Rafael Nadal is accelerating the international growth of his business ventures, moving beyond his career on the tennis court. The former world champion is now devoting much of his time to expanding the Rafa Nadal Academy and the ZEL hotel chain, both rooted in Mallorca and targeting a global audience, CNBC reports. His portfolio spans education and hospitality, with tourism also basic to his plans for a legacy beyond professional sport.
The Rafa Nadal Academy, headquartered in Manacor, Mallorca, is at the centre of this new phase. In its first decade, it grew beyond its original tennis-school model, adding academies and branded tennis centres. The Academy identifies Kuwait, Costa Mujeres in Mexico, Greece, Hong Kong, Marbella, Egypt and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic as milestones in its international expansion, while keeping Manacor as its flagship. It has also announced projects in Brazil for 2027 and Lombok, Indonesia, for 2028, extending the planned pipeline beyond its current network.
Rapid growth led Nadal to bring in GPF Capital as a strategic partner to scale the Academy’s model internationally. Independent reporting by Vietnam’s Lao Động newspaper says Nadal sold 44.9% of his stake to the investment firm after nine years of activity. The account says Nadal retained operational control and remains involved in management and strategic planning, stepping onto court when his expertise is needed. The reported stake sale concerns ownership; no transaction price was stated.
International expansion is already underway, with Nadal involved in daily operations and decision-making. He has stressed the importance of trusted partners, describing GPF Capital’s Spanish roots and professionalism as valuable to advancing the Academy’s objectives. The partnership is intended to extend the Academy’s reach while preserving its basic values and identity.
Alongside the Academy, Nadal is investing in hospitality through ZEL, a lifestyle hotel brand created by Meliá Hotels International in partnership with the tennis star. Meliá executive Gabriel Escarrer has described ZEL as a brand shaped by Mediterranean and Mallorcan influences. The idea grew out of conversations between Nadal and Escarrer, with the aim of bringing the Mallorca experience to international destinations. The chain has opened four hotels in two years and plans to reach seven by year-end. In a separate industry interview, Escarrer said ZEL had five properties open and six more under construction at the time, illustrating the scale of the brand’s development pipeline. Reported destinations include Mallorca, Costa Brava, Fuerteventura and Punta Cana.
Nadal credits ZEL’s appeal to his personal experience and local roots, as well as rising consumer interest in travel and distinctive experiences. Mallorca’s tourism-driven economy and his own upbringing have shaped the brand’s direction. The partnership with Meliá, a company he trusts and respects, brings hospitality expertise and operational support as ZEL expands internationally.
Family remains basic to Nadal’s business structure. He works closely with relatives through Aspemir, valuing the daily contact and shared decision-making that come with running a family business. Nadal says his father’s work ethic and entrepreneurial achievements have strongly influenced him, particularly his success in building a leading glass company in the Balearic Islands from scratch.
Nadal’s investments also extend beyond hospitality and sports to education and health, including a foundation that supports children at risk of social exclusion. In an interview with CNBC, as relayed by Spanish media, Nadal named hotels and education among his principal investment areas, with sport also basic to his portfolio. His reported interests include TATEL, a Spanish restaurant group. He has argued that combining sport and education can create opportunities for disadvantaged young people and reports strong results from the foundation’s first decade of work. A trusted team helps shape investment decisions around his long-term vision.
Nadal’s approach reflects a broader trend among high-profile athletes who use their reputations and resources to build businesses beyond competition. In Spain, sports and tourism intersect with education in sectors basic to the country’s economy. The Academy’s international facilities and ZEL’s expansion put Nadal’s ventures across sports development and hospitality, linking Mallorca’s identity with markets in Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East.
As Nadal balances business ambitions with family priorities, his ventures are positioned to influence the local economy and Spain’s international image. His mix of family management and strategic partnerships, alongside a focus on legacy, offers a model for Spanish entrepreneurs looking to expand beyond national borders. Tourism and education remain basic to his portfolio as Nadal builds a business profile well beyond the tennis court.
