Over the last 25 years Hospitality ON has borne witness to the evolution of hotel groups. In celebration of this quarter century, we offer a look at their history through the data we have collected.

In 1956, Gabriel Escarrer opened his first property in Palma Majorca. Modest in size, it prefigured the creation of one of the biggest hotel groups worldwide.

At the beginning of the 60s – during Franco's militarist dictatorship - the Balearic islands developed increasing appeal with European artists and touristes alike, offering Mr Escarrer an opportunity to unfurl his hotel supply. With one acquisition after the other he grew his supply in the Balearic and then the Canary Islands.

At the beginning of the 80s, 32 HOTASA hotels were bought, making Mr Escarrer's group one of the leaders in the country. In 1985 international expansion began with the first property outside Spain: the Meliá Bali. After acquiring the Meliá hotels chain, in 1987, he renamed the group with this name.

1996, segregation of corporate activities de l’entreprise :

Ahead of other hotel groups, the Spanish group has kept its ownership, through "Inmotel" properties, separate from its management and franchise operations since 1996. The latter, called Sol Meliá, was listed on the stock exchange in the same year.

2000, takeover of Tryp Hoteles:

In 2000, Gabriel Escarrer's group acquired Tryp Hoteles for 360 million euros. Its hotel supply surpassed 80 thousand rooms for the first time and began a turnaround for the group which saw its supply shrink over the next ten years.

2010 Rights to the brand Tryp are sold:

While the Majorcan group launched new brands such as Club Meliá (2003) and ME by Meliá (2005), they were not enough to slow the shrinking of its hotel supply. With 82,188 rooms in 2000, in 2010 the group had 74,385 rooms.

In 2010...