Do we need to introduce Lionel Messi? Of course not. Are we going to do it anyway? Absolutely.
Lionel Messi has won seven Ballon d’Or awards, more than anyone in football history. He has 10 La Liga titles, 7 Copas del Reys, 6 Golden boots, and 1 Olympic Gold Medal — and a partridge in a pear tree, probably!
The PSG forward is the owner of four luxury hotels in different locations. What’s with all the footballers building hotels, you ask? Not to worry, we’ll get to that soon.
The hotels have their own lesson to share, but let’s start with the macro trend first:
Why Hotels?
Spain is one of the fastest-growing hotel markets in the world, it was one of the most visited countries in the world in 2018. In the same year, overnight stays grew by 11% YoY.
By 2025, the market will be worth 24.1 billion dollars. This growth is driven by a number of factors:
- The increasing popularity of Spain as a tourist destination.
- The growth of the economy.
- The expansion of the airline industry.
- Mystical spells from the next dimension (maybe).
MiM Hotels Group has been able to capitalise on this trend by expanding quickly throughout Spain.
The point?
As obvious as it may seem, it helps to follow macro trends when deciding where to head with your ventures. Think on a national, social or even global level. Here are some examples:
- National: Spain’s tourism industry is growing ➡️ hotels in Spain.
- Demographic: Gen-Z is more likely to be vegetarian than ever ➡️ vegan ghost kitchen.
- Globally: People are starting to enjoy working from home ➡️ remote work software.
Now, let’s take a closer look at what we can learn from the MiM Hotels themselves.
MiM Hotels
MiM hotels check all the boxes when it comes to luxury stays. Welcoming staff, beautiful architecture, excellent amenities. You can find locations in:
Baqueira, in the Pyrenean ski resort.
Ibiza, by the beach d’en Bossa.
Mallorca — an adults-only hotel on the seafront.
Sitges, downtown on the coast of Barcelona.
There are 3 lessons to learn from the hotels themselves:
- Diversity is key. Notice how each hotel is in a very different location. Although all of them are in Spain, they’re likely to attract different tourists. Don’t restrict yourself — experiment and find what works.
- Have a competitive advantage. What separates your venture from the competition? Each MiM location has a locally famous Sky Bar, known for excellent food and views. Ensure your business has a signature calling card to separate it from the pack.
- Do your due diligence. Not everyone is out to get you — but don’t let that stop you from double-checking any deals you make. That hotel in Sitges? The local government ordered its demolition before the Hotel Group even bought it — details conveniently left out of the agreement when the owner sold it to MiM. If you don’t know the story, you should. It’s completely wild and a lesson on why due diligence really is key. Click below.
Let’s recap:
- Follow the trends.
- Experiment with your business.
- Find your secret sauce.
- Always double-check.
This might sound like a recipe for a terrible pasta — but we can learn from Messi’s business journey to augment our own.
