People Management Award 2023
Mijas Campus: the most innovative project of ILUNION Hotels
"We live in a society that is advancing at a faster pace every day, and in which it is increasingly complicated to understand all the terminology that is being incorporated. There are still many people who associate sustainability only with the environmental sphere."
- José Ángel Preciados, CEO of ILUNION Hotels
More than a year has passed since ILUNION, which integrates all the companies of ONCE and its Foundation, launched Campus Mijas, the training project of ILUNION Hotels with which they have managed to become a benchmark in talent management, winning the award in the category of People Management in the third edition of the Traveling for Happiness Awards.
The innovative commitment to training and inclusion reflects a tangible commitment to the development of talent, in line with the brand's usual commitment. At the Hotel ILUNION Hacienda de Mijas, a large Andalusian farmhouse located in the municipality of Mijas, in the heart of the Costa del Sol, a classroom learning space has been implemented with the aim of enhancing the company's internal talent. This place has become a hub to provide training adapted to the different profiles present in ILUNION hotels.
Focusing on people
To speak of Campus Mijas is to refer to an immersive center in which the proximity between participants and trainers, in a unique and natural environment, is closely linked to the success of the initiative, which goes beyond internal training by dreaming of inspiring other companies in the tourism sector.
Developed in a holiday environment, the challenge of transforming part of the hotel into an educational campus demonstrates the creative capacity of its team, in addition to ILUNION Hotels ' commitment to inclusion. It is important to note that more than 70% of the employees of this Special Employment Center (CEE) have some type of disability.
In collaboration with operations management, the people area of ILUNION Hotels launched this training project linked to the improvement of its value proposition, something that the company's CEO, José Ángel Preciados, recalls: "We believed that one of the key elements was to create a space outside Madrid in which our teams at any level could develop and improve their knowledge and skills. That idea turned into a training center that was given a lot of resources.
This training development contributes to improving the work environment and the employee experience. So far, Campus Mijas has received more than 700 students, giving them the opportunity to learn different languages in a privileged environment and establish new personal ties. With the purpose of building a better world with everyone includedILUNION Hotels continues to move forward with its commitment to a model of universal accessibility in which diversity is well present, also becoming an inspiring model towards a more inclusive and sustainable world.
One of the training rooms at Campus Mijas. Photo: Antonio Martos
Towards a more inclusive tourism industry
"We live in a society that is advancing faster every day, and in which it is increasingly complicated to understand all the terminology that is being incorporated. There are still many people who associate sustainability only with the environmental sphere. That's why we want to inspire the sector and make it understand that sustainability has to do with people, with good governance, with economic profitability... in short, that it involves protecting those around us," says the CEO of ILUNION Hotels.
Placing talent management at the center is fundamental to achieve a more sustainable world, which implies constantly improving the knowledge and skills of the teams. At ILUNION Hotels, this premise is carried out by integrating those who face greater difficulties in the labor market. A clear example of this are workers from countries such as Afghanistan, Ukraine or Syria, who need to be fluent in Spanish in order to perform their duties effectively.
The company has established itself, on its own merits, as a benchmark in people management, embodying its commitment to inclusion and sustainability. Through initiatives such as Campus Mijas, the ILUNION Hacienda de Mijas Hotel can serve as a model of a unique learning space in which to promote training and talent development, reminding us that tourism companies can go beyond their usual activity and become agents of change that inspire the sector to understand sustainability as a comprehensive commitment, encompassing social, economic and environmental aspects, and ultimately protecting and promoting the well-being of all parties involved.
Panoramic view of the swimming pool at Hotel ILUNION Hacienda de Mijas, where the working environment and employee experience are two of the main pillars of the project. Photo: Ilunion Hotels