Pepe was the third of four children in the Colomar family who were farmers in the Atzaró valley. Pepe’s father loaded his produce on a cart, and took it to Ibiza town where Don Ernesto Hernandez weighed it and put it in storage. Only after it was sold would Pepe’s father get paid.

Life was hard. There was even no money to buy shoes for the children, so footwear was created by using the rubber from old bicycle tires for the sole, and string for the top. At least the children did not have to walk to school barefoot. Having lived in Algeria, Pepe’s Father spoke French at home, and as a result the children learned fluent French, Spanish and Ibicenco. Fast forward to when Pepe was 18, and went to Palma with his father to enrol in the School of Commerce. Walking down the main road they bumped into Don Ernesto, who by then was living in Mallorca, and owned a big share in the prestigious five star Hotel Formentor. He liked Pepe, so he found him accommodation, treated him like a son and gave him a job as receptionist in the hotel when he graduated.

There was an American writer in his sixties named Temple Fielding who was living near the hotel while working on a Travel Guide for Europe. He checked his mail at the hotel reception every day, and, despite their age difference, he and Pepe became friends. After four years of working at the hotel Pepe longed to explore Europe. Mr Fielding had written about the best hotels in Europe, and recommended Pepe for jobs at luxury hotels in the countries where he wanted to go: Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and most of all Paris. Hungry for learning, Pepe bought books and read avidly, becoming fluent in German and English. This knowledge of several languages and their cultures was a huge asset that helped him throughout his life. By the time Pepe was twenty-five he had made important contacts and saved a little nest egg. While in Mallorca he met a pretty English model named Olive who walked like the classical ballerina that she was. Being handsome and confident he thought he could easily woo her. However, he was taken aback when she said No to his first advances, and then did so again. This challenge made his infatuation even stronger. The unattainable bachelor from Ibiza had met his match and fallen in love. They eventually married, became a great team and had two daughters, Vanessa in 1973 and Cristina in 1975.

After many years abroad Pepe missed his parents and the island, so he and Olive returned to Ibiza. Together with a friend they decided to invest in some land near the Santa Eulalia river. This became the location for their project of building a new hotel. Many skilled workers were needed, so Pepe went to the mainland to recruit carpenters, builders, plumbers and electricians, for whom accommodations were built. Despite many obstacles, the beautiful four star Hotel Fenicia was completed and opened in 1968. When the Hotel Fenicia was sold, Pepe was free to create his true dream: a hotel that stayed open all year to take care of visitors in every season. This is how the sumptuous four star Royal Plaza Hotel in Ibiza Town was envisioned, and it is still going strong today.

Pepe reflects on the fact that as a young man he was helped by people who appreciated that he was conscientious and trustworthy. “I had no experience, but I worked all over Europe and learned a lot. I was the same with everyone, and despite encountering many problems I always treated the person in front of me with respect and told the truth.” Life was good to Pepe and he in turn was good to life. He has funded or supported many worthy causes on Ibiza. These include being the founder of Ibiza and Formentera Against Cancer, which raises large sums of money for cancer patients and their families. He also promoted the island economy by launching and supporting Adlib fashion.

 

Pepe helped to put the name Ibiza on the international map, and has been widely recognized for those efforts. He was President of Skål, which is the largest association of tourism professionals in the world, and in 2023 was named the Best Hotel Director in Europe. But the most touching accolade was the honorific title of Ibiza’s Favourite Son (Hijo Predilecto de Ibiza) bestowed on him in 2015. People say of him: “If he saw people in need Pepe helped them without asking anything in return. If a young person behaved in an improper manner, Pepe gave them responsibilities, to which this person could rise.” The Ibicenco child without shoes reached the top through determination and hard work, coupled with integrity and kindness. Pepe Colomar is without doubt worthy of being Ibiza’s Favourite Son.