- The co-chairman of the Barceló Group took centre stage at the association’s main event, outlining the key factors for the fourth generation to maintain the company’s success.
- Under the title “The Generational Handover: Challenges and Opportunities in Hospitality”, the forum brought together leading executives from the tourism sector today.
- An exclusive round-table discussion with the successors of major hotel dynasties —RIU, Fuerte Group and Crestline— highlighted the prime moment for female leadership in the industry’s family transition.
The professional association Mujeres en Hospitality has successfully held its flagship industry event of the year. The gathering, which took place at the Hotel Palace in Madrid under the title “The Generational Handover: Challenges and Opportunities in Hospitality”, placed the transition between generations and the rise of female leadership at the heart of the business agenda.
At a time when many of the sector’s leading family-run companies are undergoing transitions to new generations of leaders, Mujeres en Hospitality brought together business leaders and future executives in Madrid to analyse this process of change, preserving the family legacy whilst driving the transformation needed to meet the challenges of the future.
The highlight of the event was an exclusive interview with Simón Pedro Barceló, co-chairman of the Barceló Group, conducted by Sara Ramis, the company’s Chief Client, Marketing and Sustainability Officer. In this conversation, the hotelier shared his experience of having lived through succession processes from a dual perspective: first as a second-generation successor and now as the person responsible for preparing for the arrival of the fourth generation of the family.
‘The important thing is that there is dialogue,’ said Barceló. ‘If you want an organisation to keep moving forward, management roles have to evolve. Companies need to combine the experience of those who laid the foundations of the project with the strategic vision and capabilities of those who will lead the next chapter.’
During his speech, Barceló emphasised that the training and development of new leaders must go beyond mere executive training. In his view, this process requires deep immersion and real-world experience at the various levels of business operations, international exposure and absolute alignment with the values of the corporate culture.
“Hotel assets can grow or change their management model. What is truly important is to pass on the corporate culture, the decision-making processes and the spirit of sacrifice that give meaning to the project,” concluded the group’s co-chairman. Under his leadership, the firm has experienced unprecedented expansion, growing from operating 27 hotels across 7 territories to a projected 300 properties in 32 countries by 2026.
Discussion with the new leaders of the hospitality industry
Another of the most eagerly anticipated moments of the event was the round-table discussion moderated by Manuel Molina, director of Hosteltur, which brought together three prominent female executives representing the present and future of Spain’s leading hotel groups: Marta Álvarez Luque (Fuerte Group), Marta Barceló (Barceló Group) and Naomi Riu (RIU Hotels & Resorts).
Throughout the discussion, the speakers spoke with the utmost candour about the professional and personal challenges involved in taking the reins of organisations with a solid track record. Far from feeling an urgent need to change things, the three agree on a shared roadmap: they are currently in a period of immersion, prioritising consolidating their learning and preserving the companies’ DNA before driving major strategic shifts. Furthermore, they identified people management as the most critical challenge facing the tourism industry.
To round off this shared vision, the new generation of female hoteliers sent a message of appreciation to the previous generation: ‘On this journey, we greatly value the generosity and space our predecessors offer us to put ourselves out there, start making decisions and learn to fly solo’.
During the closing ceremony, Helena Burstedt, president of Mujeres en Hospitality, highlighted the value of bringing together established business leaders and the industry’s future leaders in one place: “Hearing today from a leader such as Simón Pedro Barceló and listening to the new generation of female executives from such prominent companies as RIU, Fuerte Group and Barceló makes us realise that we are witnessing a historic transformation in which more and more women are taking on leadership roles in the tourism sector. We are not just talking about representation; we are talking about talent and capability that bodes well for a great future for these companies.”
About WOMEN IN HOSPITALITY
Women in Hospitality is a professional network comprising leading female executives and respected professionals, whose primary aim is to highlight female talent and leadership in the hotel and tourism industry, thereby creating a positive and inspiring impact. As an association, it promotes networking and professional development opportunities, fostering collaboration and female empowerment within an inclusive and mutually supportive environment.
Source: MUNKA Comunicación