Rafael Nadal partners with Spanish hotel chain to launch brand

By Senhan Bolelli

MADRID (AA) – Spanish tennis superstar Rafael Nadal, who is still an active player, has now another endeavor as the 22 time-Grand Slam champion has recently invested in the hotel industry.

A publicity was held in Madrid on Thursday as Nadal collaborated with Melia Hotels International, agreeing with the group's chair Gabriel Escarrer to launch "Zel" chain.

On Thursday, Escarrer and Nadal were said to work on the project for a long while as the venture's first hotel will open in 2023 in Spain's Mallorca in the Balearic Islands where the 36-year-old athlete was born.

In the next four or five years, 20 "Zel" hotels are planned to be opened in many cities including Madrid, Paris and London.

"Zel" means "sky" in Catalan language, which is spoken in Mallorca as well.

Nadal said that he was thrilled to be in the hotel business.

"As a Spaniard, a Mallorcan, and a global traveler, the launch of our hotel brand is a project I have had in mind for a long time, " Nadal said.

"... I'm confident that Zel will be a great success and will achieve considerable growth and be enjoyed by all of our guests, which is why we are creating it," he added.

Nadal also said he was not ending his sports career.

"I'm trying to make sure that my retirement is put off for as long as possible," he said.

Nadal is one of the tennis greats, winning all-time record 22 major titles in men's singles including a record 14 French Open championships.

Founded by Spanish billionaire Gabriel Escarrer Julia in 1956, the Melia Hotels International operates 374 hotels in 40 countries under its own brand.