Fomento de Turismo Turns 120: Merit Awards for Those Who Shaped Mallorca's Tourism

Fomento de Turismo Turns 120: Merit Awards for Those Who Shaped Mallorca's Tourism

Ceremony at CaixaForum – Recognition for Entrepreneurs, Chefs and Hosts

On Monday evening the CaixaForum in Palma's old town filled with a mix of applause, muted murmurs and the soft clinking of cutlery from a bar around the corner. Outside it smelled of damp stone and espresso; inside stood people who had helped build Mallorca's tourism across different decades. The occasion was the 120th anniversary of the island association Fomento de Turismo – an association regarded in the industry as one of the oldest institutions of its kind.

At the ceremonial event several personalities and companies were honored. The highest distinctions went to three well-known names: Bernardo Quetglas, who helped shape part of today's offerings with travel packages and hotel projects; Juan Vich, the initiator of numerous hotel projects on the island; and Antonio Ferrer, whose work in the local cuisine — notably through initiating the Mostra de Cuina Mallorquina — linked the gastronomic scene more closely with island traditions.

In addition, recognitions were given to businesses and institutions with long-standing presence: a hotel on Playa de Palma was highlighted as a reference establishment for having welcomed guests for decades and thus helping to define a beach many associate with Mallorca. The long-established photo studio Casa Planas received an honor for its extensive photographic documentation of the island's history, often serving as a visual reminder of change and continuity.

Furthermore, a local corporate group was acknowledged for its efforts to handle cultural heritage respectfully in new projects. And a long-serving employee of the association's International Press Center was recognized for more than two decades of commitment – a public gesture that is not a given for someone who works behind the scenes.

The guests included representatives from politics and business; the Balearic tourism minister Jaume Bauzà also attended the evening. In his remarks he outlined — without long formalities — the link between memory and responsibility: those who know the history can better distinguish what should be preserved and where new developments are possible when planning.

The audience seemed glad to be together again: handshakes, brief hugs, conversations about personal memories of long-closed hotels or dishes discovered as a child on family holidays. Such scenes make clear that tourism in Mallorca is not only numbers, but everyday memories, neighborhood relationships and lived gastronomy.

Why this matters: an island with centuries-old institutions needs places where achievements become visible. Awards are not just trophies; they are also signposts — for young entrepreneurs, for craftspeople, for chefs who work with traditions and shape something new from them. They show that continuity and quality are valued.

As a small inspiration for the coming years: more initiatives that bring experienced practitioners and newcomers together would help. Possible measures include mentoring programs for hoteliers in the start-up phase, joint projects between established chefs and young talents, or photo archives opened to schools so local history becomes more visible in the classroom. Such practical steps combine respect for the old with the energy of those starting out now.

The evening at CaixaForum was a friendly, occasionally humorous look back and a gentle nudge forward. On the way home, along narrow lanes, one could still hear the echo of the applause in a bar where guests were winding down the day. If awards help prevent memory from falling into oblivion, then this evening was more than just a celebration: it was an invitation to work together on the next page of the island's history.

Outlook: Those interested in getting involved will find points of contact in local networks — from chambers of crafts to gastronomy associations. Small partnerships between old and new can achieve a lot. And when a conversation about past summers begins over a glass in front of one of the old places on the plaza, that's a good sign for Mallorca.