Dreamers: Pilar Rondán

Persona sentada en un sofá claro de diseño curvo, con blusa blanca y vaqueros, las manos entrelazadas sobre el regazo. El fondo es un espacio iluminado en tonos azules suaves que crea un ambiente de estudio sencillo y acogedor.

Dreamers: Pilar Rondán, why age does not define your value or your dreams

Sometimes life forces us to pause, but never to stop. Pilar Rondán is a living example that purpose has no expiration date. At 65 years old, Pilar is not only a waitress at ILUNION Caleta Park, but a burst of energy who breaks the mold every time she starts her shift.

Pilar shares her life with two teenage grandchildren, two dogs, and a passion that surprises many: video games. Between sessions of Zelda and Final Fantasy, this multifaceted woman proves that curiosity and a desire to learn are the best tools for staying young. “They think they own the world, but they have no idea,” she remarks with that characteristic spark of humor.

The challenge of living with silence

Fifteen years ago, severe otitis left her with a 50% hearing disability and a constant ringing: tinnitus. Far from giving up, Pilar has learned to integrate that sound into her daily life. Although she sometimes has to ask people to repeat themselves, she does so with a smile.

“I try not to think about it, because if I do, I’ll go crazy,” she explains. Her attitude is a lesson in resilience and authenticity. In an environment where communication is key, she demonstrates that listening with the heart is just as important as listening with the ears.

Breaking the “ageism” barrier

Pilar’s path was not always easy. After years traveling across Catalonia assembling furniture in a van, she faced the harshest side of the labor market: rejection for being over 50 years old. It took 11 years of constant searching, during which she even began to doubt her own worth.

The opportunity arrived at age 61, during a session held by the municipal employment service (SOM) in Sant Feliu de Guíxols. That is where she discovered ILUNION Hotels. What started as a morning interview turned into a phone call that very afternoon. “I started with the same excitement as when I was 35,” she recalls emotionally.

A home at ILUNION Caleta Park

Today, Pilar is a fundamental part of the team at ILUNION Caleta Park. Her relationship with guests goes beyond service; it is a bond of affection reflected in the letters and drawings guests leave for her every year. For her, this job means everything: it is proof that senior talent brings invaluable experience and energy.

Pilar teaches us that it is never too late to start over. Her story is a reminder that, often, what we think is an end is actually the awakening of a new beginning.

“Companies should give older people a second chance. We bring experience, and we have energy to spare.”