The Marbella Club, the Costa del Sol’s first luxury hotel, was largely responsible for the Andalusian city’s transition from sleepy fishing town to glitzy enclave. But the hotel retains an air of quiet elegance that can be traced back to its origins as a farmhouse, which prince and businessman Alfonso Hohenlohe bought in 1947.

Here, at the tip of southern Europe, 700 members of staff look after 131 rooms, 16 villas, nine restaurants, three swimming pools, 13 boutiques, a spa, a beach club and a kids’ club, among four hectares of lush gardens. “Much more than in any other business, it’s all about the people in a luxury hotel,” says the hotel’s general manager, Julián Cabanillas. The hotel’s 6:1 staff-to-guest ratio is meant to provide gentle support rather than a smothering presence. “Our team has got to know the clients over the years,” says Cabanillas. “We have a 40 per cent return rate.”

In his view, there’s a link between good staff retention and the warm hospitality that guests reconnect with every time they return to the Marbella Club. This harks back to the standard of service established by Hohenlohe, who converted his rural residence into a hotel in 1954. During his tenure he recreated the elegance and intimacy of his family’s former home, fostering an exclusive atmosphere that attracted fellow aristocrats as well as high-profile jet-setters including film stars Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn.

For the past 71 years the Marbella Club has set the benchmark for elevated Spanish hospitality. For Cabanillas, maintaining a space that reflects the surrounding landscape and local traditions is key to its success. “I want guests to feel that they are in an authentic place,” he says. As such, El Patio restaurant has interiors with décor by regional artisans, the gastronomy is decidedly Mediterranean and indigo mosaics evoke the area’s Islamic heritage. Thanks to this dedication to an Andalusian experience, most diners at the Marbella Club are residents of the area. “If you listen to the guests’ needs, it becomes an easy job,” says Cabanillas.
marbellaclub.com

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Julián Cabanillas
General manager
Originally from Barcelona, Cabanillas has been the general manager of the Marbella Club for 10 years. He is also responsible for managing several new Spanish properties under the hotel’s umbrella and bringing them up to the Marbella’s standards. His 26 years of experience in the hotel business has given him a well-rounded understanding of what makes the high-end leisure market tick. 

1.
Francisco Santiago Corrale, Maintenance, “Ensures facility structures and day-to-day operations run smoothly.”

2.
Cristina Vázquez, Housekeeper, “Third-generation staffer who is proud to keep guest spaces sparkling clean.”

3.
Francisco Javier Fernández Piña, Gardening team manager, “Leads the maintenance of more than 300 plant species.”

4.
Eduardo Martín, Accountant, “Balances thousands of suppliers to keep everyone happy.”

5.
Ángel González, Head sommelier, “One of Spain’s top ambassadors of wine culture.”

6.
Pilar León, Head of retail and brand relationships, “Develops strategy for heritage brands such as Chanel to establish on-site boutiques.”

7.
Santiago Guerrero, Executive chef, “Brings life and individual personality to each restaurant.”

8.
Marta Arrese, Kids’ club director, “Creates experiences for children that are on a par with those of their parents.”

9.
José Luis Calatayud, Concierge, “Manages the arrival team, which provides guests with their first impressions of the resort.”

10.
Leigh Barrett, Head of sustainability, “Oversees our sustainability levels to help us achieve renewable certifications, such as the Butterfly Mark.” 

11.
Daniel Jiménez, Villa host, “Customises the experience of guests staying in the villas – the hotels within the hotel.”

12.
Raquel Peña, Director of wellness, “Connects the dots between fitness, the spa and meditation.”

13.
Miguel Rodríguez, Gardener, “Looks after the hotel’s botanical legacy with a smile.”