Ana María Jaume, widow of Gabriel Escarrer Julià, founder of the hotel chain Meliá Hotels International, has passed away in Spain. She died at the age of 89, just nine months after the death of her husband, who was one of the pioneers of the country’s tourism industry. The Escarrer family stated that this sudden loss deepens the pain of the recent passing of the family patriarch.
In an official statement, the family emphasized that the memory of both parents will unite them even more. Relatives remember Ana María Jaume as a person with a big heart, keen intuition and empathy, as well as exceptional generosity that made those around her feel like part of the family. According to her relatives, these values will remain with them forever, as well as with the hundreds of employees and friends who were always devoted to her.
The farewell ceremony was held in Palma, at the Son Valentí funeral home. Numerous family members, friends, and representatives of Mallorca’s public came to pay their respects. Among those present were the head of the Balearic Islands government, Marga Prohens, and tennis player Rafael Nadal, who attended with his father Sebastián.
The large number of prominent figures from the tourism and business sectors, as well as politicians and public personalities who attended the farewell, is a testament to the deep respect for Gabriel Escarrer’s widow. After her husband’s death, she became the majority owner of the company. One of her last public appearances took place in 2022, when she, together with her husband, received an award from King Felipe VI recognizing their contribution to business development (Premio Reino de España a la Trayectoria Empresarial).
The Mallorca Hotel Business Federation, represented by its president Javier Vich, noted that Ana María Jaume’s legacy is reflected in the values of diligence, perseverance, humility, and dedication that she instilled in her children—values that have become part of the Escarrer family’s and Meliá’s DNA. Marga Prohens also expressed her condolences on social media, highlighting Jaume’s life journey, determination, courage, and warm personality.
Ana María Jaume was married to the founder of Spain’s largest hotel chain for 65 years. The couple had six children: Magdalena, Ana, María Antonia, Mercedes, Sebastián, and Gabriel. She is survived by twenty grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her son, Gabriel Escarrer, who serves as president and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, described his mother as exemplary and a key figure in the family business’s history. He emphasized that her honesty, humility, and generosity became the foundation of the company’s corporate values. The company, established in Mallorca in 1956, has grown into one of the world’s largest hotel groups.
