More than 80 bars and restaurants in coastal Baix Empordà have taken part in the pilot phase of El català et serveix, a scheme intended to increase the use of Catalan in hospitality businesses. For customers who wish to be served in Catalan, the campaign seeks to improve its availability in signs, menus and face-to-face service.

The scheme is run by the Girona Centre for Language Normalisation, part of the Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística (CPNL), the public body that promotes Catalan language use. Its first phase covers Platja d'Aro, Calella, Tamariu, Llafranc, Sant Antoni and l'Estartit, with the Costa Brava Centre Hospitality and Tourism Business Union collaborating.

Free support for menus, signs and customer service

The CPNL says its advisers have visited nearly 80 participating businesses since the pilot began. Bars and restaurants can receive free advice, resources and training to improve spoken service and the linguistic quality of menus, signs and other communications materials.

  • Advice on incorporating Catalan into daily business operations.
  • Training aimed at oral customer service.
  • Support to review menus, signs and other written material.
  • Language partnerships between staff.

Hotel Bell Repòs in Platja d'Aro is among the businesses involved. The hotel has taken part in a workplace language-learning initiative and set up language partnerships, according to the CPNL.

Possible extension after the pilot is assessed

The campaign began in Baix Empordà in 2026 and is scheduled to run throughout the year. The CPNL says the pilot's initial results will be used to assess whether the project should extend to other municipalities in Girona province after the summer.

Hospitality businesses in Baix Empordà seeking information about the support can contact the CPNL's Baix Empordà Catalan Language Service at Carrer del Raig, 4-5, La Bisbal d'Empordà, by telephone on 972 642 310 or by email at [email protected].

Primary sources: llengua.gencat.cat, Ajuntament de Girona, llengua.gencat.cat, conforcat.gencat.cat, eb.girona.cat, idescat.cat, idescat.cat. Reported by Source Text Link, Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística - CPNL, ACN, municipisperlallengua.cat, Sílvia Oller, Racó Català.