Messi kicking goals with his hotel investments

Most people know Lionel Messi as a soccer legend for Argentina, Barcelona, Paris St Germain and now Inter Miami. 

But few are aware that twinkle-toed Messi is also a hotel mogul. 

Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, owns six properties under the MiM Hotels name. 

Until recently the hotels were managed independently by Majestic Hotel Group but from November 1 they will be managed by Spanish hotel industry giant Meliá Hotels International.

Meliá sees the potential to turn athlete branding into long-term global growth, travel news portal Skift reports. 

The agreement was announced this week. Majestic Hotel Group had managed the hotels since the brand's launch in 2017 but they will now be part of the Meliá Collection. 

Messi's portfolio includes properties in Sitges, Sotogrande, Mallorca, Ibiza, and Baqueira Beret, in Spain, as well as a hotel in Andorra. 

Each hotel features Messi-branded elements like a “Messi Suite” and sporting memorabilia.

“The strength of this alliance lies in the complementarity (is there such a word?) between the MiM Hotels and The Meliá Collection," said Gabriel Escarrer, Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International.

"Both share a common philosophy and a compelling value proposition for the most discerning travellers - driven by the inspiration of a global icon like Leo Messi and the proven expertise of a leading hospitality group like Meliá.”

See https://mimhotels.com/en

Meliá International hotel group goes even more global

Melia Hotels International, Spain's fast-growing international hotel group, has announced further ambitious global expansion of its luxury brands.

From Europe and Africa to Central America, Meliá is expanding its Iberian-accented empire.

In 2023, Meliá added to its portfolio of hotels in Tanzania with the opening of Ngorongoro Lodge Meliá Collection (above) - a design-led lodge in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.

It also celebrated the Paradisus by Meliá brand landing in Europe with openings in Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.

Continuing a commitment to growth of its luxury portfolio, Meliá is preparing to open the doors to some of its most ambitious and luxurious hotels yet: Palazzo Cordusio Gran Meliá in Milan (below), ME by Meliá properties in Lisbon and Malta, and ZEL, a new lifestyle brand and joint venture with tennis legend, Rafael Nadal.



Gran Meliá will also continue its expansion into Europe and south-east Asia with new hotels in Albania, Spain, Italy, and Vietnam.

The highly anticipated Palazzo Cordusio Gran Meliá will open its doors later this month.

Palazzo Cordusio will occupy the restored 19th-Century Palazzo Venezia, one of the city’s most iconic Renaissance buildings and formerly the headquarters of Assicurazioni Generali, close to the Piazza del Duomo and Castello Sforzesco.

The hotel will house a patisserie, bistro, cocktail bar, and a stylish rooftop bar and terrace with spectacular Duomo views.

The luxury brand has also increased its presence in Spain with Torre Melina, A Gran Meliá Hotel. The exclusive urban resort is in the heart of Barcelona and is a revamp of the former Rey Juan Carlos Hotel.

The brand also entered south-east Asia with its first opening in Vietnam: Gran Meliá Nha Trang.

André Gerondeau, Chief Operating Officer of Meliá Hotels International, said: ‘It’s an exciting time for Meliá as we embark on an ambitious expansion of our prestigious portfolio of luxury hotels, solidifying our global presence.

"The grand opening of Palazzo Cordusio, our first Gran Meliá property in Milan and restoration of one of the city’s most beautiful and historic buildings, as well as the opening of Ngorongoro Lodge, A Meliá Collection in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, reinforce our preeminent position within the luxury sector.

"With great anticipation, we set our sights on the year ahead, as we extend our signature Spanish hospitality to discerning travellers around the world."

See www.meliahotelsinternational.com

How would you like to stay with Rafael Nadal?

Diversify; diversify.

First, it was Novak Djokovic with his wine range. Now Rafael Nadal is getting into the hotel business.

The Spanish tennis great this week announced a joint venture with the Meliá Hotels International group revealing a new hotel brand: ZEL.

ZEL will be a collection of resort and urban leisure hotels which will launch in Spain next year.

There are plans for it to later expand in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and America.

The collaboration with focus on properties with Mediterranean character and the brand will also have various strategic partners in dining, wellbeing and tech.

“As a Spaniard, a Mallorcan and a global traveller, the launch of our hotel brand is a project that I have had in mind for a long while,” Nadal said.

"I was really attracted from the start to this new concept we have been working on with Meliá. I'm confident that ZEL will be a great success and will achieve considerable growth and be enjoyed by all of those travellers who stay in the hotels, which in the end is the reason we are creating it."

There are plans for more than 20 ZEL hotels over five years.

The brand aims to launch initially on the Mediterranean coast and in capital cities such as Madrid, Paris and London.

The first ZEL hotel will open in Mallorca in 2023.

Meliá Hotels International has a portfolio of more than 400 hotels throughout more than 40 countries, and 10 brands: Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ME by Meliá, The Meliá Collection, Paradisus by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ZEL, INNSiDE by Meliá, Falcon's Resorts by Meliá, Sol by Meliá and Affiliated by Meliá.

Check out more about Meliá here: https://www.melia.com/

Image: Gabriel Escarrer, CEO of Meliá Hotels International, and Rafael Nadal.