President of Skål International Seville · Sustainability Officer of Skål Spain · General Manager of Hotel Doña María in Seville
Manuel Domínguez Solís is President of Skål International Seville and also serves on the Board of Directors of Skål Spain as Sustainability Officer. Alongside these responsibilities, he has extensive experience in the hotel sector as General Manager of Hotel Doña María in Seville, where he experiences first-hand the day-to-day realities of tourism in one of Spain's major urban destinations.
This combination of professional experience and commitment to Skål gives him a particularly interesting perspective from which to discuss the evolution of tourism, sustainability and, above all, the role that clubs must play in remaining relevant to new generations of professionals.
In Leading Skål, we spoke with Manuel about Seville, the hotel industry, sustainability, professional relationships and the future of an organisation in which friendship remains one of its core values.
Manuel, what does it mean to you to be at the helm of Skål International Sevilla and what led you to assume the presidency of the club?
It is truly an honour for me to lead this magnificent group of professionals who placed their trust in me by nominating and electing me as president of our club. The camaraderie and the conviction that we needed to keep moving forward led me to reflect on the opportunity and ultimately accept the position.
How would you define today Skål Sevilla And what do you think distinguishes him within our organization?
Skål Seville, like all clubs, has gone through different stages throughout its history. Our determination to move forward and offer our members engaging activities has contributed to a significant increase in membership.
As the general manager of the Hotel Doña María, you experience Seville's tourism firsthand on a daily basis. How has the visitor experience changed in the city, and what do you think are the main challenges Seville faces as a destination today?
We are seeing a more discerning visitor, with a very clear idea of what they are looking for and increasingly eager to experience and connect with what is authentic: what is real and human.
Your professional experience in the hotel industry coexists with your responsibility as a Sustainability representative of Skål Spain. From the daily reality of a hotel establishment, what does truly sustainable tourism mean to you, and how can we move sustainability from talk to practice?
It is both very simple and very difficult. It all depends on awareness: the awareness of individuals, professionals, the sector as a whole and society around us.
Sustainability is often understood solely in terms of the environment and nature, when in reality it encompasses almost every aspect of our lives. A perfect environment means little if we disregard the working conditions of professionals, overlook cultural values or sacrifice the unique character of a community for economic or political reasons.
We must look at ourselves, be more consistent and respect others, always applying common sense to actions that benefit both ourselves and those around us. We are part of a community, and that sense of unity must prevail as we work towards better conditions for everyone.
Skål was born out of professional friendships and the well-known concept of “Doing Business Among Friends.” In an increasingly digital professional world, does meeting in person, getting to know each other, and building relationships of trust still hold value?
Personally, I believe that the spirit of Skål is what truly keeps it alive. We live in a highly competitive society, where globalization and individualism can erode camaraderie and friendship.
Skål, through its different areas of activity, helps you become a better colleague and, I believe, a better person. The support and friendship it offers, even among professionals who compete with one another, reflect a profoundly human philosophy.
Skål clubs have a long history, but they also need to evolve. What do you think we should change to attract new professionals and ensure they find Skål a useful space to network, share experiences, and create opportunities?
Everything changes and evolves in life. We have to adapt and take advantage of all the tools at our disposal to improve and avoid making mistakes.
Since Skål was founded, professions, the profile of tourism professionals and the activities we undertake have all changed. However, the people and the philosophy of the club remain. We must preserve that essence while strengthening it by embracing the opportunities offered by new technologies.
If you had a tourism professional in front of you who didn't yet know Skål, what would you say to explain why it's worthwhile to be part of this organization?
Well, quite simply, I would give them this interview to read so they could understand what our philosophy is all about. I would also explain that becoming a better professional means continually acquiring knowledge, and that much of this knowledge comes precisely from engaging with other professionals.
We are an organisation built around teamwork, and we strive to become better professionals. That is what we are focused on.
When your time at the helm of Skål Sevilla comes to an end, what would you like to have contributed and what kind of club would you like to leave for those who continue the journey?
I would like to have contributed to improving the club both professionally and in terms of the number and quality of its members: people and professionals who are committed to continuous improvement, sharing experiences and contributing together to the development of the sector.
Finally, complete this sentence: “For me, Skål is...”
For me, Skål is the soul of tourism.