Energy has long been much more than a cost for the tourism sector. It is a strategic lever, a factor of competitiveness and, in today’s geopolitical context, a matter of resilience. With this conviction at its core, the teams at Estel, Borbalán and Grup Serra launched the Mallorca Energy Summit, a forum designed to bring together key players from the tourism and energy sectors to connect, debate and move forward together towards a more sustainable and intelligent model.

The first edition of the Mallorca Energy Summit was held in Palma with resounding success in terms of attendance, content and expectations. The event was fully booked weeks in advance and brought together some of the most prominent figures from the tourism and energy sectors in the country. A conference conceived from the outset with a clear ambition for continuity.

The event was opened by Paula Serra (General Manager of Audiovisual at Grup Serra) and Toni Ballester (CEO of Estel), who, during his speech, highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration to lead the energy transition in the islands.

Jaime Martínez, Mayor of Palma, was one of the key figures of the day. He announced concrete measures that place the Balearic capital firmly on the path towards the energy transition: Palma will have more than 2,000 public charging points for electric vehicles by 2030, and by 2027 more than half of the EMT fleet will consist of electric buses, with the aim of achieving full electrification within the next decade.
Beyond the figures, the mayor conveyed a broader strategic message: tourism competitiveness no longer depends solely on the quality of facilities or service, but also on the ability to manage resources intelligently. “Reducing energy consumption, investing in renewables and optimising building management improves profitability and strengthens the reputation of our companies,” he stated.

Following the intervention of Mayor Jaime Martínez , the day continued with a presentation by Andreas Eberharter, Vice President of Product Management and Marketing for INNIO Group’s Jenbacher brand. Under the title “Resorts 24/7: Trigeneration and Energy Resilience in Island Destinations,” Eberharter explained how their systems allow complexes to remain “invisible” to the guest while guaranteeing critical services such as electricity, heating, and air conditioning. The expert highlighted the advantages of trigeneration, a technology capable of simultaneously producing electrical energy, heat, and cooling, which is fundamental in environments like islands or the Caribbean where grid connections can be unreliable. According to Eberharter, this model not only ensures a stable supply even during general blackouts or severe weather events but also translates into three clear benefits: lower CO2 emissions, reduced energy costs, and total reliability in resort operations 24 hours a day.

Alberto Benbunan, an entrepreneur and leading figure in the application of artificial intelligence to the tourism sector, offered an insightful perspective on how AI is transforming not only the way travellers search for and book accommodation—removing the need to compare dozens of platforms to obtain answers within seconds—but also the energy management of hotels themselves.
Predictive models make it possible to anticipate electricity demand, climate control needs and consumption patterns based on occupancy, weather conditions or the activity of the destination. “You cannot optimise what is not digitally represented,” Benbunan noted, emphasising that digitalisation is a prerequisite for artificial intelligence to generate real value.

Pedro Pérez Tossina, CEO for Iberia at Tecna & Solius & Midea Group, focused his intervention on one of the major challenges in hotel energy efficiency: climate control. He advocated for a comprehensive approach to heating and cooling systems, which have historically been treated separately, resulting in significant energy waste.
Within this context, he highlighted the role of multifunctional heat pumps as one of the most efficient technologies for future hotels: systems capable of producing both cooling and heating simultaneously, harnessing the energy generated in each process to minimise losses.
His message was clear: energy efficiency is not only a regulatory requirement, but also a profitable long-term investment.

One of the most anticipated moments of the day was the dialogue between Gabriel Escarrer, Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, and Abel Matutes, Chairman of Palladium Hotel Group, moderated by Paula Serra, Managing Director of Audiovisuals at Grup Serra. Having two of the most influential voices in global tourism on the same stage is, in itself, a strong statement.
Both addressed, with caution and restraint, the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on international tourism flows. Escarrer warned that any potential “safe haven” effect for destinations such as the Balearic Islands “should be taken with a pinch of salt”, given that the rising cost of kerosene—already 40% more expensive—could ultimately penalise the destination as a whole. Matutes agreed on the need for caution, noting that the tourism sector cannot “even remotely suggest” that a destination benefits from a war.
Regarding sustainability, both expressed their conviction that the sector is committed, while rejecting regulations that penalise customer comfort or are imposed without taking business realities into account.

Trigeneration plants in resort settings were the focus of one of the most technical and substantial debates of the day. Under the title “From diesel to self-generated energy: the new standard in resort destinations”, and moderated by Diego Viu, Director General of Circular Economy, Energy Transition and Climate Change, Juan Sobrino (Palladium), Andreas Eberharter (Jenbacher), José Luis Garrido (Tecna & Solius) and Silvia Vendrell (Estel Green) analysed how these systems—capable of producing electricity, heat and cooling from a single primary source—are reshaping the energy paradigm of large destination hotels.
The debate was nuanced: while it was acknowledged that fossil fuels remain necessary as a backup, the participants agreed that trigeneration combined with photovoltaic energy can deliver savings of hundreds of thousands of euros annually. “Hotels must still rely on fossil fuels: it would be impossible to operate with solar and wind alone,” Sobrino noted, although he added that the intelligent combination of energy sources makes it possible to optimise consumption “by charging batteries when energy is cheapest and using them when it is most expensive.” Artificial intelligence, Eberharter pointed out, is already a key tool for improving the internal processes of these systems.

Digitalization and energy storage also took center stage with a presentation by Fernando Almagro, Director of Transformation and Operations at Amara NZero Iberia. Under the title “Solar Self-consumption, BESS Storage, and Energy Digitalization in Hotels“, Almagro highlighted that the sector has entered an era where industrial storage is already a profitable solution, driven by a drop in lithium prices of nearly 84% over the last seven years. According to the expert, the use of battery energy storage systems (BESS) not only allows for better utilization of photovoltaic surpluses but also grants hotels critical independence by allowing them to be “decoupled from economic reality” and electricity market fluctuations. Almagro illustrated his presentation with real cases of technological integration in the Caribbean and Spain, emphasizing that having a battery generates greater supply stability and superior grid quality, which are essential factors for the operations of any modern resort.

Financing and strategic capital were the core themes of the morning’s third panel, titled “Capital, Risk, and Return: How to Finance the Energy Transformation 2026–2030.” Moderated by Ignacio Barriendos, CEO of DoGood People, the panel featured key voices from the financial, hospitality, and legal sectors. Naomi Riu, CFO of Riu Hotels & Resorts, firmly defended her chain’s environmental commitment, noting that 90% of the energy consumed in their hotels is already green and that they have invested over 10 million dollars in photovoltaic installations. For his part, Eduardo Requena, CFO of Estel, highlighted that the key to “selling” these projects internally is their positive impact on the bottom line, with savings that can range between 500,000 and one million dollars annually.
From a financial and investment perspective, Jesús Losa of CaixaBank emphasized that energy efficiency is the primary driver for projects in the Caribbean and that the entity plans to allocate 100,000 million euros in its new strategic sustainability plan. Francesc Esteve of HIP and Nicolás de Gaviria of Deloitte Legal agreed that the energy transition is a matter of survival and competitiveness, where legal certainty and compliance with ESG criteria are now indispensable requirements to attract strategic capital and ensure long-term profitability.

Eduardo González, Deputy General Manager of Antonio Cabot Fornés S.A., emphasized in his presentation that project efficiency begins long before the actual installation. He highlighted that relying on a local provider with in-depth knowledge of the terrain reduces operational risks, optimizes material reception times, and lowers transport-related emissions. For González, proximity and a logistics strategy tailored to the island’s reality are key factors in ensuring the success and continuity of energy initiatives in the Balearics.

Energy as a driver of competitiveness in the hotel industry was the focus of another panel, centred on future strategies for energy sustainability and the challenges and opportunities in both the Caribbean and Spanish tourist destinations. Moderated by José Antonio Fernández, a lawyer at Monlex, the discussion brought together Toni Ballester, CEO of Estel; Tomeu Morro of Fergus Hotels; Gabriel Subías, CEO of W2M Meet; and Daniel Díaz, Executive Vice President of Royalton Luxury Resorts.
The debate revolved around a question with significant implications: to what extent do customers today prioritise sustainability over comfort? The conclusion was shared: although awareness is increasing, we are not yet at a point where consumer decisions are predominantly based on environmental criteria. “The energy that is not used is the most efficient,” Morro noted. Subías added a relevant geographical nuance: the traveller’s origin has a decisive influence on their environmental awareness, and in many source markets, the culture of energy efficiency still has a long way to go.

Marga Prohens, President of the Balearic Government, closed the Mallorca Energy Summit with a speech that combined an analysis of the global energy context with a clear call to action. Prohens called on the central government to reduce VAT on energy to 10% and to review the taxes that increase electricity bills, measures she considered urgent in light of the rising prices resulting from the conflict in the Middle East.. Her message was also strategic: she emphasised that the energy transition goes far beyond environmental considerations. “All of this reminds us that the energy transition is a strategic decision, not just an environmental one. Because it helps make economies less vulnerable, increases autonomy and enhances stability.” A path that, she stressed, the Balearic Islands must lead.

The first edition of the Mallorca Energy Summit has come to a close. And it has done so having set the bar very high.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to our sponsors for their essential support, without which none of this would have been possible. Special recognition goes to our Main Partner, Jenbacher; our Strategic Partner, Clivet; and our Leading Sponsors, Amara Nzero and Antonio Cabot Fornés.
We would also like to thank our Co-Sponsors: AFTRANS Internacional, BonGrup, CaixaBank, Dacelectric, Danfoss, Deloitte, Do Good People, Ebara, Grundfos, MC and RSM.

Our thanks also extend to the speakers, who generously shared their knowledge and experience , and to the attendees, whose enthusiastic response already drives us to prepare for the next edition. And of course, to the teams at Estel — particularly Carlos Sáez (CFO) and Raquel Ochoa (Marketing Manager) — as well as Borbalán and Grup Serra, who were always attentive to ensuring everything went according to plan.

One day less to go until the second edition. We look forward to seeing you there.