In 1956, at just 21 years old, Escarrer Juliá began his entrepreneurial journey by renting a modest hotel in Palma de Mallorca, an island that would become the cornerstone of Meliá's identity. Thanks to a strategic vision blending innovation and diversification, he transformed this venture into a hotel group present in more than 40 countries. He successfully positioned Meliá as a major player, not only in Spain but also in key markets such as the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.
“I have always had the ambition to make our company a major hotel chain capable of competing with large foreign multinational corporations. The internationalization of the company is part of our identity. The early opening of our first hotel abroad, Meliá Bali in Indonesia in 1985, opened the doors to international expansion and allowed us to gain considerable notoriety, placing us among the top ten global hotel chains. Today, we are present in much of the world and are among the ‘top 20’ global hotel groups, with the company’s cutting-edge hotel portfolio proudly carrying the Marca España across all five continents.” - Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, excerpt from his book My Life. The Story of the Man Who Created the Largest Spanish Hotel Group.
In 2016, he handed over the executive management of the company to his son, Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, while remaining non-executive chairman. In 2023, he retired completely from the Board of Directors and was unanimously appointed Honorary Chairman. This transition symbolized a family-led management structure rooted in continuity and preparing future generations.
In 2018, Gabriel Escarrer Juliá made a pivotal decision by transferring nearly 47% of the family’s shares to his descendants. This initiative aimed to maintain the company’s family character while consolidating its independence and core values.
Throughout his career, Gabriel Escarrer Juliá was recognized for his impact on the tourism industry, receiving numerous prestigious awards, including the title of "Tourism Personality of the Century" in 1998, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Professional Recognition trophy at the Hospitality Awards in 2012, a distinction given in recognition of his exceptional career as the founder and president of Meliá Hotels International.
In 2020, he published an autobiography entitled My Life. The Story of the Man Who Created the Largest Spanish Hotel Group, where he shared his experience, vision, and commitment to the hospitality sector:
“I never imagined, when I decided over fifty years ago to embark on this exciting journey in the hotel industry, that I would have the opportunity to create a company as important as Meliá Hotels International (MHI) is today. Present in forty-five countries, with a portfolio of more than three hundred hotels, over two hundred thousand beds, and more than forty-five thousand jobs created, one can say that our company is now a leading player in the tourism sector. When analyzing the reasons why a young man like me, at just twenty-one years old, starting from nothing, was able to create a leading company in the hotel industry—both in Spain and internationally—I would undoubtedly highlight two factors: healthy ambition and extraordinary consistency. These two qualities allowed me to realize this dream, which today has become Meliá Hotels International.”
Gabriel Escarrer Juliá’s passion for hospitality was reflected in his constant focus on innovation and customer satisfaction. He also contributed to the digital transformation of the industry, with Meliá being a pioneer in Spain in creating digital platforms and introducing new approaches such as the buffet. Under the current leadership of his son, Meliá Hotels International continues to embody the principles of its founder, evolving to meet modern challenges while staying true to Gabriel Escarrer Juliá's legacy.
Meliá Hotels International
