Gabriel Escarrer JaumeBefore joining Meliá Hotels International, the company founded by his father, Gabriel Escarrer Jaume worked in finance in New York. In July 1996, he successfully took the company public and became its CEO in 1999. He now oversees the management of over 350 hotels across 40 countries under the group. The Meliá Hotels International portfolio includes brands such as Gran Meliá, Meliá, ME by Meliá, Innside, and Paradisus, among others. The group is headquartered in Spain and maintains a family-led management style.
My first job wasworking as a receptionist at my father’s hotel when I was 14 years old. Having hands-on experience at the grassroots level is very important. Only by working at the ground level can you gain better understanding and truly grasp the perspectives of frontline staff, which helps in managing hotels in the future.
The best advice I’ve ever receivedcomes from my father, who has been my personal mentor. He told me never to say, “This is not possible,” a principle that guided his life throughout. Another piece of advice he gave me is to love what you do. I always remember my father’s passion for his work and for his team.
My most successful investment wasexpanding outside of Spain for the first time about 30 years ago—specifically to Bali. It was our first five-star hotel in Indonesia, and we managed to recover our initial investment in less than three years. We formed a close partnership with a local family, and I’m proud to say that we still work together to this day, currently managing seven of their properties.
The greatest benefit my work brings isits focus on delivering leisure, relaxation, and warm hospitality. We provide unforgettable experiences in one of the most exciting industries that you can actually feel.
My greatest achievement, personally speaking, is my family; professionally, it’s my team. I am surrounded by some of the best people in the industry.
The biggest challenge I face isduring acquisitions. It's essential to preserve the strengths of the acquired companies, maintain consistent professionalism, and uphold the highest standards of service quality.
My favorite Meliá hotel isthe most profitable one. But when I stay at other hotels, I tend to prefer high-end boutique ones, like Aman Resorts.
The hotel brands I particularly admire areMarriott and Starwood. They are both part of large alliances, and we don’t aim to compete with them. However, in terms of brand leadership and market insight, I believe the entire industry has much to learn from them.
My hope for the future isthat we can achieve even greater profitability. We have been affected by the Spanish economic crisis, but I see tremendous potential here. I feel a responsibility to help drive Spain’s economic recovery. Tourism accounts for 12% of Spain’s GDP, so there’s still a lot we can do.
My advice to emerging entrepreneurs today isto pursue your passion and keep trying. Never give up—that’s the key to success that most entrepreneurs would say.
About Meliá Hotels International
Founded on the island of Mallorca, Spain, Meliá Hotels International is one of the world’s largest resort hotel chains and a leader in the Spanish hospitality industry. The group currently operates in 40 countries across four continents, with a portfolio of 350 hotels. Its brands include Gran Meliá, Meliá, ME by Meliá, Innside, Paradisus, TRYP by Wyndham, Sol, Paradisus, and Club Meliá (Note: Club Meliá is the only product among many Spanish hotel companies that takes the form of a holiday club, reflecting the diversity of Meliá’s products and services).