The Balearics, islands that surprises: Glen McDonnell

1. Which Island of the Balearic Islands is your favourite?

Probably Mallorca, simply because is the most cosmopolitan of all of them. I like that I can go many activities here like go through the city, walk through the mountains, I love the food, the beaches and so many other things… I think in Mallorca you can find activities for the 365 days of the year. What I like the most of Mallorca is that every time I jump into my car I can discover new things.

There are so many things that surprise me about Mallorca, like the festivals that take place in the island and the Christmas lights that give an amazing holiday feeling. I think all of this makes Mallorca quite unique and different from any other island of the Balearics.

And in second place, I can say I like also Menorca. It is a beautiful island, I haven’t explored it so much but I have done a bit of touring around it.

1. What are your hobbies here in the islands? (Sport, culture, gastronomy)

My favourite hobbies in the island of Mallorca is to do golf, going to the beaches, hiking in the mountains… Actually, I have hiked around Valldemossa, Puigmayor, Sant Elm, and so many others but there are still many more I want to discover.

1. Can you tell me a fun experience about the Balearics?

One of the most amazing experiences I had recently was here in Mallorca, it was the European Ballooning championships and it was just so beautiful. The championship consisted in 85 hot air balloons flying in the skies of Mallorca and it was absolutely stunning, especially because I shared this experience with my daughter. This is one of the things I mean when I say the Island is always surprising me.

1. Describe in one word each of the Islands of Balearics?

Firstly, Mallorca for me is a “cosmopolitan” island. Secondly, Menorca is the “hippie” island. Thirdly, Ibiza is the “party zone”. And lastly, Formentera for me is considered the “little Italy”.

1. Have you hear about the Palma Boat Show?

Yes I have, and I think is great. I love to go whenever I have the chance. What I love of this fair is that every year it’s starting to expand and I think it’s starting to get big attention around the yachting industry because there is more boats coming but also more people coming. I also think going to the Palma Boat Show is also a very good networking opportunity because a lot of people come from different countries to this fair.

1. 1. What differentiates this fair from the other ones?

What it differentiates from other fair is that the Palma Boat Show is a little bit more intimate because you don’t need to have massive credential to go and visit things. I like it because it’s a local show and there are a lot of people that I know that are in the show.

1. Which is your favourite cala?

Probably the little cala in Cas Català because I live near there and it has one of my favourite restaurants, it’s not the best beach of the island but it’s my local beach. There is a little chiringuito there called Bugambilia, it’s just a little restaurant down the beach and they do the best paella on the island and it’s a place where I feel at home. I can go to the beach have a beer, enjoy the view. There are millions of beautiful beaches on the island, but this one is definitely my favourite.

1. For you, which is the most emblematic building of Mallorca?

My favourite building without doubt is the cathedral, I love the place and to go there to meditate. The construction took so many years and it’s so amazing to have the opportunity to appreciate it.

1. What is your opinion about the future of the yachting industry in the Balearics?

I think is great to get some exposure from the island but I don’t want to see it spoiled. It’s about finding that balance between having an effective yachting tourism, but not messing it up. There are a lot of yachting places in the world that have been “ruined” because of the excess of this industry in the place because it’s so overcrowded with yachts. I like being in areas which are a little bit less populated by yachts, and actually this is one of the nice things of Mallorca because you still have the ability to going on secluded bays.

So the Balearics need to be a little bit careful with over-promoting, they should promote but in a controlled manner which benefits the islands. If too many boats come suddenly to the islands it takes away the unique character that it possesses.

1. What advantages do you think the Balearic Islands, related to the yachting industry, compared to other places?

The amazing thing of this group of islands is that it is a very small geographical area, so you can cover the area in a two week period really easily. And besides all of these each and every island has its own and unique character. From a Yachting destination perspective it makes our job easier because the guest entertain themselves with the destination.

I think for the Balearics in general is a good thing that is not considered a big yachting destination, but this also leaves a little bit of mystery on the table.

BYD Member collaborating with University in a specialized course

 Nautipaints, a member of Balearic Yacht Destination, has recently been part of a highly specialized course taught at the UIB (University of the Balearics). They were asked to give a master class to students from the specialist “Nautical Industry: Engineering, Projects and Planning”. Nautipaints is one of the leader companies in the nautical sector and is now collaborating with the future professionals of this industry.

Toni Salom, CEO of the Nauti Group and one of the professionals that went to teach at UIB, said that “It’s very important for us to invest in the quality of our industry and maintain and continually improve on our standards, and the most important part of that is to educate and inspire our current and future workforce”.