Behind the Scenes of Marbella’s Puente Romano Beach Resort & Nobu Hotel
Gonzalo Rodríguez
General Manager, Puente Romano Beach Resort & Nobu Hotel Marbella
InVOYAGE: Firstly, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. We’re delighted to be hosting our first event of the year here at Puente Romano Beach Resort and Nobu Hotel Marbella and thought what better way to introduce our delegates to your property than with an interview that takes us behind the scenes of these two beautiful properties.
So, tell us, what inspired you to get into hospitality, and when did you know you wanted to be the General Manager of a hotel?
Gonzalo Rodríguez: My love for hotels started when I was a little boy. My parents took us on amazing adventures and road trips around Europe, and I always felt fascinated by the hotels we were staying at. Some of my best childhood memories took place during our family vacations, and those special trips absolutely inspired me to pursue a career in the hospitality industry.
InVOYAGE: You’ve been General Manager for just over a year now at Puente Romano Beach Resort. What’s your first year been like, particularly coming in off the back of the pandemic?
Gonzalo Rodríguez: Marbella's popularity is growing, with many European travellers opting for short-haul destinations after the pandemic and choosing to discover or rediscover Southern Spain and the emblematic destination of Marbella. Domestic tourism has also played an essential role in boosting the local tourism sector. I am the luckiest General Manager in the world, leading our two incredible resorts with a continual commitment to innovation, focusing on our guests, and our ongoing programme of exciting new projects. It is a genuine honour to lead this incredible team, a family of committed and passionate hoteliers that are the essence of Puente Romano Beach Resort and Nobu Hotel Marbella.
InVOYAGE: You’ve held key positions for a number of prestigious hospitality firms from Six Senses Ibiza to Raffles. What have been your biggest learning experiences over the years and what would you say was the most important consideration in creating a truly out-of-the-ordinary guest journey?
Gonzalo Rodríguez: I have been fortunate to work for great hotel brands in beautiful countries. Yet, the same magic formula works in every destination while creating unique guest experiences: they should incorporate local flair, fit the brand and be 100% guest centric.
Incorporating the local traditions, culture, food and art into the guest journey is essential. But only those distinct aspects that organically fit the hotel's brand and DNA. The goal is to bring the hotel brand personality to life through local experiences and moments so they are unique and meaningful. Successfully achieving this makes a difference and creates magic for guests.
It is also crucial to understand our guests' needs, making our service as thoughtful, seamless, and elegant as possible throughout their experience, from the moment they make their booking to their departure. Like a summer breeze, we endeavour to discreetly ensure that we anticipate, adapt, and meet their needs at every touchpoint instead of the guests adapting to us.
InVOYAGE: We’re very excited to be hosting our delegates here at Puente Romano and Nobu Hotel later this month and no doubt they’ll have lots of questions about the property and the opportunities it presents in the MICE industry. But in your eyes, how do you think Puente Romano Beach Resort & Nobu Hotel Marbella is best placed to serve incentives and events? And what would you suggest they look out for when staying at your property?
Gonzalo Rodríguez: A truly successful event must be unforgettable for each delegate.
Puente Romano Beach Resort and Nobu Hotel Marbella are a winning combination for our business clients, with a compelling choice of meeting and event spaces. Add in our abundance of lifestyle experiences from world-class wellness, international destination dining, sparkling nightlife and our beautiful Mediterranean setting; our goal is to deliver an outstanding, memorable experience for each attendee.
InVOYAGE: You appear to have very active owners at the hotel. Can you tell us about some of the developments you have been working on together with them?
Gonzalo Rodríguez: Of course! Yes, there is a genuine commitment to position ourselves as the best resort in the Mediterranean. Every year we work to create new guest experiences, and this year we are opening the first Cipriani restaurant in the Iberian Peninsula and the first COYA restaurant in Spain, joining our already exceptional dining options for guests of more than 15 restaurants, which includes Nobu Marbella.
We have also recently opened Work Space, a stylish and elegant facility for meetings and remote working, so guests can keep in touch with their businesses while enjoying our Mediterranean playground. Guests can also rejuvenate at the only Six Senses Spa on mainland Spain and enjoy world-class fitness facilities, including our stunning Health and Fitness centre with live DJs. We also offer complimentary golf and are home to the world-famous Puente Romano Tennis Club.
The owners have also been instrumental in shaping the offering for families, with spectacular destination experiences, sporting activities and two dedicated children’s clubs. There’s endless fun for our little guests at Mini Casita (for children up to 4 years old), where carers and little ones can play in a magical setting. At the same time, an all-action adventure is available for children 5-12 at La Casita Club. Youngsters can compete in Beach Olympics, learn new water sports, try the immersive escape room game or even join our Nobu chef at the private sushi masterclass.
As a Mediterranean destination, guests also choose us for pure relaxation and many desire to recharge by our secluded heated pools, located beachside or by our botanic gardens. We have also recently launched a new adults-only pool club.
InVOYAGE: You appear to be creating a destination of brands through famed restaurants, tennis facilities and real estate, as well as of course creating a hotel within a hotel. Can you tell us more about the vision for Puente Romano and Nobu Marbella and the sort of environment you’re creating for corporate groups?
Gonzalo Rodríguez: Our vision is to position ourselves as the best resort in the Mediterranean, and that also includes to become the perfect choice for groups and MICE.
This approach means we are committed to excellence, so each client has everything they need to deliver an exceptional event. Our track record includes elite, high-end car launches and hosting world-class concerts and sporting tournaments such as the Davis Cup and the Andalucian Open. In addition, our commitment to active living and well-being makes us popular for wellness retreats. We strive to offer everything a client and guest may need or wish for during their stay to achieve a successful corporate visit.
InVOYAGE: Can you help us understand where sustainability and the local community fit into your vision for Puente Romano?
Gonzalo Rodríguez: Sustainability is one of the main pillars of our brand. We have a dedicated department for this, with our Sustainability Manager developing our strategy and approach and monitoring implementation. We will soon have our own farm to supply organic products to our restaurants. In addition, we are reducing food waste through composting and recycling. We are also in the process of bottling our own filtered water, enhancing our commitment to reducing and eliminating single-use plastics. Our sustainability efforts focus on km0 ingredients, favouring local produce and supporting producers, farms and fishermen in our local community.
InVOYAGE: Thankfully the pandemic is now well and truly behind us and, with it, the challenges it posed for the Incentives & Events Industry. But what do you anticipate will be the biggest challenges in the hotel industry in the coming years and how do you hope to combat that?
Gonzalo Rodríguez: The significant increase in inflation and the impact on prices means hoteliers must remain committed to enhancing the guest experience. Service must be impeccable.
Another challenging trend currently affecting the hospitality industry worldwide is the staffing shortage, with many working in the industry exploring other options and fields. Training, retaining, and developing our superb team is essential to continue our journey of improvement and commitment to excellence.
Puente Romano Beach Resort & Nobu Hotel Marbella will be hosting our upcoming inVOYAGE Event as we head up to Marbella later this month. For more information, please click here.