FEHIF Maintains Its “One Vote Per Establishment” Election System

The Ibiza and Formentera Hotel Business Federation (FEHIF) approved during its general assembly this Friday the continuation of the “one establishment, one vote” election system. A system that had previously been questioned by some business owners but has now received the backing of all the associations that make up the federation.

FEHIF president María Costa explained that this is the federation’s “traditional” system for electing its board of directors and that there is total consensus among members regarding it. This support, Costa emphasized, “gives enormous value to unity within the federation.” An organization in which small, medium-sized, and large hoteliers all have “the same voting value.”

“This issue is now closed,” Costa stated, “in a democratic way. We brought it to the different assemblies and it was unanimously ratified.” The president recalled that an alternative weighted voting system had been proposed in the past, linking each company’s voting power to the number of hotel beds it operates.

The federation also announced on Friday the appointment of its new general manager, effective from next June. The position will be taken by Santiago García Ramón, coming from the Sant Antoni Hotel Association. He will work alongside the long-serving Manuel Sendino for one year before Sendino retires after more than three decades managing FEHIF.

María Costa praised the work carried out by the lawyer within the federation:
“His knowledge is extremely valuable, and his contribution to the federation after more than 30 years has been very important. He has done an impeccable job.”

For his part, García Ramón said he approaches this new stage “with enthusiasm.” The former secretary of the Sant Antoni Bay Hospitality Business Association and current FEHIF board member stated after his appointment that his main challenge will be ensuring that “members perceive the usefulness of the federation as the body that represents and channels their interests before public administrations and society.”

He added that part of his role will also be ensuring that the people of Ibiza and Formentera recognize the work carried out by FEHIF, since “hoteliers play an important role” on both islands.