PALMA, 29 (EUROPA PRESS)
The CEO of THB Hotels, Miquel Miralles, was elected on Tuesday as the 15th president at the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Association of Hotel Chains of the Balearic Islands, a position he will hold until 2030, replacing Carolina Quetglas.
The Hotel Enterprise Federation of Mallorca (FEHM) stated in a press release that nearly all member companies were present for the election of the new president, during which the composition of the new board of directors was also approved.
Miralles presides over the new board of directors as president. He is joined by Begoña Amengual (Mac Hotels) and Carolina Quetglas (Summum Hotel Group) as first and second vice president, respectively, while Yannik Erhart (Universal Beach Hotels) will serve as secretary and treasurer.
The new board will be composed of the following members: Margalida Ramis (Grupotel), Antònia Plomer (Zafiro Hotels), Simón Pedro Barceló (Barceló Hotels Group), Nofre Pascual (Aubamar Hotels), José Antonio Alarcón (RIU Hotels), and Javier Vich (FEHM).
After his election, Miralles emphasized that the sector "needs calm, coherence, and the ability to analyze." He acknowledged that the environment is "very changing," which "obliges us to review decisions, anticipate events, and work with a medium-term vision, without resorting to impulsive responses."
"We can't blame tourism for all our ills or expect it to solve all our problems. Tourism has impacts that must be managed, but it also generates activity, employment, investment, and development. That's why we need a less polarized debate, one that is more based on data, planning, and technical solutions," the new president argued.
According to Miralles, one of the challenges will be to combat illegal activity. In this regard, he called for "more inspections, more coordination, and more efficiency."
Additionally, he stressed the need to improve communication to explain what hotels do, to listen more attentively to the public, and to ensure that the debate is not presented only in negative terms. Thus, he stated that "the sector must be present with arguments, data, and proposals."
Miralles argued that the sector needs more flexibility, less red tape, and a framework that allows companies to adapt quickly to an increasingly competitive market. "It's not about asking for fewer rules, but for clearer, more effective, and better-enforced ones," he emphasized.
The new president has a ten-year track record on the governing bodies of the Hotel Enterprises Association (FEHM). He joined the board of directors as a member in 2016, served as treasurer from 2018 to 2022, and has been its vice president since then.
He is also a member of the board of directors of the FEHM and the hotel associations of Can Picafort and Alcúdia. Since 2016, he has been a member of the board of trustees of the Impulsa Balears Foundation, representing THB hotels.
A CAREER OF MORE THAN 25 YEARS
Miralles began his professional career at THB Hotels in 1999, where he has held positions in hotel management, operations, human resources, and investments. Between 2007 and 2010, he was the General Manager of Policlínica Miramar, and since 2010, he has been the General Manager of THB Hotels, responsible for the company's strategic and operational management.
He holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of Barcelona, completed doctoral studies and defended a doctoral thesis, and has a postgraduate degree in Tourism and Tourist Management from Pompeu Fabra University.
THB Hotels currently manages 18 hotels and has a staff of 1,300 employees, 800 of whom are in the Balearic Islands. The company offers a range of travel experiences linked to sports and events. It manages exclusive properties for adults and those seeking relaxation, while also holding a strong position in the family market.
CAROLINA QUETGLAS COMPLETES HER TERM AS PRESIDENT
Quetglas summarized his term as a period dedicated to defending and giving greater visibility to the Association's identity, strengthening and supporting the transformation of its business base, expanding its institutional presence, and reinforcing its ability to anticipate an increasingly changing economic, geopolitical, and business environment.
Over the past four years, the Association has renewed its image and website with the goal of increasing transparency and establishing closer ties with businesses, institutions, and society.
International expansion has allowed companies to grow in scale, gain knowledge, and improve their competitiveness, while fostering a broad Balearic ecosystem linked to architecture, engineering, construction, technology, equipment, training, and services.
