“Gabriel Escarrer Jaume has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the safety of British citizens visiting Spain and to strengthening the ties between our two countries,” said the UK ambassador to Spain, Alex Ellis, after the appointment of the president of Meliá Hotels International as Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire was announced.
“Thanks to his leadership and vision, destinations like the Balearic Islands are now safer places for millions of visitors, while Meliá’s sustained investment in the UK has helped strengthen our economic ties,” added the head of the British diplomatic mission in Spain, for whom this appointment “recognizes an exceptional contribution in both areas.”
“Receiving this distinction is a great honor that I accept with deep gratitude and humility,” declared Escarrer upon receiving the decoration, which “serves as an encouragement to continue strengthening our ties.”
“The United Kingdom,” he added, “has played a fundamental role in the history and growth of Meliá Hotels International and I personally feel a very special affection for this country and its citizens, whose trust has accompanied us for decades.”
Gabriel Escarrer received the title of Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire last Wednesday, August 19, from King Charles III, in recognition of his services to British citizens in Spain and his contribution to strengthening economic and social ties between Spain and the UK.
Among the reasons for granting this distinction, British authorities emphasize that “through investments, awareness campaigns, and public-private collaborations, Gabriel Escarrer has promoted responsible tourism in the Balearic Islands, reflecting his firm commitment to the safety of the thousands of young Britons who visit the islands each year.”
In particular, they highlight “his initial support for the British Government’s ‘Stick With Your Mates’ campaign, which has been fundamental in mobilizing local institutions and partners, contributing to significantly reducing the number of serious incidents.”
“Furthermore,” they add, Escarrer “has demonstrated a constant commitment to the British economy throughout his 25 years in the UK hotel sector”, during which Meliá has invested over 400 million pounds and contributed to the creation of thousands of jobs in the UK.
Escarrer’s name joins — at the same time as that of the Director of Institutional Relations of Palladium Hotel Group, José Luis Benítez — a select group of Spaniards who have received the decoration, starting with the Allied spy in World War II, Joan Pujol ‘Garbo’ (1944); the tenor Plácido Domingo (2002); the former mayor of La Coruña Francisco Vázquez (2006); the president of Banco Santander, Ana Patricia Botín (2015); the director of the Contemporary Art Center of Málaga, Fernando Francés (2017); the oncological surgeon Juan José Segura Sanpedro (2021); and the mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre (2022).
In 2016, Gabriel Escarrer Jaume assumed the executive presidency of Meliá, after his father and founder of the group, Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, delegated his functions to him. Since then, Gabriel Escarrer Jaume has not ceased to promote the corporate responsibility and sustainability policy in its social, economic, and environmental dimensions. Thanks to all this, according to the prestigious MERCO ranking, Meliá is a leader in the tourism sector in Corporate Reputation.