Abel Matutes Torres (Eivissa, 1941) is known for his dual political and business side – head of the most influential saga in Eivissa – although he could go down in history as a member of that privileged club of human beings to whom the days are more difficult 24 hours: He studied Law and Economic Sciences at the same time while he was a member of R.C.D Espanyol: “I paid for my studies playing football. At that time, in the mornings I started at nine in the Faculty of Law, I went to the field to train and in the afternoons I went to Economics from four to nine. On weekends he traveled with R.C.D Espanyol. There was a moment in which I could no longer combine everything and I gave up football. I have always been too involved but when things fill you up, the effort is worth it and you take advantage of every minute of the day, ”he explains in conversation with La Vanguardia.
Abel Matutes has been mayor of Eivissa, senator, deputy, president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament and minister of Foreign Affairs. As an intellectual, professor of Political Economy and Public Finance at the University of Barcelona, academic for the Balearic Islands of the Royal Academy of Economic and Financial Sciences of Spain, as well as honorary professor at the University of Buenos Aires and honoris causa of those of Santiago de Chile. and Autonomous of Madrid. As a businessman, and to spare you text, he was a banker and today he chairs the Matutes Group of Companies and Palladium Hotel Group, or what is the same, he is one of the most powerful and respected men in Eivissa.
As such, it has just been recognized as an ambassador for 2023 by the annual event of Ibiza Luxury Destination: every year, thousands of people have fun, enjoy themselves, dance and fall in love at Ushuaïa, Hard Rock, Hï, Only You or Bless, to name a few. its most notable brands.
Matutes went through politics, which he abandoned after suffering a heart attack, leaving a good taste in his mouth: there is not a stain on his resume or anything without explaining in an area unfortunately so prone to thick headlines. “I have always assumed the responsibilities entrusted to me and have done my job with enthusiasm, but the truth is that I do not miss politics. I have been lucky that I have done things that I have been passionate about, but I have not missed them when I have left them, it also happened to me with football ”. His best virtue is perseverance and his greatest defect is impatience, he tells this newspaper.
His empire encompasses 43 hotel establishments spread across Spain, Jamaica, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Brazil and although his best-known brands stop at Platja d'en Bossa, Matutes is in love with the bay of Sant Antoni de Portmany, from where Eivissa began to forge his legend. It is obligatory to ask the most powerful hotel magnate in Eivissa, perhaps in the Balearic Islands as a whole, why places as suggestive as Mykonos, Hvar or the Emerald Coast, also in the Mediterranean, have been unable to emulate the success of Eivissa: "Because Eivissa has it all and, in addition, what makes it unique is its people:; It is a land that since the time of the Phoenicians has maintained an open attitude to the world, thanks also to the fact that we Ibizans are very hospitable, cordial and noble. I am very proud of my land and its people”.
The businessman has four children, Abel, Stella, María and Carmen, and the firstborn is his natural successor. That's how he knew that he could hand over to him: “Since the opening of Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel I went from being Abel Matutes to being the father of Abel Matutes Jr (laughs). He has always been very involved in the company, he knows his operations in depth and has had an excellent initiative. He has a good eye for business and a lot of success. He is very prepared and it is a pride that he has taken the reins. I am lucky to have four exceptional children of whom I am very proud. They are all very different, but they share great values: they are good people, noble, hardworking and with principles”.
