From a Private Home to a Shared Vision
The Story
For nearly 50 years, Christian Völkers built Engel & Völkers into one of the world's leading real estate brands. The work took him across the world, to extraordinary places and to remarkable people from many different cultures and backgrounds. Over time, he came to understand that the true value of a place is not defined by architecture alone, nor by its location or beauty. What makes a place special is the way it makes us feel. The places we remember most are those that create a sense of belonging, inspire us, bring people together, and allow us to feel completely at ease. This understanding shaped not only his professional life, but his view of hospitality – and from it came a simple idea: to create places where the feeling of being at home could be experienced beyond the walls of a private residence. For decades, Christian and Ninon Völkers welcomed family and friends to their home, Son Coll, in Mallorca. Again and again, they saw how meaningful moments come of warmth, generosity, and effortless hospitality. Over time, a conviction took shape: this feeling should not be reserved for a private home. It could become the foundation of a hospitality concept in its own right. This vision became The Völkers House. A natural evolution of the world they have built over decades, it is a place where hospitality is personal, where freedom matters more than formality, and where guests feel genuinely cared for without ever feeling directed.
There could be no better setting for the first The Völkers House than Mallorca – an island that has played a special role in both Christian Völkers' personal life and his entrepreneurial journey. Here, together with Ninon and a team of internationally renowned architects, designers, and hospitality experts, they have created a retreat inspired by nature, design, wellbeing, sport, and the art of "time well spent". Yet this estate is only the beginning. The Völkers House is the first chapter of a broader vision. In the years to come, others will follow in carefully selected destinations around the world. Each will have its own character, while sharing the same philosophy: creating places that bring people together and foster meaningful, long-term relationships beyond real estate. The Völkers House is privately owned by the Völkers family and guided by a long-term commitment to quality, authenticity, and personal hospitality. While operating independently from the Engel & Völkers Group, both worlds remain closely connected through the values that have always guided the company – passion, competence, exclusivity, and trusted relationships. An estate rooted in tradition, dedicated to the art of living well.
“The ambition was never to build a hotel. It was to create a setting where guests feel the ease of a friend’s home – only with more space to breathe, and the freedom to fully engage with life.”
- Christian Völkers
