For his lifetime of dedication to the tourism industry, Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, the visionary behind Meliá Hotels International, was bestowed the Duarte, Sánchez, and Mella Medal of Merit by Dominican President Luis Abinader in 2022. (File photo)
Santo Domingo.- Dominican President Luis Abinader expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, founder of Meliá Hotels International. In a social media post, Abinader praised Escarrer as a “great hotelier but above all a great human being: visionary, entrepreneurial, and deeply committed to social causes.”
“I regret the passing of Gabriel Escarrer, founder of Meliá Hotels International, a great hotelier but above all a great human being: visionary, entrepreneurial, and deeply committed to social causes. A valuable ally of the Dominican Republic. His dedication and legacy will continue to inspire future generations. My deepest condolences to his family and peace to his soul,” the president tweeted.
Dominican Tourism Minister David Collado also expressed his condolences, calling Escarrer “one of the brightest lights in the history of tourism.”
Cuban president pays tribute
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel joined in mourning the loss of Escarrer, describing him as a “friend” and praising his contributions to the tourism sector in Cuba.
“My condolences to his family, friends, and the Meliá family, all shocked by the passing of Gabriel Escarrer, a world leader in the tourism sector,” Díaz-Canel wrote on X.
Meliá Hotels International operates approximately 30 hotels in Cuba, with nearly 7,000 rooms.
A legacy built from the ground up
Escarrer founded Meliá Hotels International at the tender age of 21 in 1956, starting with a small 60-room hotel in his native Mallorca. Nearly seven decades later, the group boasts a portfolio of approximately 350 hotels across 37 countries.
Under Escarrer’s leadership, Meliá consolidated its dominance in Spain before expanding into the Americas and Southeast Asia. Today, it is the largest hotel chain in Spain by room count and the third largest in Europe.
Key milestones in the company’s growth include the acquisition of Hoteles Agrupados SA (Hotasa) in 1984 and Meliá Hotels in 1987, which significantly expanded the company’s footprint. Escarrer also played a pivotal role in the company’s initial public offering in 1996.
In 2016, Escarrer stepped down from executive duties, handing the reins to his son, Gabriel Escarrer Jaume. However, he continued to serve as non-executive chairman until 2023.
Despite stepping back from day-to-day operations, Escarrer remained a highly respected figure in the hospitality industry. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the King of Spain’s Award for Entrepreneurial Achievement in 2022.
The tourism sector has lost a visionary leader whose legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.