REAL CASES · SPAIN
Hotel ownership, development, brands and indirect investment. Twenty-three profiles with sources and clearly identified involvement. We prioritise Spain and Spanish athletes, including their investments in hotels abroad.
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Documented cases of athletes involved in hotels, with priority given to Spain. Explore the properties, brands and types of involvement: ownership, development or indirect investment.
23 documented hotel projects: 19 in Spain, one in Andorra, one in Scotland and two in Mexico. The new Nadal and Lopetegui profiles document hotel ownership or acquisitions. One athlete may participate in several projects; these profiles do not represent 23 different athletes.
Forbes reports that Pedri bought Hotel Villa de Barajas through Pedrineta S.L. for €4.2 million. The hotel has 41 rooms and is close to Madrid airport and IFEMA.
An investment in urban accommodation serving airport travellers and trade fair visitors.
Source: Forbes Travel · 20 June 2026 ↗Read the report and full case study ↗
ME Málaga celebrated its official opening in May 2026. Hosteltur reports project investment of around €44 million and attributes construction to Kerad EB, part of Gerard Piqué's investment group. The hotel operates under the ME by Meliá brand.
The report distinguishes the developer from the operator: the figure relates to the project, rather than a personal contribution by Piqué. The hotel began operating in December 2025.
Source: Hosteltur · 29 May 2026 ↗Read the report and full case study ↗
Iberostar identified Rafa Nadal as the hotel's owner in its May 2015 opening announcement. The property was renovated and began operating under the hotel chain.
Property ownership with operation by a specialist. This investment is separate from the ZEL brand; the source establishes ownership in 2015.
Official Iberostar announcement · 14/05/2015 ↗Investment and conversion · Preferente · 2014 ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
Cristiano Ronaldo and Dionísio Pestana formed their partnership in 2015. The official website lists hotels in Funchal, Lisbon, Madrid, New York and Marrakech. In Spain, Pestana CR7 Gran Vía Madrid has 168 rooms, according to the city's official tourism information.
The model: developing a hotel business with a specialist partner. The partnership alone does not establish registered ownership of every property.
Official source: Pestana CR7 ↗Hotel in Spain: Madrid Tourism ↗View the full case study ↗
In May 2024, El Confidencial reported the acquisition, through Kerad and alongside other investors, of the building converted into Axel Hotel San Sebastián. According to that report, the company linked to the footballer receives rental income from the Axel chain.
The model: investing in a hotel property and entrusting its operation to a specialist. This profile covers the transaction documented in 2024 and does not assert a current ownership percentage.
El Confidencial · 08/05/2024 ↗View the full case study ↗
The business press reported the three footballers as shareholders in Mistral Iberia Real Estate and the creation of Mistral Costa Real Estate for hotel investment in 2021. Mistral's corporate website lists ATOM Hoteles, specialising in Spanish hotel properties, among its investments.
The model: channelling hotel investment through a company and its holdings. The athletes' connections are documented in historical sources; no current percentage or direct ownership of each hotel is asserted.
Source: Invertia · 17/02/2021 ↗Official source: Mistral holdings ↗View the full case study ↗
MiM Sitges is part of Leo Messi's hotel portfolio. Meliá's announcement includes it in the agreement to manage all six MiM hotels from November 2025.
This profile covers one specific hotel in the MiM portfolio, which comprises six properties.
Meliá announcement · 06/10/2025 ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
MiM Ibiza is one of the hotels in Leo Messi's portfolio incorporated into The Meliá Collection. It is a hotel investment in Ibiza, separate from his properties in Mallorca and mainland Spain.
This profile covers one specific hotel in the MiM portfolio, which comprises six properties.
Meliá announcement · 06/10/2025 ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
Hotel MiM Mallorca forms part of Leo Messi's hotel portfolio. The partnership announced by Meliá in October 2025 covers its operation alongside the other five MiM properties.
This profile covers one specific hotel in the MiM portfolio, which comprises six properties.
Meliá announcement · 06/10/2025 ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
MiM Baqueira is the mountain hotel in Leo Messi's MiM portfolio in Spain. Meliá lists it among the six hotels included in its 2025 management agreement.
This profile covers one specific hotel in the MiM portfolio, which comprises six properties.
Meliá announcement · 06/10/2025 ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
MiM Sotogrande is among the hotels owned by Leo Messi included in the Meliá partnership. This case illustrates his portfolio's presence in a hotel destination in southern Spain.
This profile covers one specific hotel in the MiM portfolio, which comprises six properties.
Meliá announcement · 06/10/2025 ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
Meliá's official website presents ZEL Mallorca as a result of its partnership with Rafa Nadal. The hotel is in Palmanova and belongs to the hotel brand Nadal co-founded with Gabriel Escarrer.
Nadal's connection is with the ZEL brand. Individual ownership of the property is not attributed to him. The hotel is marketed by the brand.
Official source: ZEL brand ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
ZEL Costa Brava forms part of the brand co-founded by Rafa Nadal and Meliá. Its official website places it near Tossa de Mar, between Cala Pola and Cala Giverola, with hotel accommodation and services.
Nadal's connection is with the ZEL brand. Individual ownership of the property is not attributed to him. The hotel is marketed by the brand.
Official source: ZEL brand ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
Meliá lists ZEL Madrid among forthcoming openings for the brand co-founded with Rafa Nadal. The official website places the project on Gran Vía and announces it as a future addition.
Nadal's connection is with the ZEL brand. Individual ownership of the property is not attributed to him. Announced project · The source does not confirm opening.
Official source: ZEL brand ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
ZEL Fuerteventura expands the hotel brand co-founded by Rafa Nadal and Meliá. The second-quarter 2026 results filed with the CNMV describe it as recently opened.
Nadal's connection is with the ZEL brand. Individual ownership of the property is not attributed to him. Its opening was reported in Meliá's 2026 results.
Official source: ZEL brand ↗Official source: Meliá results · CNMV · 2026 ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
Rafa Nadal Residence offers accommodation for adults and families within the academy complex in Manacor. Its official website accepts bookings and lists services including a spa, fitness facilities and a 24-hour reception.
A model combining accommodation and sport. It is separate from the ZEL brand; no individual ownership percentage is published.
Official source: Rafa Nadal Academy ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
Hosteltur and Atlántico Hoy report Pedri's acquisition of a former convent in Tegueste for conversion into rural accommodation. In February 2026, the mayor said the project was awaiting approval.
This is presented as a hotel project, rather than an operating hotel. The source does not confirm completion of the conversion.
Hosteltur · February 2026 ↗Atlántico Hoy · 17/02/2026 ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
In his January 2023 interview with Hello Valencia, Juan Carlos Ferrero confirmed his connection with Hotel Ferrero in Bocairent. This project is separate from the accommodation at the Villena academy.
A case documented in 2023. The interview alone does not establish the current ownership structure or operating status.
Direct interview · Hello Valencia · 14/01/2023 ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
Ferrero Tennis Academy's official website offers a rural hotel for parents and adults in Villena, with rooms and a restaurant. The source links Ferrero to the academy and explicitly describes its hotel accommodation.
A hotel project connected with sports stays. No equity percentage or exclusive ownership of the hotel is attributed to Ferrero.
Official source: Ferrero Tennis Academy ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
MiM Andorra is the hotel in Leo Messi's portfolio located outside Spain. Meliá's announcement includes it in the same management agreement covering all six MiM hotels.
This profile covers one specific hotel in the MiM portfolio, which comprises six properties.
Meliá announcement · 06/10/2025 ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
Cromlix's official website records that Kim and Andy Murray acquired the hotel in 2013. It reopened in March 2023 following renovation and retains an explicit business connection with the Murray family.
An international example of hotel ownership, included alongside the Spanish projects with its location clearly identified.
Official source: Kim and Andy Murray · Cromlix ↗Official source: hotel history ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
Crónica Vasca reports that Julen Lopetegui and Rafa Nadal acquired this resort in 2006. Its November 2024 report identifies Lopetegui and his family as hotel shareholders alongside the tennis player.
A hotel acquisition with co-investors and delegated management. Two Spanish athletes investing in a Mexican property; this is not presented as a purchase in Spain.
Acquisition and co-ownership · Crónica Vasca · 23/11/2024 ↗Transaction background · REPORTUR · 2018 ↗View the full hotel profile ↗
Expansión reported the acquisition of two hotels in Cozumel by the Nadal family group and Julen Lopetegui. One became Sunscape Sabor Cozumel following the agreement with AMResorts and the resort's renovation.
Another hotel in the same joint investment, rather than a new athlete. The historical acquisition was documented in 2013; this profile does not claim the ownership structure remains unchanged in 2026.
Interview about the acquisition and operator · Expansión · 2013 ↗View the full hotel profile ↗Cases documented using public sources consulted on 10 October 2026. They reflect involvement reported at the date of each source: ownership, investment, brand creation or tourism services. They are not a valuation of wealth or a current registry check for each athlete.
These examples are for information. Inclusion in this section does not make the athletes Esperio clients, partners or endorsers.