- Magaluf's seafront promenade bears the name of the tourism visionary, reflecting his key role in transforming the area into a quality tourist destination
- A pioneer of global tourism, Escarrer Juliá consolidated Magaluf as an international benchmark
The Calvià Town Hall wishes to express its deep regret at the death of Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, a pioneering businessman in the tourism sector and a key figure in the creation and historical evolution of Magaluf, a place to which he always felt connected and which, since last June, has given its name to the Gabriel Escarrer Julià seafront promenade. The Calvià institution sends its condolences to his family and friends, reiterating its gratitude for the lasting impact of his contribution in Calvià. The mayor, Juan Antonio Amengual, said: "Today we say goodbye to Mr. Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, a man whose vision and dedication transformed not only the tourism sector, but also the history of Calvià. His legacy remains deeply rooted in our municipality, where his work left an indelible mark. We lose a great businessman, but above all, a great person."
The Magaluf Promenade was renamed on 6th June in homage to the founder of Meliá Hotels International for his visionary role in the development and repositioning of Magaluf and Palmanova as quality tourist destinations. This recognition, accompanied by commemorative plaques along the promenade and in the Momentum Square, underlines the transformation of the area led by Escarrer and his commitment to excellent tourism.
At the recognition ceremony, his son and president of Meliá, Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, expressed, on behalf of his father, his gratitude for the tribute. He highlighted the family's historical and emotional ties to the area, recalling how it served as the cradle for the business vision that defined Escarrer. He also highlighted the "moment of splendour" that Magaluf and Palmanova are currently experiencing, with occupancy figures of over 80%, consolidating themselves as safe, family-friendly and quality destinations.
The promenade, which connects the beach from the Meliá Calviá Beach hotel to the Bahía Príncipe Coral Playa, houses five hotels from the Meliá chain and stands as an example of an innovative tourism development model. It is currently undergoing a remodelling process financed with European funds and from the Balearic Islands Tourism Strategy Agency (AETIB), with completion scheduled for May 2025. The project, divided into two phases with an investment of 3.9 million euros, seeks to modernise the infrastructure and promote a sustainable tourism model aimed at high-net-worth visitors. This action reinforces the position of the Paseo Gabriel Escarrer Julià as a functional space in the current tourist offer.
Magaluf, the base of Escarrer's hotel expansion
Magaluf was much more than a simple tourist destination for Gabriel Escarrer Juliá. The core was the place where his business vision emerged and evolved, marking the beginning of what is today one of the most important hotel conglomerates worldwide. The Meliá Hotels International establishments in this area allowed Escarrer to understand and anticipate the needs of tourists, a key learning that guided its business strategy and constant innovation.
A little over a decade ago, in the midst of an economic crisis, the hotel group led by Escarrer launched an ambitious project to completely reconvert Magaluf, with the aim of improving the quality of the tourist offer, diversifying the product and repositioning the area. This plan, which involved investments of over 200 million euros, was based on public-private collaboration to renovate hotel and commercial infrastructures, optimise services and create new leisure and entertainment options. This project marked a turning point in the history of Magaluf, laying the foundations for its transformation into a modern, competitive and internationally attractive destination.