Celebrity Interview - Enrique Meli� - Comments

Enrique Meli�

Poster: 07/12/2005

Enrique Meliá, a member of the luxury hotel resort family, gives Annabel Milnes-Smith a rare insight into his life as a leading figure in airline giant Spanair.

The charismatic Enrique Meliá always knew that he had a mission in life and, with his background, realised that the only direction in life he wanted to take was in the travel and tourism industry.
It is therefore hardly surprising that, at the age of 33, he became the CEO of Spanair and one of the youngest airline CEOs in Europe at that time.
Says Enrique, "Being the CEO for Spanair for the past four years has been the best experience of my life. The airline industry is probably one of the most challenging businesses in the world. There are so many outside influences that affect your profit and loss. You have to think quick, act quick and achieve quick results. It has been such a privilege to run the company and an honour to be the leader of those employees who have made such a difference within Spanair. We have recently been awarded with IOSA certifications from IAPA, of quality assurance and safety, not only in the air but on the ground. We are the first airline in Spain to have won this award."
Now, he has now taken on a different and challenging role within the group: CEO of Newco Airport Services. This company handles all key factors related to the airline business such as handling, airport services and security. "This, in the long run, will help the airline be more productive and profitable. It will also help to propel Spanair to the forefront of all the airline companies."
Enrique Meliá's family have been in the tourism industry since 1945. "I am extremely proud of my family and of the impact they have had in the hotel industry. They bought their first hotel in 1953, and since that time the Sol Meliá hotel group has become the largest hotel chain in the world. We sold the chain following the recession in the seventies. My entire family, including my brother, sister and cousins, are all involved in the tourism sector. My family were one of the first to recognise that tourism, especially in Spain, was a great way of doing business and keeping the economy alive. They recognised that it was time to open up Spain to the world."
Enrique Meliá has worked tirelessly to get where he is today. After school he went on to the Hofstra University in New York, where he gained a BBA in business administration and economics; then an MBA in marketing management at the Drexel University of Philadelphia. "To be honest, I was a good student. It was instilled into me from an early age by my family that you have to do what you have to do at the right time. In other words, there is a time for work and a time for play, but you cannot mix both. My objective was always to be top of my class, and head of my generation. Thank God it was successful."
So what is it that makes the great man Enrique tick? "It has to be my son Gonzalo, who is six. He always triggers something very special in me. He makes my life different all the time. He is amazing, and never ceases to surprise me. I also believe that when you bring up children there should always be trust, always the truth, a belief in friendship, awareness of important issues, to gain recognition for themselves, to be proud - and also, more importantly, that whatever they do in life they do it with their heart." Enrique works a staggering 12-15 hours a day. He often travels from Palma to Madrid and Madrid to Palma twice in one day. However, he is not only a highly astute businessman but an accomplished sportsman. This is how he manages to take time out.
"I think one of the most successful things I have done in my life is to shut down once I have finished work, and one of the many ways I manage this is through sport - which has always been a passion of mine. I played everything related to racquets. I was number two squash champion in Spain, as well finding time for tennis, which I teach, and ping pong. I also love football and played American football when I was in the States." Since he injured his knee, however, he has had to take sports a little easier.
"I suppose you could say I am an all-rounder when it comes to sport. With my lifestyle, heaven help me if did not have that passion. I probably would not be where I am today. I also adore movies, and have a huge screen in my house. I also love computers. I am a computer maniac. My brother Pepe, who is not only my best friend but also my idol, says that I am crazy about anything that gives out light - movies, computer screens, stereos - and I am sorry to say he is probably right."
Does he have any regrets in life? "Not being able to have a close relationship with my grandfather, like my brother did. This was because of the time I spent in the United States at university. My grandfather has been a pioneer in the industry, and I was not able to share those feelings with him."
Who, with all his experience, does Enrique aspire to be like? Could it be airline magnate Sir Richard Branson? "I don't see my life through others. I think that each man has to make his own way. My greatest belief is to do things right, but more importantly to be honest in life, not only with yourself but to all others. Sir Richard is someone who makes a special difference in life. I don't see myself as him, because he is unique. I have to tell you he has been an extremely relevant person in my life. He has always been an inspiration to me. He is truly amazing."
Does he have his own pilot's licence? "Definitely not. I am crazy about speed - cars, aircraft, motorcycles - and it is not recommended."
Has he ever stared death in the face? "Yes, driving. I like to drive fast. I did not have an accident but there was one time I was absolutely terrified. So much so that I really cannot go into it." This is surprising as Enrique seems almost invincible!
Fortunately, for unattached women residing in Spain, Enrique has recently become single. What is he now looking for in a relationship? "I am looking for trust, commitment, friendship and love, someone who wants to be loved and well treated. Also for me to be proud of her, in the same way for her to be proud of me."
Who was his first love? "An Italian lady called Sabina. I don't want to give you her last name; that would be most un-gentlemanly. I was very young, only 10 years old. Every time I saw Sabina, I could barely speak. The woman who really broke my heart was a lady from Madrid called Maria Eugenia. I was 14 years old. I still remember both of them. They were a part of my life. Of course my ex-wife has been my true partner and the mother of my son; therefore she has been the third greatest love of my life."
With peels of laughter, Enrique then says, "Now my heart is not taken, I am looking forward to a long life with a special woman."
What makes him cry and laugh? "Life. There are many aspects of life today that are complete nonsense. For instance, you only have to look at the news every day: it is chaos. What also makes me sad is world poverty and how selfish people and countries can be. What makes me laugh is the time that I spend with the people I love. That is really the only thing that makes me relax."
There have been many disasters recently, including bombings, tsunamis and earthquakes. Could this be leading to Armageddon? "No, I think everything in life goes in cycles. I think this is just a phase the world is going through, to wake up mankind, how destructive we can be without even the force of nature or outside influences. It happens every 50 years. I feel it is a wake-up call."
Enrique is not only passionate about Madrid, where he lives, but has a very special bond with Marbella. "There are three places I love. One is the Marbella Club and its history, where we are today. Also the Hotel Melia Don Pepe and Puerto Banús. These are the three places in Marbella that have generated its fascinating history, because of the families behind them. There is of course the Hohenlohe family, who created the Marbella Club, the Melia family and the Banús family. These are the families that put the heart into Marbella."
"I have been to many countries in my life, but the Spanish people are unique. They make you feel at home. They are the best people to have fun with, but I am also very impressed the way people work here. I have worked all over the world, and to be honest they are extremely work-efficient, despite the popular theory of mañana, mañana. This is why the Spanish economy is growing faster than any other European country. Spaniards are not only professional in the way they operate, but they put heart, body and soul into their work."
What does he see himself doing in 10 years time? "I will definitely have a new relationship, because I am lonely now. At the same time, I will probably be working like a maniac, because that it what I have been trained for, but making sure I always have time for those I love."
On a final note, how does he see the future of the airline industry? "I think it has to go through more changes to suit the ever-changing market conditions in air travel. I think it should become more like a supermarket, where you buy the basics and then add additional products. I think there needs to be many more low-cost carriers who fly worldwide."
"Take Concorde, for instance. This was a role model for the industry then and has led on to bigger aircraft now, like the Airbus 380. It was sexy but sadly not profitable for the airlines."
Enrique is now 38 and, more than ever, determined to continue to make his mark on the airline industry. Spanair is, without a doubt, his first love (with the exception of Sabina): Newco is now his mistress. With this in mind, Newco - under the watchful eye of Enrique, with his undoubted passion for the industry - will surely be giving the other airline giants a run for their money.

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