President of Skål International Seville · Sustainability Officer for Skål Spain · Managing Director of the Hotel Doña María in Seville
Manuel Domínguez Solís is the president of Skål International Seville and also sits on the Board of Directors of Skål Spain as the member responsible for sustainability. In addition to these responsibilities, he has a long career in the hospitality sector as general manager of the Hotel Doña María in Seville, where he experiences first-hand the day-to-day realities of tourism in one of Spain’s major city destinations.
This combination of professional experience and commitment to Skål gives him a particularly interesting perspective from which to discuss the evolution of tourism, sustainability and, above all, the role that clubs must play in order to remain relevant to new generations of professionals.
In ‘Al frente de Skål’, we spoke to Manuel about Seville, the hospitality industry, sustainability, professional relationships and the future of an organisation in which friendship remains one of its core values.
Manuel, what does it mean to you to be at the helm of Skål International Seville, and what led you to take on the presidency of the club?
It is truly an honour for me to lead this magnificent group of professionals who placed their trust in me by nominating and electing me as president of our club. The camaraderie, and also the conviction that we needed to keep moving forward, led me to reflect on the matter and accept the role.
How would you define Skål Seville And what do you think sets him apart within our organisation?
The Seville Club, like all clubs, has gone through various phases throughout its history. Our commitment to moving forward and striving to offer our members interesting activities has helped to ensure that our membership has grown considerably.
As general manager of the Hotel Doña María, you experience Seville’s tourism sector first-hand on a daily basis. How have visitors to the city changed, and what do you think are the main challenges facing Seville as a destination today?
We are now seeing a more discerning visitor, who knows exactly what they are looking for and is better prepared to live and experience authentic moments: the genuine, the human.
Your professional experience in the hospitality industry goes hand in hand with your role as Sustainability Officer at https://skalmalagacostadelsol.es/skal-espana/. From the day-to-day reality of running a hotel, what does truly sustainable tourism mean to you, and how can we ensure that sustainability moves from talk to action?
It is both very easy and very difficult. It all depends on people’s awareness – that of professionals, the whole sector and everything around us.
It is often thought that sustainability is simply about the environment and nature, when in fact it is a holistic concept that encompasses most aspects of our lives. There is no point in having a perfect environment if the working conditions of professionals are not respected, if cultural values are overlooked, or if the unique character of a community is ignored for economic or political reasons.
We must take a look at ourselves, be more consistent and respect others, whilst always using common sense in actions that may benefit both ourselves and our fellow human beings. We are part of a community, and that unity must prevail in the quest for better conditions for everyone.
Skål was founded on the basis of friendship amongst professionals and the well-known concept of “Doing Business Among Friends”. In an increasingly digital professional world, is there still value in meeting up, getting to know one another in person and building relationships based on trust?
Personally, I believe that the spirit of Skål is what really keeps it alive. We live in a highly competitive society, where globalisation and individualism can gradually erode camaraderie and friendship.
Skål, through its various activities, helps you to be a better colleague and, I believe, a better person too. The support and friendship that exist even amongst professionals who compete against one another embody a profoundly human philosophy.
Skål clubs have a long history behind them, but they also need to evolve. What do you think we should change to attract new professionals and ensure they find Skål a useful place to network, share experiences and create opportunities?
Everything changes and everything moves forward in life. We have to adapt and make the most of all the tools at our disposal to improve and avoid making mistakes.
Since Skål was founded, the jobs, the professionals and the activities we carry out have changed. However, the individual, the tourism professional and the club’s philosophy remain the same. We must preserve that essence whilst, at the same time, enhancing it by making the most of the opportunities offered by new technologies.
If you were speaking to a tourism professional who isn’t yet familiar with Skål, what would you say to explain why it’s worth joining this organisation?
Well, quite simply, I would give him this interview so that he could read it and try to understand what our philosophy is all about. And I would supplement that information by explaining that one achieves a higher level of professionalism by acquiring knowledge, and that much of that knowledge comes precisely through contact with other professionals.
We are a team-oriented organisation and we are working to become better professionals. That’s what we’re focusing on.
When your time as head of Skål Sevilla comes to an end, what would you like to have achieved, and what sort of club would you like to leave behind for those who carry on the work?
I would have liked to have helped improve the club, both in professional terms and in terms of the number and calibre of its members: individuals and professionals keen to continue developing, share experiences and work together to drive the sector’s progress.
To finish, complete this sentence: «For me, Skål is…»
For me, Skål is the very essence of tourism.