Barceló Hotels History

Founded in 1931 by Simón Barceló, from the creation of a small family business located in the town of Felanitx Mallorca (Spain), specialized in transporting people and goods, the Barceló Group has grown hand in hand with 3 generations who have made him one of the most important tourism corporations in Spain and the world.

The trajectory of the Barceló Group, which today employs over 25,000 people worldwide, is marked by a series of milestones and key dates which have addressed the future of the company.

1954: Company introduces the first in the field of travel agencies.

1962: Barceló family built the hotel in Mallorca Latino, which will become the first hotel chain Barceló Hotels & Resorts.

1965: The company launches a new style hotel designed specifically for families, it is the Village Hotel. The first to open the Barceló Pueblo Palma, which is still part of the chain. This model, which creates a horizontal architecture and the integration of sports and leisure activities for the whole family, was a pioneer in his day and had a great influence on the further development of family tourism in our country and beyond our borders, being one of the forerunners of today's resorts.

1970: opening of first hotel in the Iberian Peninsula, the Barcelo Pueblo Benidorm.

1981: acquisition of Turavia tour operator. This transaction marks the beginning of the internationalization of the Barcelo Group.

1985: start of the international expansion of Barceló Hotels & Resorts with the opening of the Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort, the first hotel opened by a Spanish chain in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic).

1990: entry into Central America with the opening in Costa Rica at the Barcelo San Jose Palacio.

1992: The Barceló Group landed in the United States with the purchase of a hotel in Washington, becoming the first Spanish hotel chain implemented in that country.

1995: Opening of the Barcelo Sants (Barcelona), whose opening allows Barceló Hotels & Resorts enter the segment of city hotels.

1996: Barceló Viajes assumed the representation of British tour operator First Choice in the Spanish market.

1998: incorporation Grubarges assets owned by the Barceló Group, Grucycsa (group FCC) and resin (BBVA).

2000: The Barceló Group strengthens in international outbound market by becoming the largest shareholder of First Choice, in exchange for your Barceló Viajes travel division will become part of the British tour operator.

2001: after the incorporation of numerous institutions nationally and internationally over recent years, the portfolio of Barceló Hotels & Resorts for the first time exceeded the figure of 100 hotels.

2002: The Barceló Group acquires U.S. hotel operator Crestline Capital, which at that time manages 7,000 rooms in 12 U.S. states, and creates the group's U.S. subsidiary of Barceló Crestline Hotels & Resorts. This operation allows you to significantly increase its presence in that country.

2003: the Barceló Group regains ownership of its travel division Barceló Viajes. That same year, Barceló Hotels & Resorts created a new reservation center (BarceloRes) launches the first version of the web www.barcelo.com and signs an agreement with Highland Hospitality American heritage society, thanks to the use of a novel formula (the company, traded, invested in the purchase of hotel assets that are managed by Barceló Crestline Hotels & Resorts), allow the chain to continue its rapid expansion into the United States.

2004: The building currently FADESA-MARTIN-Fadesa, and Barceló Hotels & Resorts have signed a strategic alliance for the joint operation of hotels.

2005: The Barceló Group Approves Five-Year Strategic Plan (2005-2010) whose main objectives exceed the figure of 200 hotels in 2010 and at that time all the chain stores are exclusively 4 and 5 stars. This confirms the clear commitment of the company to position within the upper-medium segment of the market.

2006: The Barceló Group is celebrating its 75 anniversary and in gratitude to the island where he was born, bought the hotel Formentor, Mallorca's most emblematic establishment. That same year, the Barceló Group participates in the establishment of Playa Hotels & Resorts, a company asset that comes with the idea of buying all-inclusive resorts in Latin America and the Caribbean to be managed mostly by Barceló Hotels & Resorts.

2007: granting the Barceló Group Prince Felipe Award for Business Excellence in the category "Large Enterprise Business Competitiveness. The company also manages Mallorca carry out three important milestones: to acquire a minority shareholding of Apple Vacation American tour group, one of the largest in the United States, landed with 21 properties in the UK, following the signing of a lease long term the company Dawnay Shore Hotels Plc, which owns Paramount Hotels chain, and entering Germany with the addition of Barceló Cologne City Center. Opening of the Barcelo Maya Palace (Mexico), the latest generation of luxury hotels All Inclusive.

2008: managing Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Barceló Group's U.S. subsidiary, signed an agreement with the company Tidewater Hotels & Resorts and includes 17 new hotels in the United States, reaching a total of 70 establishments in the country.

Source: barcelo.com