Kabir Mulchandani came to Ibiza for the first time 20 years ago to enjoy his holidays. Little could he have imagined then that, two decades later, he would become the owner of one of the great nightclubs he visited on that trip: Pacha Ibiza. Since last October, Mulchandami has been the owner of the Pacha Group. The Indian-born businessman faces this new phase of the legendary Ibizan discotheque with respect and responsibility for a business that he does not hesitate to describe as historic, and he explains to Periódico de Ibiza y Formentera what he felt when he acquired the group and the challenges he has set for the future.
-For those who don't know you yet, could you tell us who Kabir Mulchandani is?
-First of all, I am a husband and father of four wonderful children. Over the last 30 years I have done many different things.
Hospitality has always been something I have always loved. During my life I have travelled a lot and enjoyed my stays in different hotels. In this way, about 20 years ago, I realised that I could dedicate myself to something I really like: enjoying the pleasure of making my guests happy. Seeing the satisfied faces of our guests, whether in hotels or in nightclubs, is the greatest gratification I can receive.
-Did that lead you to take over the leisure and hotel division of the Pacha Group?
-That's right, as everyone knows, the Pacha Group is more than just nightclubs, it also has a hotel division and that's what I do. I love Ibiza, its freedom, its spirituality, the special energy it transmits. From the beginning, working in Ibiza was a personal desire rather than a simple business transaction. For that reason, I have been working to get here for a long time. Even before Triatlantic decided to sell the Pacha Group. In fact, I had been proposing it to them since 2021.
I have been coming to Ibiza for years as a tourist. In 2018 I was at Destination Ibiza to pick up ideas for pool parties and it was really inspiring to see what they do in Ibiza.
-What was your first decision when you took over Pacha Ibiza?
-The first thing I did when I bought Pacha was to put the focus on the Pacha Foundation. To be honest, I didn't realise the challenges Ibiza was going through. If you look at the island from one side you only see the huge amounts of money that the tourist industry brings in. However, it is not a balanced income for the island. That's why I think we should give back to the island the profit that tourism generates for us. On the other hand, for me it has always been very important to redistribute the wealth that is created by the company beyond increasing the salaries of our employees. That's why we also give them the opportunity to actively participate and be part of the Pacha Group.
-Did you know Pacha before its acquisition?
-Yes, I spent many nights at Pacha as a client, although I can't remember them all [laughs]. As I told you, I was also at Destino Ibiza, which was an apprenticeship for me.
-What are your medium and long-term plans for Pacha?
-The happiness and satisfaction of our customers must be our goal at all levels, whether we are talking about hotels or nightclubs. If I had to sum it up in a few words, the aim is for our customers to feel 'blessed' after the experience they have had in our establishments. Our business is not like a shopkeeper who buys something and then sells it. It is about feelings.
-This season will be your first season as owner of Pacha, do you have anything new planned?
-Yes, there will be new things, but I can't reveal them yet. In general terms I can tell you that we are going to give a special space to the Flower Power brand.
-What would be the motto or the spirit that you hope to transmit to the Pacha Group family?
-For me, the most important thing is creativity, inclusiveness, collaboration and teamwork without judgement. These are the values I would like to pass on to the Pacha family.
-You recently met the founder of Pacha, Ricardo Urgell. Tell me what that meeting was like?
-We met at the same discotheque. It was during the Christmas event that is organised every year for the children. He is a great host and received me very warmly. It was a very emotional meeting for both of us. For my part, I felt the great responsibility of taking over the baton of his great creation, something that for him has a very sentimental component. I felt the passion he feels for everything he has created. Creating a business is like having a child that you see being born and growing up under your care. So now I can only treat his legacy as if it were my own child. Ricardo Urgell is an example of success and I can only respect his work. He created a most powerful brand based on creativity. Behind its walls there is a lot of history and that is the true richness of Pacha. Before I met Ricardo Urgell I already had a lot of respect for him and, after meeting him, I have even more respect for him.
-One of your first decisions was to increase the resources for the Pacha Foundation. Can you tell us how much these resources have increased and what objectives have been set for the foundation?
-Resources have increased by 300%. Beyond the increase in resources, we are working to involve our partners in different businesses. For example, banks and other businesses, who we are encouraging to increase their support with the idea of increasing resources by 600% or 700%. I am also meeting with the mayors of the different municipalities to understand the real needs of the island. I am aware that there are needs and there is no one better than them to explain to me where these needs are. However, beyond offering them the financial resources, we will leave it to the members of the Pacha Foundation to distribute them according to their needs. No one better than them to assess where the money and resources should go.
-Do you plan to expand Pacha in other parts of Europe?
-There are some things you can't expand. Pacha Ibiza is too special. It has too much history. You can't export the energy of 50 years of hundreds of people having fun at Pacha. I haven't bought Pacha to turn it into a franchise. If there is to be an expansion it will be very careful, selective and respectful. Pacha is a brand that must be cared for and preserved, it does not deserve to be a simple economic exploitation. For the moment, this year we will focus on Ibiza.
-You have told us that you have been to Ibiza on several occasions, what connection or link do you have with Ibiza?
-Over time I have developed a very special connection with Ibiza. The beauty of this island is that you never feel like a foreigner here. No one judges you by where you come from, your gender or the colour of your skin. This doesn't happen in other places. Ibiza, although it is a very small island, is very international and I have always felt very welcome here.
-You've already given us a hint about this, but what do you like most about Ibiza?
-What I like the most is hiking. Walking in Ibiza in the morning breathing fresh air and then jumping into the sea is something that, for me, makes Ibiza one of the best places I've ever been in my life.
-Any advice for those who are considering starting their own business?
-To start any business you need to be persevering and committed. But to be committed to something you must love it. The only goal should never be money. In any business there are problems and challenges that you can't even imagine. Every time you expect a problem on one side, it comes out the other. If you don't truly love what you do, it is impossible to deal with the stress and challenges that can arise.