personal development and community cohesion.
New opportunities for women’s football in Bellvitge
One of the first outcomes of this collaboration is the creation of a new girls' "cadet" (U16) team, consisting of 14- and 15-year-old players, which expands the opportunities for girls to play football within the club’s sporting structure.
Furthermore, the support from Hesperia and Club Metropolitan has provided the necessary boost to revive the women’s senior team—a category that U.D. Unificación Bellvitge has now brought back after a six-year hiatus. Both developments address one of the partnership’s primary objectives: to ensure continuity for female players throughout the various stages of their athletic development and to continue expanding opportunities for girls and young women who wish to play soccer.
The development of women’s soccer is a key priority for the club, which is working to expand its teams, improve available resources, and solidify a structure that supports athletes as they grow and evolve.
Grassroots sports as a tool for inclusion and social development
The agreement also establishes a framework for collaboration on initiatives designed to lower barriers to sports participation and foster equal access for children and young people.
Throughout the season, efforts will focus on supporting families facing financial hardship, enhancing sports resources, and promoting inclusive activities.
U.D. Unificación Bellvitge boasts a sports community deeply rooted in its local environment, involving players—both boys and girls—as well as families, coaches, and technical staff. The club’s impact extends beyond training sessions and matches; it provides a shared space where sports serve as a vehicle for instilling values such as camaraderie, respect, hard work, and participation.
A partnership that strengthens the commitment to the local community
For Hesperia, this commitment aligns with its "Hesperiencial" philosophy—an approach to hospitality that seeks to deepen the connection between its hotels and the neighborhoods and environments in which they are located.
In this instance, supporting grassroots sports extends that connection into the athletic sphere, contributing to a project that supports hundreds of young people and their families in their daily lives. “We believe that commitment to a city is also demonstrated by supporting the people and organizations that make it up. U.D. Unificació Bellvitge has spent over four decades creating opportunities through sport, and we want to support the club as it grows. It is especially important to us that this collaboration—alongside Club Metropolitan—is already helping to launch new women’s teams, and that an increasing number of children and young people are finding in sport a space for learning, social interaction, and personal development,” says Víctor Pérez, Chief Financial Officer of Hesperia World.
“For U.D. Unificació Bellvitge, having the support of Hesperia and Club Metropolitan represents much more than just a partnership agreement. It is a sign of confidence in our project and in the social and athletic work we have been carrying out in the neighborhood for 40 years. This alliance will allow us to continue growing, promote women’s sports, and foster inclusion.”