COFFEE BREAK WITH... Ricard Abellan, Hotel Consultant

When did you join Christie & Co?

March 2022.

Where were you when you accepted your role at Christie & Co?

I started out as an intern, so I was still at university in sunny Marbella.

What was your first job?

Since the age of 16, I have worked in the events and entertainment industry, serving clients at international gatherings such as the Mobile World Congress (lots of canapés) and FC Barcelona football matches. At the same time, I held a PR role at a nightclub.

In a couple of sentences, can you tell us a bit about your job at Christie & Co?

I work in the Hotel Consultancy team at Christie & Co, based in the Barcelona office, covering instructions across Spain and Portugal. It’s a really interesting job with exposure to a wide range of hospitality projects and a great pan-European team that’s a pleasure to work with.

What’s your favourite thing about Christie & Co?

At Christie & Co, I feel I get plenty of opportunities to learn and grow - something that’s not always easy to find elsewhere. The management team is always open to letting me take on new initiatives and gives me the freedom to lead projects.

What's a favourite project that you’ve worked on at Christie & Co so far?

So far, my favourite projects have been the pan-European ones, where we’ve collaborated with other Christie & Co offices across Europe. I really enjoy the chance to connect with colleagues from different countries.

What’s been the biggest challenge of your career so far?

One of the biggest challenges for me was transitioning from being an intern to a Hotel Consultant, where ownership and independence are key in every project. It was a big shift in my professional life, and the support from senior team members was truly invaluable in helping me adapt and grow into the role.

How has the industry changed since you started at Christie & Co?

The hotel industry is constantly evolving and was deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and emerging sustainability trends. During that time, we shifted from a fully on-site environment to a hybrid working style, with fewer business trips and more online meetings. Still, in the post-COVID hospitality world, many professionals truly value in-person interactions, which highlights how important face-to-face meetings are when building strong client relationships at Christie & Co.

Tell us a bit about your life outside work – what are your hobbies?

Gaming, wine tasting, anime, snowboarding and cats (shoutout to my lovely cat “Yuri”).

What’s your hometown? Where do you live now?

My hometown is Sabadell, a small city in the Barcelona province. I currently live in Barcelona city centre.

Where’s the best place you’ve been on holiday?

I went to South Korea with my girlfriend – what a lovely country!

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Aggressive drivers and loud music on public transport!

If you could live and work in any city, where would you go?

Seoul.

What would be your desert island meal?

Spicy pork kimchi soup with white rice as a starter, tortilla de patatas with caramelized onions as the main course and my mom’s tiramisú as dessert.

What’s your favourite film?

It's not one film, but I love The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

What is one thing on your bucket list?

Night snowboarding in Japan.

What’s your social media platform of choice?

I love Reddit, especially the subreddits where I can interact with people from around the world who share the same hobbies as me.

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