Rafael Nadal is ESPN’s 12th top athlete of the 21st century, so you expect the man to carry out some wonderous physical feats. But what the 22-time Grand Slam tennis champion was seen doing around the new ZEL Punta Cana, the lifestyle hotel brand under the Meliá Hotels International umbrella, was impressive even by his lofty standards.
In a span of 24 hours during the island resort’s March grand opening weekend, Nadal was spotted answering questions at his tennis center groundbreaking, shaking hands with Dominican Republic president Luis Abinader at a press conference and taking countless selfies at a poolside party — all without ever resting his smile. And you thought Rafa’s epic five-setters with Roger Federer were exhausting.
Meliá Hotels International CEO Gabriel Escarrer knew exactly what he was doing in partnering with Nadal for ZEL’s launch in 2022. Yes, the retired tennis icon and Meliá share a passion for greatness, but equally as vital to the collaboration is the fact they both got their starts in Mallorca, the beloved island off the eastern coast of Spain where the first ZEL opened 2023.
ZEL Punta Cana is a breezy, 190-suite escape with a “Born in the Med” philosophy — the Mediterranean’s vibrancy melds with Caribbean charm through décor, food and the staff’s radiant attitude — that doesn’t need much help selling itself. But if you must have someone serving its praises, it might as well be the 14-time French Open champion, right?
When we spoke with Nadal and Escarrer during another whirlwind day of opening-weekend commitments, Escarrer was excited for his brand’s future, Nadal was motivated to talk about the next generation of tennis stars and both were ready to discuss how ZEL Punta Cana was positioned to make a name for itself in the Dominican Republic’s congested resort space.
Why is now the perfect time for ZEL Punta Cana to be introduced to the world?
Escarrer: Because it’s something unique. It’s something different. I keep saying that we love to compete against ourselves. We don’t like to compete against others. We believe we are bringing a new concept to the table. This is what Rafa and myself want to do. He has been a heavy user of hotel rooms for all his life, easily more than 200 days per year when he was a professional tennis player.
Post-COVID, we had a meeting about what we believed can be improved in a hotel experience. We were seated together, and on a napkin, we said what we wanted. There was something missing in the hotel industry — that is this Mediterranean flavor, this Mediterranean touch. We are well known [for our] quality of life, gastronomy, cultural heritage, fiestas, siestas. It’s not just Spain; it’s all over the Mediterranean. So, this is how it started. And Rafa, as you know, is fully passionate, and he wants to bring to the community something that is a part of his values and the way he thinks.
Rafa, let’s speak on this partnership some more. Why were ZEL and Meliá the brands to connect with after tennis?
Nadal: It’s a few key points. First is the personal relationship. We talk the same language. We are from the same island. We are two families that have a similar way to approach life. I think [we both have] strong values. And at the same time, the confidence that Meliá [has in me is important]. It’s difficult to find in another company. They have an amazing, successful history in developing brands and knowing how to do things the proper way worldwide.
For me, finding this partner from the same island talking the same language and [seeing] all the experience that they have, I think that makes the partnership perfect.
What’s going to separate ZEL Punta Cana from other luxury properties in the Dominican Republic?
Nadal: I have been traveling for 20-something years. Plenty days of my life have been in great hotels. I have been lucky enough to visit probably the best hotels in the world, and I learned what I like and what I don’t like. And it’s true that it’s completely different approach to a hotel when you are on holiday or when you are working. I spent most of the time in the hotels when I was working. It’s a completely different experience [now].
Give me examples of how you’re pairing the Mediterranean lifestyle with the Caribbean here at ZEL Punta Cana.
Escarrer: Knowing that the most important feeder market [for the resort] will be U.S. citizens, some of them have not experienced the Mediterranean way of life. I think it would be a good option to try it here in this property, and then I’m sure we will convince them to try [it themselves] in the Mediterranean.
But ZEL is not a conventional hotel. We are trying to bring [that to the forefront] from the very beginning. Once you get in the property, there is no reception desk. You go to a “living room,” when someone will see you at the table to do the check-in process with water, coffee, tea or whatever you want. It brings a more relaxed way.
Having said that, the colors and the materials [are relaxing]. Rafa and his team have, from the very beginning, been involved in the designing. This is something that you won’t expect in the Caribbean. But at the same time, it’s being very respectful with the Dominican culture. It’s a mix of the Mediterranean flavor in a Dominican country.
What do you love so much about the Dominican Republic?
Nadal: I think Gabriel has had an amazing experience with the island. Correct me if I’m wrong, but [it’s been] over 38 years that Meliá is here in the Dominican Republic, being a very important part of the development of the country. I really believe that the relationship with the country is very, very positive. Getting a lot of support from the institutions and from the government [is key]. And at the same time, it’s a country that we felt very welcome. The hospitality here that we receive as Spanish citizens is great. We feel very loved, supported and well treated. That’s probably the main reason. And at the same time, I think it’s a market that keeps growing in a very healthy way.
Rafa, switching gears to tennis here. Outside of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, who are some of the players you came up against that really brought out the best in you?
Nadal: Of course, Andy Murray has been an amazing player. I arrived to the [professional] tour in a very tough situation because I remember a lot of great players were there, and they were young. Of course, I had Roger, Lleyton Hewitt, Guillermo Coria, David Nalbandian and Marat Safin [as opponents]. We still had Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero [as well]. When I arrived to the tour, I said, “Wow, this is so difficult. I am okay, but they are very good, and they are still young.” It was a big challenge to see myself being [as good as my competitors]. But it happened. I found a way to improve quick and to grow in that position.
But later in my career, of course, I have to name David Ferrer as a great player. Also, [Tomáš] Berdych, [Jo-Wilfried] Tsonga and James Blake are other tough ones. I was able to compete with Andre Agassi, too. I played a couple of matches against him. I experienced great rivals outside of the big four.
Escarrer: But something that makes Rafa unique is that you haven’t seen anyone talking bad things about Rafa. He’s a pure gentleman.
Who excites you the most in this new wave of tennis players?
Nadal: Of course, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the ones who look like they are a bit in front of the others. Novak is still there. But, of course, his time is limited, so we don’t need to talk about Novak in that conversation because he’s from the old generation.
But let’s see, looks like the Brazilian guy [João] Fonseca is coming strong. Of course, Sascha Zverev always has huge potential. He is an amazing tennis player, but he’s not yet able to find a way to win a Grand Slam. But I am sure that he will keep having his opportunities.
When we talk about the new generations, it’s always the same conversation we have when they arrive to the tour — you see all the potential they have, all the positive things, but it’s all about the one who has the determination and the capacity to improve and keep evolving their game. At the end, the ones who are going to have more success over their careers are the ones who will be able to keep improving the most.
What makes Mallorca so special?
Nadal: I think everything. You cannot ski in the snow. That’s the only thing that you can’t do on the island. But the rest of the things you can do. You can have fun during the summer. You can have fun with completely different activities during the whole year. We have amazing mountains. The sea is almost unbeatable. We have beaches and amazing services.
Escarrer: But at the end, the hospitality that we as Mediterraneans bring is something that is very appealing. People want to experience it at least once in their life. It’s not a coincidence to receive 15 million visitors per year in an island that has a population that’s slightly less than 1 million.
We were the pioneers in the resort industry. At the beginning, we were [only offering] the sea and the beaches. But nowadays, Mallorca offers much more. [Now] it’s the most beautiful landscape, the cultural heritage, the very good infrastructure, the best restaurants, the best golf courses and the best harbors. Things have been done really well.
Keep in mind that the resources are limited. But there has been always a focus on sustainability. It’s not a question of growing for the sake of growing [on the island]. We do it the right way. We’re very respectful with the local community and the cultural heritage. All of us Mallorcans are very proud of what we have done.
Rafa, now that you have some down time, are you and the family going to travel?
Nadal: For me, it’s difficult to organize travel. Because I’m not traveling with [tennis], I am planning to be around [Mallorca] with the boat and stay close.
But I’ll tell you one very interesting thing — I have been all around the world to amazing cities and places [during my tennis career], but I didn’t have the chance to know those places well because I was working, I was practicing, I was doing recovery and I was doing my preparation. It was impossible to know the places the right way. So, in my mind, I’ll come back to all these places that I have been for 18, 20 years and leave that place with a completely different approach. I am excited, with these [coming] years, to achieve that goal.
Escarrer: I will try to make sure that all these new places will have a ZEL to host him and his family.
