Rafael Nadal launches his own hotel chain
Rafael Nadal is set to grow his global empire by collaborating with Meliá Hotels International on a new lifestyle brand and hotel chain.
The new resorts and urban hotels under the lifestyle hotel brand ZEL in Madrid will make its premiere in Spain before moving on to new locations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and America.
Strategic international partners with a focus on food and beverage, design, wellness, and technology will also be a part of the joint venture between the two worldwide brand identities, which both have their origins in Mallorca.
“As a Spaniard, a Mallorcan, and a global traveler, the launch of our hotel brand is a project I have had in mind for a long time. ZEL is synonymous with feeling good at all times and enjoying life and how we live it throughout the Mediterranean,” Nadal said at the launch.
“I was really attracted to this new concept that we have been working on with Meliá from the start. I’m confident that ZEL will be a great success and will achieve considerable growth and be enjoyed by all of our guests, which is why we are creating it.”
The hotel chain are delighted to partner with Nadal for what they feel will be a big win in the lifestyle and holiday industry.
“The result of combining the inspirational leadership of Rafael Nadal and Meliá’s 65 years’ worth of experience in creating luxury hotels and in hotel management is the unique brand we present today,” said Gabriel Escarrer, CEO of Meliá Hotels International.
“Travelers will love it, and we will surprise new generations with this innovative hotel brand which is full of energy and has a new interpretation of well-being and a sustainable business model. We are happy to finally be able to announce our partnership in this project with an icon on both a personal and sporting level, such as Rafa.”
The partnership’s stated goal is to open more than 20 hotels in the next five years, concentrating on “bleisure” hotels in strategic locations in Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Asia that draw high-end leisure tourists. The first ZEL hotel will debut in Mallorca in 2023, with a concentration on the Mediterranean coast and in major cities like Madrid, Paris, and London.
With a passion for the great outdoors, incredible cuisine, architecture, and design, as well as a constant connection to nature, the sky, and the sea, the new launch focuses on being ambassadors of Mediterranean values and lifestyle. The hope is that ZEL will develop into an experience that feels like a home away from home and is reminiscent of the Mediterranean way of life, with each property emphasizing a courtyard as the center of the flow and interaction.
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