Rafael Nadal Expands Business Empire with Fourth ZEL Hotel After Tennis Retirement
Rafael Nadal, the former Grand Slam tennis champion who retired in November 2024, is rapidly growing his business ventures. He recently opened the fourth hotel in his ZEL Hotels chain, a brand he launched in 2022 in partnership with Meliá Hotels International. The newest hotel is located on the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, following earlier openings in Mallorca, Costa Brava, and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Nadal told CNBC that transitioning into hospitality felt natural since he spent much of his life in hotels and understands what guests value. He emphasized his dislike for inactivity after retirement, stating, "Just as I built a legacy on the tennis court, now it's time to build a new legacy off the court."
Nadal highlighted the growing demand for experiences over products, making hospitality an attractive business opportunity despite the competitive market. He also reflected on the difficult period after his hip surgery in 2023, when he was uncertain if he could return to play and eventually accepted the end of his tennis career. Beyond hotels, Nadal’s business activities include the Rafa Nadal Academy, founded in 2016 in Mallorca, which has expanded internationally with centers in Mexico, Greece, Kuwait, Hong Kong, and the Dominican Republic. In 2023, he sold 44.9% of the academy to private equity firm GPF Capital for about 94 million euros but retained majority control with 55.1%. Nadal described the academy as his life’s project and welcomed the partnership to support further growth.
He also sees significant potential in education, health, and sports sectors, noting increased awareness of physical well-being and the importance of investing in children’s education and welfare. Nadal addressed the ongoing dispute between tennis players and Grand Slam organizers over prize money. After a recent boycott by top players like Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka ended following talks with Wimbledon management, Nadal acknowledged the validity of both sides’ arguments. Wimbledon raised prize money by 20% to a record 64.2 million pounds (about 85 million dollars), but players seek a larger share of tournament revenues, proposing increases to 71 million pounds and a target of 22% of Grand Slam income by 2030. Nadal suggested a long-term agreement with a fixed annual prize increase to ensure stability, saying, "If they agree on a fair growth rate each year and sign a 10-year deal, we will have 10 years of peace."
Summary: Rafael Nadal, retired tennis star, is expanding his business empire by opening a fourth ZEL Hotels property in the Canary Islands and growing his international sports academy. He emphasizes building a new legacy post-retirement and advocates for a fair, long-term solution to tennis prize money disputes.
