“The current manager, Manuel Sendino, raised during last October’s assemblies that, due to his age, he was considering beginning a gradual retirement from the Hotel Federation,” explained Santiago García Ramón, the new manager of the Ibiza and Formentera Hotel Business Federation, following Friday’s Annual General Assembly at the Parador de Ibiza.

“Within the Federation’s board meetings, it was proposed that a new manager was needed, and I was offered this opportunity,” García stated.

“This was already communicated last week during the assemblies of the Sant Antoni and Bay Hotel Association, Ibiza, and Santa Eulària, and we still have the pending assembly of the Formentera Association,” he explained regarding where members have already been informed about the upcoming transition.

A new chapter

“I approach this new stage with enthusiasm and responsibility,” confirmed the new manager. “The truth is that over the last two years, many changes have already begun within the Federation to modernize the organization. As the president mentioned, the offices have been renovated, the website has been updated, and a communications professional has been hired…”

He highlighted the significant transformation the Federation has undergone, beyond just the change in management.

Regarding the challenges ahead, he stated:
“The challenges are not defined by me, but by the board of directors. I will work to achieve the objectives they establish.”

He described what he believes will be the main challenge:
“Ensuring that members perceive the Federation as a useful organization that represents and channels their interests before public administrations and society as a whole.”

“Until now, over the last two years, I have served as secretary of the Sant Antoni and Bay Hotel Business Association and as a board member of the Ibiza and Formentera Hotel Business Federation,” he explained regarding his connection to the organization.

“Last week I stepped down as secretary in Sant Antoni because the Federation’s board considered that I met the requirements to take on this role from now on.”

Fuente: diariodeibiza.es

“We have analyzed the short period of the season we have experienced so far: Easter was marked by an early holiday period and was heavily influenced by the weather. Even so, all hotels that were open reached 100% occupancy during the peak days of the holidays,” explained María Costa Roig, president of the Ibiza and Formentera Hotel Business Federation, following the Annual General Assembly held this Friday at the Parador de Ibiza.

“May has been quite similar to the 2025 season; we have reached an average occupancy rate of 66%,” Costa noted. “It was two points above the previous season, so we can say it has consolidated.” The Federation president added that “regarding the municipalities, the situation has been very similar to 2025. Perhaps the areas that have grown less or slowed down more were the north of the island and Formentera, but it has not been very significant,” given that the numerical difference is minimal.

Challenges facing the sector

The president of the Federation explained that the challenges affecting the sector “remain the same”: “housing, water supply issues, illegal tourist accommodation…”. Regarding the water crisis, she stated that the Federation is “focused on finding solutions to complete the water cycle and make better use of desalinated water.”

“We support the construction of a fourth desalination plant in order to relieve pressure on the aquifers,” she said.

Regarding illegal tourist accommodation, Costa explained that the Federation makes a “very positive assessment of the work and progress achieved” by the Consell together with local councils. “We believe further work is needed to find the necessary balance between tourists and residents that these islands require.”

Although hotels have been able to start the season with full staffing levels, she acknowledged that “this is a problem that has unfortunately become a tradition at the beginning of every season.” However, she recognized that hoteliers are making “titanic efforts” to fill positions by offering accommodation whenever possible.

“Obviously, this is not our main role or responsibility, but we do contribute to it. We ask public administrations for support, and we support the creation of housing specifically aimed at seasonal workers, provided minimum standards of comfort and dignity are guaranteed,” she added.

When asked whether staffing levels are fully covered, she explained: “We are not yet at the peak of the season; hotels are still opening now.”

Season outlook

“We still need to complete May, but based on how the first half of the month has gone, we expect the season to be good, even slightly better than last year,” said the Federation president.

“We started the season with a somewhat uncertain international outlook, but as the season evolves, we realize that the Balearic Islands represent a safe destination for tourists — especially Europeans — who see our islands as a place where they can travel peacefully. This seems likely to have only a moderate impact on the overall season results.”

Fuente: diariodeibiza.es

The Ibiza and Formentera Hotel Business Federation (FEHIF) does not yet have a clear position regarding the airport expansion project promoted by AENA. This was acknowledged on Friday by the federation’s president, María Costa. She stated that FEHIF will not take a position on the matter until all the relevant information is available.

Following FEHIF’s annual general assembly, Costa explained that representatives of the hotel federation recently held a meeting with the airport director, Marta Torres, to learn about the “courses of action” planned by AENA for the infrastructure. However, Costa also noted that FEHIF is still waiting for “a document outlining the projected growth and the basis for the modernization plan over the next 20 or 30 years.”

The president of FEHIF stated that hoteliers in Ibiza and Formentera support “anything that improves the organization, safety, comfort, and well-being” of the airport for both tourists and other users. However, she made it clear that FEHIF will wait “to know all the facts before taking a position.”

During the assembly, the issue of water supply in both Ibiza and Formentera was also discussed. On this matter, Costa explained that the federation is “focused on finding solutions to complete the water cycle and make better use of desalinated water.” As a result, the support of these business owners for the construction of a fourth desalination plant in Ibiza was confirmed. According to Costa, this infrastructure should help “relieve pressure on the aquifers.”

Finally, the hotel federation also debated the issue of illegal tourist accommodation in the Pitiusas. In this regard, María Costa explained after the assembly that hoteliers make a “very positive” assessment of the work carried out by the Consell d’Eivissa and local councils. However, she also stated that the federation believes “further work is needed to find a balance between tourists and residents.” A balance which, she added, “is very necessary for these islands.”