{"id":620,"date":"2026-10-19T16:37:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T14:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skalmalagacostadelsol.es\/?p=620"},"modified":"2026-10-19T16:48:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T14:48:51","slug":"carmina-espinosa-skal-voices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skalmalagacostadelsol.es\/en\/carmina-espinosa-voces-skal\/","title":{"rendered":"Carmina Espinosa: a life spent between travel agencies and the history of Sk\u00e5l"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sk\u00e5l Voices<\/a> \u00b7 Sk\u00e5l Synergy<\/strong>
Celyn Travel \u00b7 Sk\u00e5l M\u00e1laga-Costa del Sol<\/strong><\/p>\n

Few professions have undergone such a profound transformation as travel agencies. From hand-written tickets and an almost artisanal relationship with the customer, we have moved on to an environment characterised by technology, immediacy and a much better-informed and more demanding traveller.<\/p>\n

Carmina Espinosa has experienced much of that evolution from the inside. Carmina Espinosa\u2019s career is linked to the world of travel agencies and to Celyn Travel, but also to the history of Sk\u00e5l itself: she worked for the organisation between 1987 and 1999 and experienced at first hand a particularly significant period, during which her brother Antonio Espinosa went on to serve as president Sk\u00e5l International<\/a> in 1999.<\/p>\n

Today, as a member of Sk\u00e5l M\u00e1laga-Costa del Sol, she brings a rather unusual perspective: she knows the organisation from the inside, through her own family and now also through her experience of belonging to the club. We spoke to her about tourism, travel agencies, memories, people and the future.<\/p>\n

Carmina, you\u2019ve been involved in tourism for many years. How did you get into the sector, and what do you remember about those early days in your career?<\/p>\n

I ended up there by chance, although, really, it was down to \u201cfate\u201d. My true calling was medicine and surgery, but I had to enrol at university in Granada and live there. For many young women, this was difficult: leaving home and moving to another city was almost unthinkable in those days, not to mention the financial strain on a family with six children.<\/p>\n

In M\u00e1laga, the only course available was teacher training, and I wasn\u2019t keen on it, although my father insisted I enrol. I didn\u2019t. That summer, thanks to a family connection, I joined Viajes M\u00e1laga (Top en Turismo) to pass the time, learn new things and, above all, see the world \u2013 even if it was only through brochures.<\/p>\n

I had the \u201copportunity\u201d to start a teacher training course in September, but during those months I enjoyed that world so much that I thought about making a career of it. Against my father\u2019s advice, I enrolled on a course in Tourism Activities and Business Management \u2014 now known as Tourism \u2014 and was taken on by the agency. Needless to say, I paid for those studies myself through my job. I came to an arrangement with the college: some classes were attended in person and others were recorded.<\/p>\n

You have witnessed several decades of transformation within the travel agency sector from the inside. What has changed the most in the relationship between the agency and the traveller, and what do you think remains essentially the same?<\/p>\n

I have witnessed the transformation of travel agencies first-hand, particularly over the last thirty years, ever since I decided to pursue my dreams, my own path and my vision for the future. I founded Celyn Travel from scratch. It was then that I experienced first-hand the relationship between travel agent and client.<\/p>\n

In my previous role, I worked for a company that catered to major tour operators from all over the world. There were about twelve of us, and each of us was responsible for a specific market. I was in charge of the French-speaking market: Belgium, France and part of Switzerland, including Airtours. We had a fixed working day back then: we started at 09:00 and finished at 17:00, with a lunch break.<\/p>\n

Those of us who worked in this sector were fortunate. The relationship at the counter, with the customers, was harmonious; customers were open to advice and we always treated one another with respect.<\/p>\n

These days, customers or travellers are far better informed and, at times, seem to know more than the professionals. They arrive armed with information from Google, from friends, from hotels that send offers directly to guests referred to them by agencies, and \u2013 needless to say \u2013 from our own suppliers and shipping lines.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing quite like it. At least, that\u2019s how I see it. Competition between us should bring out the best in us, but I think ethical standards are slipping. At least, that\u2019s my view.<\/p>\n

\"Image
Cruises form part of a career characterised by decades of experience in the tourism sector.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Between 1987 and 1999, you worked directly for Sk\u00e5l. What were your responsibilities, and what was the organisation like from the inside during those years?<\/p>\n

When Viajes M\u00e1laga went bankrupt, I was still owed money right up until the very last day. We were just numbers to the owners. Back then, we were one big family.<\/p>\n

It was such a tough time that I took a sabbatical to spend more time with my family. In 1987, I received a phone call offering me the role of secretary, liaising with Sk\u00e5l members at national level (FESC). The year before I joined, Antonio Garc\u00eda del Valle had been International President (AISC).<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t quite remember how long my involvement with Sk\u00e5l was originally supposed to last, but I carried on until 1999, when Antonio Espinosa, my dear brother, stepped down as International President. I decided to make a change, professionally speaking, because I\u2019d grown bored of doing the same thing for so many years\u2026 and so I set up the agency.<\/p>\n

Twelve years is long enough to accumulate a wealth of experiences. Which people, moments or ways of working from that Sk\u00e5l do you remember with particular fondness, or do you consider important for understanding its history?<\/p>\n

The most important thing is what Sk\u00e5l stands for: unity, cooperation, collaboration, a dream, friendship and being there when a member needs you.<\/p>\n

I had two places from which I devoted myself to Sk\u00e5l: an office at Savitur and a desk next to Mr Claude Allegra at the Torremolinos Conference Centre.<\/p>\n

I have very fond memories of Mr Miguel Gargallo, of the Gargallo Group and Sk\u00e5l Barcelona. Shortly after I arrived there, the three of us \u2013 he, my brother and I \u2013 went out for lunch. He was a powerful, kind and humble man.<\/p>\n

And I also remember the vast majority of leading business figures, including Matute, Flux\u00e1, Escarrer and many others. I also remember Le\u00f3n Herrera, who had previously served as Minister for Tourism.<\/p>\n

Moments \u2013 plenty of them. Anecdotes, too. I would attend small gatherings, taking notes of everything in shorthand, and although they were aware of my presence, they would still discuss personal matters. Everyone trusted me to keep things confidential, and I shall continue to do so for as long as I live.<\/p>\n

In 1999, your brother Antonio Espinosa became President of Sk\u00e5l International. How did you personally experience that moment, and what did it mean for your family?<\/p>\n

This is a difficult question to answer, but I\u2019ll give it a go.<\/p>\n

Antonio Espinosa was a very special person. He had a strong temperament \u2014 I\u2019m like that too \u2014 but at the same time he was very humble at heart and such an intelligent man that everyone in my family admired him. Our conversations with our father were wonderful and so heart-warming that his laughter and ours were contagious.<\/p>\n

My father had already passed away by the time he was elected. Had he been alive, Antonio would have told him about it without making a big deal of it. Of course, the rest of the family were delighted, but we took it in the same matter-of-fact way that he described it: it was just another award he\u2019d received. Although Sk\u00e5l was his passion and he lived it to the full.<\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t one for posing for photos, but he did celebrate any success with his true friends. Many of them were sk\u00e5legas.<\/p>\n

When you look back on that period today, is there any story, anecdote or aspect of Sk\u00e5l from that time that you think is worth preserving so that future generations don\u2019t lose sight of it?<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t believe in the saying \u201cthe past was better\u201d.<\/p>\n

What I do recommend to younger people is that they take a look at the founders\u2019 Code of Ethics, dating from the early 20th century. It is essential if you want to be a good sk\u00e5lega.<\/p>\n

Having got to know Sk\u00e5l both as a professional within the organisation and through your own family, you are now a member of Sk\u00e5l M\u00e1laga-Costa del Sol. What does it mean to you to be returning in this new role?<\/p>\n

These are two different periods in my life.<\/p>\n

When I decided to leave, it was of my own accord. Over the last few years, Sk\u00e5l hadn\u2019t been on my mind. This was largely because many professionals weren\u2019t familiar with it, and it wasn\u2019t active on social media, and so on.<\/p>\n

\u2018Come back as a regular member? It\u2019s all down to my friends on the Board of Directors,\u2019 she smiles. I\u2019m proud to be a member. I love Sk\u00e5l.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What do you still recognise about the Sk\u00e5l you knew decades ago, and what, on the other hand, has changed the most?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not quite sure how to answer that.<\/p>\n

The biggest change is that Sk\u00e5l used to be very exclusive when it came to accepting members. I\u2019ve been turned down a few times. I prefer the way it is today: there\u2019s more diversity, people are more open-minded and, I think, there\u2019s more enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

Once I\u2019m able to attend a meeting, I\u2019ll be able to give my views with a broader perspective.<\/p>\n

By the way, I think the magazine, the club\u2019s communications \u2013 everything \u2013 is a huge success. For many years, I hardly ever heard the name \u2018Sk\u00e5l\u2019, but now there\u2019s hardly a day that goes by without someone asking me what it is. And then I launch into an explanation\u2026<\/p>\n

At Celyn Travel, you continue to champion a highly personalised approach to running a travel agency. In a market with so much information and so many options available, where does the true value of a good travel agent lie today?<\/p>\n

The true value of a travel agent lies in putting themselves in the shoes of the person sitting opposite them. Connecting even without words and being honest. Offering what the customer needs and knowing how to gauge their financial means from the conversation, without actually asking directly.<\/p>\n

And, of course, it goes without saying that he is a qualified professional.<\/p>\n

Over the course of such a long career, there are moments when an agency shows that its responsibility goes far beyond simply selling a holiday. Which situations have particularly stood out to you in that regard?<\/p>\n

A sale isn\u2019t over once you\u2019ve been paid and handed over the paperwork. The customer needs to know that, should any unforeseen issues arise at their destination, you\u2019ll always be there for them. You have to earn that trust.<\/p>\n

One incident that really left its mark on me was the bankruptcy of the shipping company Happy Cruises many years ago. I had chartered a plane for my group, flying from M\u00e1laga to Athens and returning from Venice to M\u00e1laga. The bankruptcy caught us by surprise whilst we were sailing in the Adriatic. One of the owners, Malik Alkarea, alerted me and sent a plane from Madrid to pick us up and bring us back to M\u00e1laga.<\/p>\n

That three-day adventure \u2013 the last three days of the cruise \u2013 could easily serve as the script for a film. Malik, now at Kannak W2M, and I have been great friends ever since. He\u2019s a wonderful man and I\u2019ll never be able to thank him enough for what he did for me. And there have been other \u201cadventures\u201d, but they\u2019ve always been there for me.<\/p>\n

\"Malik
Malik Alkarea, who is linked to one of the professional experiences Carmina Espinosa recalls in the interview.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Technology, artificial intelligence and travellers\u2019 changing habits are once again transforming the sector. How do you envisage the travel agency of the coming years, and what role will human interaction continue to play?<\/p>\n

To be honest, I don\u2019t have an answer. Our sector has changed a great deal, and I have a feeling it will continue to change.<\/p>\n

We must keep fighting to survive, and that is achieved, almost certainly, by loving your profession.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve experienced tourism and Sk\u00e5l from very different perspectives. After all that, what have you learnt about people, trust and relationships that explains why you\u2019re still involved in this world?<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve learnt a great deal and I\u2019m still learning.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve met some wonderful people with whom I\u2019ve remained close friends. The others have simply crossed my path and leave no mark unless you let them.<\/p>\n

Why do I carry on? Because I still enjoy both my successes and my mistakes, and, ladies and gentlemen, this profession becomes an addiction \u2013 at least in my case.<\/p>\n

Also because, despite having devoted my life to this world \u2014 the corporate sector, MICE, businesses\u2026 \u2014 I absolutely love this part of it. What\u2019s more, when I organise a conference, it eventually becomes like a \u201cchild\u201d to me. If I could go back, I\u2019d do exactly the same. Teaching? No chance. I\u2019m no good at it!<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Carmina Espinosa, Director of Celyn Travel, looks back on her career in the travel industry, her years working for Sk\u00e5l, and a professional life shaped by people, trust and tourism.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-voces-skal","category-actualidad"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skalmalagacostadelsol.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skalmalagacostadelsol.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skalmalagacostadelsol.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skalmalagacostadelsol.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skalmalagacostadelsol.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=620"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/skalmalagacostadelsol.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":635,"href":"https:\/\/skalmalagacostadelsol.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620\/revisions\/635"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skalmalagacostadelsol.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skalmalagacostadelsol.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skalmalagacostadelsol.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skalmalagacostadelsol.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}