Agustin Risco and the Es Moli Hotel in Deia
Published in the Majorca Daily Bulletin
Sunday 16th October 2016
Fifty years ago the village of Deia was alive and contributing to all the arts. Music, poetry, writing, sculpture, archaeology and much more were thriving in this mountain retreat. The accessibility of Deia meant that once people arrived they largely stayed. Buses were few and it was just as easy to get around in a donkey cart. The hotels in Deia were small and guest houses offering full board to impoverished artists were the norm.
Sa Fonda in its time offered rooms and three meals a day for a pittance and the bills were paid at the end of the month when the GI Bill paid up. America was grateful to its soldiers and after the war funded education for many including artists who chose to continue their education in Europe. These monthly remittances kept Deia going for years after many of their own sons and daughters left to find work in other places.It was into this world came the Nelscamp family, fifty years ago, on a visit from Germany. They were enchanted by Deia and a run down Manor House which was for sale. Their ambition on buying the place was a first class renovation because that was their speciality. They had access to all the state of the art progress being made in the construction industry at the time. They were part of that world and this was their delight and challenge to take the fine elements of the past and then enhance them with what was then technically possible.
The Es Moli started its life as a huge renovation project. The installation of the largest swimming pool in the Tramuntana region still delights guests today and was a project that all the locals gathered to see. This was the time when concrete was king and this one-piece concrete pool being delivered to the village of Deia made front page news. The design of the heating system for the hotel running alongside the water storage for the pool meant that not only was this the largest pool around but it was heated.Today the pool continues to be heated for the coolest months of spring and autumn in the mountains and is well used because of this.
The Es Moli grounds cover 15, 000 sq. mts and are beautiful gardens with peaceful places to relax and unwind. From the road you could never see the delights this place has to offer. Over 80 bedrooms mean that many people enjoy their holidays here but rarely see one another – unless they want to.When the Es Moli opened it was the first large hotel in the area and introduced a very different clientele. The existing smaller places such as Can Quet, Villa Verde, Can Gelat and Can Oliver had their fans but existed on a much smaller scale The English travellers loved it from day one and once they found the spot they returned year after year. These days the families are in the third generation of returners.
Into this world twenty-five years ago came Agustin Risco. A Hotel graduate who had spent his early career on the east coast nearer to his home base of Felanitx. Agustin was deciding on his career path and because of his qualifications and language skills he received many offers from the prestigious hotel companies of Majorca. He chose the private hotel route of the Es Moli and is still delighted that he did. Corporate businesses raise standards and set the pace for the star rating of hotels but for Agustin that was never going to be enough. For him the hospitality industry meant connections with staff and guests with everyone being treated as an individual.
The ethos of the Es Moli which came from the fact that the owners passionately loved the place and wanted everyone to enjoy their time within it filtered through the management team and all the employees. This was inspirational to Agustin and enabled him to lead a team who were encouraged to be professional at all times but allow their own personality to shine through. He wanted his staff to chat to the guests and help them get the best out of their time in the Es Moli. The staff ratio to guests is huge in this place and over 95 people make this place run in the Es Moli time honoured tradition.
The challenge for 2017 is to develop the hotel in its winter annual refurbishment to reflect more of what todays visitors look for. New generations are looking for technology to accompany their relaxation together with the most modern bathroom fittings. The winter refurbishment programme means that every year returning guests can see that the hotel is thinking about them in all the work that is done.La Fuenta Es Moli is a great feature of this place and one they share with the village of Deia. The water shortages of the past few years in the hot summers always pass the Es Moli by. They have the fountain of Es Moli which rushes from the mountains and even overflows in the winter. The water never stops and comes from sources within the mountains that cannot be traced. There are no true rivers in Majorca so the quest for the beginning of this water supply is an enigma. The Es Moli guests enjoy natural spring water to bathe and shower in and the swimming pool is filled with this too. When water shortages happen in Deia this spring water is shared with the Town Council to distribute where necessary and helps the summer problem.
The staff of this hotel have an exceptional record for longevity. It really is very common for people to have their whole life careers here and celebrations of employees working 25 years are held every year. Agustin himself has recently celebrated his 50th birthday and his twenty-fifth year with Es Moli. He and his staff are very conscious that their work now is to make sure that everything is in place for the next generation of guest and staff member so that all they have learned can be expanded upon.
The hospitality industry changes depending on those who have the money to travel and the political decisions of this year in the UK may mean changes to the clients who will use the hotel. The client base is so firm and secure that this is unlikely but must be thought about.
The Es Moli Hotel is an old friend of Deia and sees itself at the heart of this magical place. The team, led by Agustin are delighted that people leave, having caught the Deia passion, only to return again. This is what makes their work, passion and effort so worthwhile.The next fifty years begin now and the future belongs to those currently enjoying all the Es Moli has to offer and those that come after them and discover what the fuss is all about.
All we know is that this innovative team will learn, adapt and grow alongside the new generations of visitors and keep true to their core values. Personal service and individual respect will never go out of fashion.
