Meet Fermin, the driving force behind Hotelverse and a transformative presence in the hospitality technology industry. His journey stretches from leading large teams at Iberostar to launching one of Mallorca’s most forward-thinking travel tech ventures. Fermin represents a new era of leadership, characterised by dynamism, resilience and a genuine focus on people.

A Journey Built on Experience

Fermin’s story begins long before Hotelverse. At just 19 years old, he launched his first company, an event organisation firm that managed over 100 people. That early exposure to leadership shaped his lifelong understanding of teamwork and responsibility.
His next chapter unfolded in Mallorca, where he helped build a consulting firm under the Airlines Ground Assistance (AGA) group, specialising in hotel revenue management and distribution. From there, he joined Iberostar, one of the world’s leading hotel chains, where he spent 11 years in multiple roles, from e-commerce and customer experience to operations and strategy.
By the time he left Iberostar, he had managed teams across 12 countries, rising to Senior Vice President of Sales Operations, reporting directly to the executive committee.
Fermin explains,
“Experience forces you to evolve. It teaches you how to delegate, how to trust, and how to lead through people, not just processes.”

Leadership Through Trust and Delegation

Fermin’s leadership style has evolved over time, shifting from a focus on perfectionism and control to one of trust and empowerment.
He says,
“The biggest challenge for any manager is learning how to truly delegate.”
In his early career, Fermin admits he struggled with micromanagement, wanting everything done his way. But as his teams grew, he learned that real leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself; it’s about empowering others to excel.
“You can’t lead 200 people by checking every detail. You have to trust your team or you lose the big picture.”
Today, that mindset shapes the spirit of Hotelverse. Autonomy, teamwork, and agility are central—qualities Fermin sees as vital for fostering innovation.

Mallorca: Paradise and Paradox for Entrepreneurs

Fermin discusses Mallorca with a blend of warmth and pragmatism. The island boasts immense business opportunities, particularly within hospitality and tourism, hosting global names like Iberostar, Meliá, Riu, and Barceló, alongside an expanding network of travel tech innovators.
“There’s nowhere else in Europe with such a concentration of hotel and travel expertise in such a small place,” he says proudly.
But it’s not without its challenges. The same island that breeds innovation can also stifle it.
He noted that,
“Mallorcans are wonderful people, but culturally they’re cautious. There’s a kind of local conservatism you often have to succeed abroad before you’re recognised at home.”
He points to a lack of local investment appetite and a risk-averse mindset as major obstacles. “In Silicon Valley, a person with a good idea and a small team can raise ten times the funding we can here. It’s not about money, it’s about a culture that embraces risk.”
Still, he believes the island has enormous untapped potential. “If Mallorca had a true public-private innovation hub, it could become Europe’s tech playground. The talent and infrastructure are already here.”

Innovation as a Way of Life

Innovation is woven into the very fabric of Hotelverse. Their platform creates digital maps of hotel spaces, letting guests browse and reserve rooms through rich, interactive 3D environments.
“We’re changing how hotels connect with guests and making booking more transparent, immersive, and data-driven.”
The company invests heavily in R&D and technology development, operating with what Fermin calls a “liquid organisational model”, fast, horizontal, and adaptable.
“We avoid corporate politics. In big companies, bureaucracy kills innovation. We’ve built Hotelverse to stay flexible, decisions happen in hours, not weeks.”

Driving Sustainability Through Technology

Although Hotelverse isn’t a sustainability company per se, its platform plays an unexpected role in promoting environmental awareness.
“We help hotels showcase their sustainability practices,” Fermin explains. “Our system allows travelers to see which properties use renewable energy, reduce plastic, or manage water responsibly.”
By surfacing these details at the booking stage, Hotelverse indirectly encourages both hotels and guests to make more environmentally friendly choices. “We’re enablers of sustainability communication. We make good practices visible.”

Partnerships Built on Trust

For Fermin, business partnerships only work when they’re built on trust and shared values, not just contracts.
“The best collaborations happen when you care about mutual benefit,” he says.
He highlights his relationship with Xavi from ACSoft as an example of a partnership based on honesty and transparency. “We trust each other completely and that’s why it works,” he says.
In contrast, larger corporate partnerships often fail because of complexity and mistrust. “Sometimes, the more clauses you add, the less collaboration you actually get,” he adds with a smile.

Growing Talent from Within

Attracting and retaining talent in Mallorca isn’t easy; high living costs and limited local expertise make recruitment difficult. Hotelverse’s solution? Train people internally.
Fermin says,
“We hire for attitude, not experience. We train our people so they grow with us and they stay with us.”
The company pays salaries slightly above market rates and provides clear career paths, ensuring employees feel invested in the company’s success.
“When people know you believe in them, they give you everything.”
The result is a team deeply committed to the mission. “If I ask someone to work late on a Sunday because a client needs us, they do it, happily. That kind of engagement is priceless.”

Lessons in Entrepreneurship

When asked what advice he’d give to aspiring entrepreneurs, Fermin smiles and says,
“I don’t like giving advice,” he says. “But I can share what I’ve learned.”
What would be his biggest insight then? Never underestimate the power of visibility.
“You can have the best product in the world, but if nobody knows about it, it doesn’t exist.”
He explains that too many startups fail because they focus on building before marketing. “We invested in PR and visibility from day one and it was the best decision we ever made. It opened doors to investors, clients, and recognition we couldn’t have achieved otherwise.”

Finding Balance in a Demanding Life

Despite his achievements, Fermin admits that work-life balance is his biggest challenge.
“I learned to be selfish, to take care of myself first,” he says. “If I’m not well, nothing else works.”
He starts each day at 6:15 a.m., goes to the gym, and shares breakfast with his children before work. “Those 20 minutes with my kids are sacred,” he says.
Still, the demands of leading a fast-growing company often strain family time. “Sometimes my wife doesn’t understand why I can’t take a full week off,” he says honestly. “But that’s part of the sacrifice of building something.”

Leadership Without Idols

When asked who inspires him, Fermin pauses for a moment.
“I don’t admire anyone,” he says frankly. “Not because I’m arrogant but because I believe everyone is shaped by their circumstances.”
He admits to respecting traits in others, such as Elon Musk’s vision, Warren Buffett’s consistency, and Trump’s self-belief, but doesn’t idolise anyone.
“Each person has their strengths and flaws,” he explains. “The goal isn’t to copy them, it’s to learn what works for you.”

Looking Ahead: The Future of Hotelverse

Fermin’s vision for Hotelverse is clear: growth through innovation and strategic integration.
“We’re not trying to go public. Our goal is to build a strong, innovative company that one day becomes part of a larger ecosystem maybe Booking.com, maybe Amadeus.”
The company has already completed three successful investment rounds and continues to attract global attention for its groundbreaking approach to hotel visualisation.
“We want to redefine how travellers experience booking and how hotels connect with their guests.”

Final Thoughts

From launching his first business to guiding Hotelverse’s rise, Fermin’s journey is marked by bravery, adaptability, and an unwavering drive to improve. His leadership is grounded in trust and faith in people, not rigid structures or the pursuit of flawlessness.
“Leadership isn’t about control. It’s about letting go and believing in those around you.”