“You learn firsthand from us about our history, about our traditions, about why things are done in a certain way. Where we go as locals, which restaurants we go to, what we eat, what we do in our spare time. It's the art and the pleasure of giving, I feel very proud and honored and lucky to live where I live. And I want to share that experience with as many people as possible so they can take a little bit back with them wherever they go home to.”
We’re in great company with Mar Suau, the second-generation owner of Son Brull, a rural sanctuary of relaxed luxury in the heart of the Mediterranean. What was once an 18th-century monastery is now a Relais & Châteaux hotel and spa surrounded by vineyards, orchards, and olive groves—the quintessence of what is authentically Mallorcan.
And for those looking to adventure beyond their stay, Mar is also the founder of The Ventourist, where she curates select active experiences across Spain and invites guests to go beyond Son Bull to discover the best of Spain—exploring incredible landscapes and uncovering local secrets.
In this episode, Mar shares with us a peek inside an island life she has always known, yet one many of us only ever dream of—a truly genuine host with a humble pride and passionate responsibility as she considers the legacy she hopes to leave behind.
Top Takeaways
[2:15] Born into hospitality, Mar was practically raised in hotels alongside her brothers—spending weekends and holidays in her father's properties, playing imaginary 'hotel' as a child, and watching guests return year after year as they became like family.
[5:15] How a crumbling monastery captured Mar's father's imagination for years until fate finally allowed him to rescue this abandoned jewel—unveiling during renovation the whispered secrets and hidden treasures behind its walls.
[9:25] As the last independent luxury hotel owned and operated by locals on an island increasingly claimed by international brands, Mar carries her family legacy forward with a bittersweet pride—honored to preserve genuine Mallorcan hospitality and hopeful for a more authentic future.
[13:30] From dawn to dusk at Son Brull, guests drift between moments of peaceful solitude among the gardens to convivial encounters with local life.
[17:45] Once sustaining monks with its bounty, Son Brull's rejuvenated land now flourishes again after decades of abandonment—from olive groves to orchards, beehives to vineyards—all creating a living tapestry inviting guests to embrace the timeless rhythm of Mallorcan terroir.
[24:40] Through The Ventourist, Mar extends her hospitality beyond Son Brull's walls by crafting tailormade active journeys across Spain—all guided by her belief that sharing her homeland through local eyes is 'the art of giving,' allowing travelers to carry authentic pieces of Spanish life home.
