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Joan Trian Riu: “Cape Verde and its ‘morabeza’ have marked the history of RIU”
16 December, 2025 Share
This year we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of our arrival at a destination that has marked the history of the chain: Cape Verde. With this special post, we want to bring these months of celebrations to a close, paying tribute to this valuable country, but above all to the talent of our colleagues, who have made this project a success.
RIU in Cape Verde: a little history
It was in 2005 when we enthusiastically opened the doors of our first hotel on Sal Island, the Riu Funana. Since then, alongside the country, we have travelled a path of learning. We have also been fortunate enough to witness and participate in Cape Verde’s growth as an international tourist destination. Today, we have six hotels and more than 3,500 rooms on Sal and Boa Vista.
Over these 20 years, Cape Verde, the perfect place for a worry-free all-inclusive holiday, has become one of RIU’s most important international destinations. In the words of Joan Trian Riu, RIU’s managing director, “The destination has it all, a privileged climate, spectacular beaches, and its unparalleled morabeza”
“Our guests return time and time again because the beauty and peace they find here are unlike anywhere else in the world”
Local people and talent
If anything defines our experience in Cape Verde, it is human talent. RIU’s growth in this destination would not have been possible without the dedication of our Cape Verdean colleagues and all their talent.
And Joan Trian is well aware of this as, in 2009, “I had the privilege of working here as assistant manager at the Riu Funana Garopa. It was a decisive stage in both my professional life and my personal life. Cape Verde taught me a lot, and it’s a country I’ll always feel a connection to. Later, I had the honour of receiving Cape Verdean nationality, along with my mother Carmen Riu and my uncle Luis Riu. A gesture I will always cherish, I’m so thankful and proud.”
We cannot talk about RIU’s history in Cape Verde without mentioning Félix Casado, RIU’s managing director, who has been involved in the project since its inception. He “has been the brains and soul of RIU throughout its Cape Verdean adventure. The eyes and hands of the family from afar.”
Another key figure in our story in the destination is our colleague Carlos Almeida, RIU’s Human Resources Director in Cape Verde. Félix also mentioned him in his speech during RIU’s 20th Anniversary Gala in Cape Verde. He acknowledged the important role he played in the launch of our first hotel, being “crucial in the beginning, visiting neighbourhoods like Buena Esperanza, explaining the project and looking for potential employees. His knowledge and professionalism were vital.”
Also present were Sergio Lobenstein, Director of Operations, and Juan Carlos Dreher, Operations Delegate, “They have always demonstrated great leadership skills, approachability, and constant effort”, points out Joan. In addition, “All the teams that work in the hotels day after day are the face of the brand and the true stars of this anniversary.”
93% of the staff are from Cape Verde
But, what is more, in this destination we have seen so many of our colleagues grow. It is no secret that RIU’s expansion in a destination goes hand in hand with the training and promotion of local talent. Cape Verde is a great example of this, with 93% of its workforce being local.
“If the talent is here, we have to invest in it.”
So much so that “Many of our managers, trainers and middle managers in the islands and in other RIU destinations have grown professionally since they accepted their first position in Cape Verde. This is a reality that fills us with pride.”
In 2022, a group of 50 Cape Verde team members travelled to Senegal with the mission of opening the Riu Baobab. This is a great example: it reflects the talent that RIU is so proud of, as it shows how its staff “went from being trainees to trainers of the future RIU team members in Africa, responsible for transmitting the philosophy of the chain, to which they have contributed so much”, Trian Riu explains.
Beyond talent: morabeza
If you haven’t yet been to the archipelago, you probably don’t know what morabeza is. It is the hospitality and kindness of the Cape Verdean people that wins everyone’s hearts, and it has become the country’s main attraction. Morabeza crosses all boundaries and is present in each and every corner of this destination.
For RIU, it has been the invisible cornerstone on which our dream in the country has been built. It is the essence that has allowed us to grow, adapt and become an active part of this community. It is a non-negotiable value that we carry with us.
We arrived on Sal Island with a suitcase full of uncertainty. It was our first time in the destination and, although it was love at first sight, we were not yet aware of how we would grow and everything we would learn. Today we are the country’s largest private employer with more than 3,300 staff members, something we are very proud of. That’s why this celebration is so much more than an anniversary. It is a recognition of human relationships and the bonds built with the people who have made this journey possible.
Today we want to thank Cape Verde and all our colleagues for their loyalty and dedication over these two decades. We feel part of this wonderful land, and our goal is to keep growing together, with morabeza and commitment.
