A wide representation of Balearic society came to the Church of Sant Francescin Palma, to say goodbye to the Majorcan hotelier Gabriel Escarrer Juliawho died this Tuesday at the age of 89. The funeral began punctually at 7:30 p.m., in a packed church, in the presence of family, friends and political representatives.
Among the participants, it is worth highlighting the presence of the Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martinez; the hotel businessman Miguel Fluxa; the PSOE deputy in the Balearic Parliament Iago Negueruela; the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Jaume Bauza; the president of the Majorcan Hotel Federation, Maria Frontera; the government delegate to the Balearic Islands, Alfonso Rodríguez; the president of the Congress of Deputies, Francina Armengol; the commercial CEO of RCD Mallorca, Alfonso Díaz; and the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez.
The founder and president of the Iberostar group, Miguel Fluxá, defined Escarrer Juliá as “a leader in the world of tourism, not only in Mallorca but throughout the world”. ““He was a man respected by all his teammates and by the entire competition, he guided us in many things.”he expressed.
For his part, the Minister of Tourism of the Balearic Government, Jaume Bauzá, classified the founder of Meliá as a “world’s leading businessman” and “pioneer” which has made the tourism sector “the big industry of these islands”. “He is one of those who introduced us to the world as a tourist destination. I think all the recognition that can be given to him is few,” he added.
“It is a reference at the level not only of the Balearic Islands, but also at the national and global level. “It established a tourism model within the reach of all families and was a reference in forms”, underlined the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez, who appreciated Escarrer Juliá’s commitment to “the working conditions of its workers, sustainability and a quality tourism model”, Europa Press reports.
The hotelier’s widow was also present at the funeral, Ana Maria Jaumeand his son and current CEO of Meliá, Gabriel Escarer Jaumeaccompanied by the rest of his family.
Likewise, the former president of the Consell de Mallorca was present. Catalina Cladera and the councilor for Finance, Civil Service and Internal Government of the Palma City Hall, Mercedes Celeste.
Gabriel Escarrer Juliá was born in Porreres in 1935. From an early age, he demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for the hotel industry. He was 21 when in 1956 he founded what is today the Meliá Hotels International group, acquiring and managing a 60-room hotel in Majorca.
For almost seven decades, under his presidency, the tourism group consolidated its leadership in Spain, the cradle of vacation tourism in Europe, and then extended it to the American Caribbean and Southeast Asia.
In June 2023, he leaves his presidential post at the head of a company he led for almost 70 years after being recognized as one of the driving forces behind the internationalization of Spanish companies around the world.
He was then unanimously named honorary president, while his son, Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, was named the new president, retaining his responsibilities as CEO at the helm of the company.
