Illuminating the World’s First Smart Tourist Destination 

Benidorm, located in Alicante, Spain, is one of the main tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, attracting millions of visitors every year. The beachfront promenade of Benidorm perfectly blends the modernity of the city with the serenity of the beach, making it a famous and recognized place around the world.

The municipal authorities of Benidorm are committed to the constant improvement of the city's offerings, not only in terms of culture and leisure but also as a sustainable and climate-responsible destination. Their efforts have led Benidorm to be considered the first Smart Tourist Destination in the world, lending a hand to the growing popularity of the city.

To uphold this title, municipal authorities chose to renew the lighting of the beachfront promenade’s iconic catenary. The catenary lighting of the great promenade is a sensitive element, as it is constantly visible and represents one of the defining symbols of the city. The new lighting design needed to be innovative, connected, and energy-efficient.

Phase one of the renovation of Benidorm’s iconic Levante promenade was completed in 2023, with the second phase scheduled for completion by the end of 2025. This ambitious project included the installation of Color Kinetics ArchiPoint Powercore luminaires and Interact Landmark with power and data supplied by Data Enabler Pro. The Translucent Dome Lens version of ArchiPoint were hung catenary style from cables 10-12 m (33-39 ft) high from the walkway below. Rigid standoffs connected to each set of ArchiPoint via its Conduit Mounting Base ensure equal distance between luminaries throughout the installation and consistent illumination below. ArchiPoint luminaires are designed to withstand the harsh marine environment with their factory-sealed IK10 rated aluminum housing, which is crucial for a coastal installation like Benidorm’s beachfront. Together, these technologies are able to produce lasting dynamic video scenes, vivid color changes, and customized lighting calendars tailored to local events.

The renovation resulted in a 50% reduction in energy consumption compared to the previous system, which relied on series-installed energy-saving lamps. This significant improvement aligns with the municipality’s sustainability goals and highlights their commitment to intelligent, energy-efficient technologies. Interact Landmark allows for remote management, enabling the city to easily adjust brightness and color to suit various moments, transforming the catenary and its surroundings into an even more lively and vibrant attraction. Beyond its functional benefits, the renovated lighting has reinforced Benidorm’s image as a modern, forward-thinking destination, demonstrating how thoughtful infrastructure investments can deliver both environmental and cultural value.

Color Kinetics luminaires were used to achieve this design due to their premium quality, durability and plethora of innovative elements. They were also the perfect fit due to their ability to assimilate with the existing infrastructure while significantly reducing energy consumption and cost.

The Mayor of Benidorm, Antonio Pérez, notes, “The lighting of the Paseo de Levante has perfectly fulfilled the objectives we were pursuing: the fundamental one, to have greater energy efficiency."