"I have had the privilege of visiting over 70 countries and Andalucia is my home of choice: it is one of the most beautiful places in the world. We were impressed by the culture, the old traditions and the sheer quantity of monuments and historic and archaeological sites ....."
So says Chris Chaplow in an interview with Tony Bryant for SUR in English, on the 30th anniversary of his website andalucia.com.
A civil engineer by training, Chaplow settled in Estepona in 1991 and in 1992 married his partner Michelle, a professional photographer. Around the same time Lookout Magazine commissioned an article about foreign residents who were using the internet. They found just four English-speakers in the whole of Andalucia with an internet connection and Chaplow was one of them.
Chris Chaplow [andalucia.com]
Humble beginnings
Via Tizz.com, a compendium of Spanish links built with university friend Chris Mason, Chaplow launched andalucia.com in 1996.
Chaplow remarks: "At that time even Yahoo ... had ... zero (references) for Andalucia."
While Michelle was pursuing her career as a photographer, Chris was developing his idea of creating a website about Andalucia.
Michelle Chaplow [MC]
Three decades later andalucia.com is the go-to website for comprehensive information about Spain's second largest region. The English edition comprises over 11,000 pages and the Spanish edition, launched in 2006. has some 3,500.
Recognition
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Andalucia.com, the leading portal for information about Andalucia, received yesterday the award for best company of the year, which the regional government presented in collaboration with the Málaga Chamber of Commerce. The award ceremony, which took place at the El Fuerte Hotel in Marbella, was chaired by María Gámez, government delegate in Málaga, and coincided with the Business Day for Foreign Residents.
María Gámez [Photo: Salvador Salas/ Ñito Salas/ SUR]
"For all of us who make Andalucia.com possible, it is a great honour to receive this award," said Paz Rosado, editor of the website in its Spanish version. Rosado also did not want to forget the award organisers, whom she congratulated on the initiative.
Chris Chaplow, managing director of andalucia.com, in his acceptance speech said he felt "flattered to receive this award from the Junta de Andalucía and the Malaga Chamber of Commerce" and added, "it is a recognition of 12 years of work promoting Andalusia." Chaplow wanted to thank especially "the dedicated team at andalucia.com, our advertisers who support us, and the 350,000 unique visitors per month from all over the world."
In 2009 Chaplow received the Innovator of the Year award from the Costa Press Club, the association for foreign journalists and media people based in Southern Andalucia.
Chris Chaplow, 3rd from right [Costa Press Club]
Footnote:
Andalucia.com (www.andalucia.com) is one of the first websites providing information about Andalusia in Spain, and a leader in website visits. It offers clear and concise information, mainly aimed at tourists, foreign residents, and the investment market. The first English version started in 1996, and the Spanish version was launched in 2006. Over the last 12 years, its growth has placed it as the most visited site about Andalusia.
Happy birthday to andalucia.com and congratulations to Chris and Michelle Chaplow.
Links:
www.andalucia.com, www.costapressclub.com, www.diariosur.com
© Pablo de Ronda
Pictures:
andalucia.com, Costa Press Club, Michelle Chaplow, Ñito Salas, Salvador Salas,
Thanks:
andalucia.com, Chris Chaplow, Costa Press Club, Diario SUR, Michelle Chaplow, Paul Whitelock, SUR in English
and with special thanks to:
Tony Bryant
Tags:
Chris Chaplow, Costa Press Club, Diario SUR, Maria Gamez, Innovator of the Year, Junta de Andalucía, Malaga Chamber of Commerce, Michelle Chaplow, Ñito Salas, Paul Whitelock, Paz Rosado, Salvador Salas, SUR in English, Tony Bryant