A global brand that, in turn, is a region full of family businesses, entrepreneurs, and creators whose stories deserve to be told. “We hope to find many of these stories in Forbes.” Ibiza Council President Vicent Marí chose these words to illustrate the perfect pairing between Ibiza and Forbes at the presentation of the regional edition this Friday at Sa Capella. An event that celebrates the value of the brand and conveys a message: that behind the international reputation of the name ‘Ibiza’ is an entire ecosystem of businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals who help define its economic and social identity. A reality that Forbes Balears aims to explain in its own voice.
The presentation event, directed by Andrés Rodríguez, president of SpainMedia and editor of Forbes Spain, and presided over by Vicent Marí, president of the Council of Ibiza, brought together a prominent delegation from the business, institutional, and social sectors of the largest of the Pitiüses Islands. The event highlights the diversity of an economic landscape that brings together major hotel groups, lifestyle brands, gastronomic initiatives, cultural initiatives, and companies that have found in the island a platform from which to grow and expand internationally.
Since its launch in April, Forbes Balears has established itself as a publication dedicated to exploring the key economic and social issues facing the archipelago, with a particular focus on local talent, developments in tourism, business leadership, and new ways of understanding the Mediterranean lifestyle. Its launch in Ibiza reinforces this mission: to give visibility to those who help shape the islands’ present and define their future.
Ibiza, a global brand with a rich history
The president of the Ibiza Council highlighted the decision to launch the first regional edition of Forbes in Spain in the Balearic Islands and to present the project in Ibiza. A choice that, according to Vicent Marí, broadens the perspective on an island whose international profile does not always reflect the complexity of its cultural and business landscape. “Ibiza is a globally recognized brand and, although sometimes we are seen from the outside through a narrow lens, as a cliché or a stereotype, behind that are family businesses, entrepreneurs, freelancers, professionals, and workers who have launched projects, created jobs, and contributed to the progress of this island and this country,” he said.
Marí also highlighted the importance of giving visibility to initiatives that are launched and developed locally. “Ibiza has talent, drive, and some excellent projects that deserve to be shared and recognized. We hope to find many of these stories in Forbes Balears – stories of people who innovate, take risks, create opportunities, and help our island move forward every day,” he said.
The idea is also linked to one of the key themes of Forbes Balears’ editorial approach: going beyond the islands’ most recognizable image to discover the people, decisions, and projects that underpin their economic activity. After all, a destination’s value is not measured solely by its ability to attract visitors, but also by its talent, its business community, and its capacity to generate opportunities.
To build all kinds of bridges
For Andrés Rodríguez, president of SpainMedia and editor of Forbes Spain, the launch of Forbes Balears in Ibiza represents a commitment that goes beyond the geographic expansion of an editorial brand. It is about forging a closer connection between the archipelago and the rest of the country from an economic, cultural, and business perspective. The launch of the publication and its presentation on the island, he explained, “is a commitment: a commitment to care for this island through the world’s leading business and lifestyle media outlet, with 108 years of history.”
Rodríguez also highlighted the unique character of Ibiza and the opportunity to bring together two worlds that can find new avenues for collaboration through this relationship. “It’s a huge dream to build a bridge between the mainland and the island. The island has a great strength: it is a brand in its own right, practically international and independent, which the peninsula sometimes doesn’t understand. We want to build a bridge in every sense, because I believe Ibiza can thrive on the peninsula and the peninsula can help Ibiza,” he stated.
This dialogue between regions is one of the key elements of the project: connecting the key players in the Balearic economy with an audience that seeks to identify trends, discover business models, and understand the factors driving market transformation.
For his part, Juan Suárez, the Forbes Balears representative in Ibiza, highlighted the affinity between the island’s identity and the brand’s editorial world, especially due to the combination of cosmopolitanism, creativity, high-quality tourism, and gastronomy that characterizes the destination. “The Balearic Islands are one of the most important, most sought-after, and most beloved tourist destinations in the world, but Ibiza is the most famous and interesting because it has so many facets. Furthermore, it fits perfectly with the Forbes ethos thanks to its cosmopolitan, bohemian, and avant-garde style, its high-end tourism, its magnificent cuisine, and a lifestyle that is unique in the world.”
The key players of Ibiza’s business and creative scene
The event brought together representatives from different sectors and generations, reflecting an Ibiza where business coexisted with creativity, culture, and a strong international outlook. This diversity is an essential part of the island’s economic identity and finds a new platform for visibility in Forbes Baleares.
Institutional representatives attended the event, such as the Mayor of Sant Antoni de Portmany, Marcos Serra; the First Deputy Mayor of Santa Eulària des Riu, Miguel Tur Rubio; the First Deputy Mayor of Sant Josep de sa Talaia, Nieves Bonet; the Councillor for Commerce and Markets of the Ibiza Town Council, Alex Minchiotti; the Councillor for Economic Development of the Ibiza Council, María Fajarnés; and the third deputy mayor of Sant Antoni de Portmany, Miguel Tur.
They were accompanied by prominent representatives from the business and creative communities of the Pitiüses, such as Charo Ruiz, Elisa Pomar, Virginia Vald, Mónica Maxim, Diego Calvo, Alicia Reina, Sebas Gamboa, Juanan Martínez, Pep Tur, Christian Patrick Braun, Farah Palia, Carlos Martorell, Carlo Cuñado, Thiago Casarejos of MadHouse, Bárbara Hermosilla, Carmen Manzano, Javier Anadón and Toni Riera.
Also represented were some of the names most closely associated with the island’s tourism, hospitality, gastronomy, and culture sectors: Pacha Group, Palladium Hotel Group, Concept Hotel Group, OKU Ibiza, Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, W Ibiza, CBbC Group, Beso Beach, Grupo Nassau, Chinois, Beachouse, and Zuma. They were joined by Ibiza Preservation, Club Nàutic Sant Antoni (Es Nàutic), PIMEEF, and IBICINE, the Ibiza Film Festival.
The broad call for participation reflects the cross-cutting nature of Ibiza’s economy. Tourism and the hospitality sector coexist with the restaurant industry, leisure, culture, architecture, innovation, communication, and services within an ecosystem that has made cross-sector collaboration one of the key factors in its growth.
Beyond its image as a tourist destination, Ibiza is home to well-established companies, family businesses, and a new generation of entrepreneurs who are developing projects with a national and international focus. These stories offer a better understanding of how value is created on the island and what opportunities are available to those committed to its development.
Sa Capella, a space where history and the future meet
The choice of Sa Capella as the venue for the presentation also reflects the unique nature of the event. Located in a former 16th-century chapel that is no longer used for religious purposes, the restaurant is one of Ibiza’s most iconic spaces, a place where architecture and history coexist with a contemporary culinary experience.
The setting provided a particularly fitting backdrop for an event that seeks to bridge tradition and innovation, local identity and global reach. This combination also defines much of the island’s business projects and is in line with the vision of Forbes Baleares: to recognize the value of what already exists, identify what is changing, and discover those who are driving this evolution.
In an economy characterized by competition among destinations, differentiation is also built on identity, project quality, and the ability to create unique experiences. In this context, Ibiza’s entrepreneurial and creative talent is one of its most important assets.
A fresh perspective on the economy and lifestyle of the archipelago
Forbes Balears is part of the SpainMedia publishing group, a group founded and chaired by Andrés Rodríguez, who is responsible in Spain for publications such as Forbes, Forbes Women, Forbes Travel, Tapas, Nautik, and Highxtar, among others.
The initiative involves the launch of Forbes’ first dedicated regional section for Spain: a publishing platform designed to highlight the talent, companies, and attributes that place the Balearic Islands among the most dynamic regions in the Mediterranean. Its focus links the economy and lifestyle from a perspective that sees the islands not only as tourist destinations but also as centers of business activity, creativity, and innovation. The goal is to connect the archipelago’s executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals with an audience interested in excellence, new business models, and the trends that are transforming the economy.
The publication will also include contributions from expert organizations and thought leaders to offer a rigorous and analytical perspective on the sectors that shape the present and future of the Balearic Islands. From sailing and high-impact tourism to sustainability, the circular economy, and new technologies, the focus aims to explore the opportunities and challenges of an evolving economy.
With its arrival in Ibiza, Forbes Balears reinforces its commitment to telling the stories that illustrate the value of a region: the stories of those who start businesses, invest, innovate, and build projects capable of transcending its borders. This approach highlights the entrepreneurial spirit of the islands and places its key figures at the heart of the narrative.
