Javier Vich has been unanimously elected as the new president of the Federación Empresarial Hotelera de Mallorca -Mallorca Hotel Business Federation- (FEHM), succeeding María Frontera after two terms leading the hotel employers’ association. The event, held on 16 December at the GPRO Valparaiso Palace & Spa Hotel, brought together the President of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens, officials, partners, and a prominent representation of the tourism sector.

Javier Vich and Marga Prohens at the investiture ceremony of Vich as the new president of the Mallorca Hotel Business Federation (FEHM).

Javier Vich, new president of the FEHM, alongside Marga Prohens, president of the Balearic Government. Photo: CAIB.

The FEHM, a pioneer of associationism at a national level, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026, now beginning a new chapter with Javier Vich as its 11th president. Vich, until now president of the Palma and Cala Major Hotel Association, emphasised in his speech that his leadership will focus on transformation and addressing the needs of the sector. “Those of you who know me know that I am a pragmatic and discreet person. Due to the trust placed in me, today I must demonstrate the strength of my principles, which will be very present in the action and vision of the new Board of Directors. We will be focused on transformation and attentive to your needs,” Vich stated.

Productivity: a key element

The new president placed particular emphasis on the need to address productivity as a key element for the sector’s sustainable development. As he explained, “in the Balearics, between 2000 and 2019, productivity per worker has grown by just 0.1% annually, while in the Eurozone the growth was 1.4%. This gap affects our competitiveness, the ability to improve wages, create quality jobs, and sustain balanced growth.”

In this regard, Vich argued that improving productivity must be a “strategic priority”, and highlighted that “transformation means doing more and better with the resources we already have.”

During the event, Vich introduced his new board of directors, which will include Inés Batle and Pedro Marín as vice presidents, both of whom are also presidents of the Cala Millor and Playa de Palma hotel associations, respectively. As a new feature, he announced the creation of an advisory council comprised of former FEHM presidents, with the aim of contributing experience, knowledge, and valuable professional insights.

In her farewell speech, María Frontera expressed gratitude for the support received during her seven years at the helm of the federation. She highlighted the value of joint work and public-private collaboration, especially during critical moments such as the pandemic: “If there is one thing we have learned over these years, it is the immense power of unity, shared knowledge, and dialogue. The more complicated the situation became, the better collaboration worked, and the more successful the outcomes were for the general interest.”