Meliá Hotels International has partnered with tennis player Rafael Nadal to introduce a new lifestyle hotel brand, ZEL. The collection of resort and urban leisure hotels will launch in Spain and plans to expand into destinations across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. Tapping into the Mallorcan roots of both Meliá and Nadal, ZEL will offer a hospitality experience focused on classic Mediterranean character and tout a range of different culinary, wellness, technology, and design partners.
“Meliá’s international experience of more than 65 years in creating and managing luxury hotels and Rafael Nadal’s inspirational leadership have come together to create this unique brand,” says Meliá CEO Gabriel Escarrer. “ZEL, an innovative, energetic hotel brand, will attract and surprise a new generation of travelers that are seeking new ways to focus on well-being and travel sustainably.”
Over the next five years, ZEL is slated to bloom to a footprint of 20 hotels, beginning with a unit in Mallorca later this year. Outposts on the Mediterranean coast and in major cities such as London, Madrid, and Paris will follow.
Each property will be crafted to provide a holistic, residential-style experience evocative of the Mediterranean, complete with casual but refined designs. Architectural throughlines like courtyards will serve as key nuclei for each hotel, linking to outdoor amenities overlooking vistas of the setting. Rotating pop-ups from local craftsmen and artists will also be hosted at ZEL hotels.
“As a Spaniard, a Mallorcan, and a global traveler, the launch of this hotel brand is a project that I have had in my mind for a long time,” Nadal adds. “ZEL will be synonymous with feeling good and enjoying the Mediterranean lifestyle. I was really attracted to this new concept with Meliá from the start and I am confident that ZEL will be a huge success and will be enjoyed by every type of traveler.”
More from HD:
Cities of the Future: 15 Smart Cities To Know
Kit Kemp and Annie Selke Reveal a Vibrant Collaboration
Submissions Are Open for the 19th Annual HD Awards
