The 44th edition of the Mapfre King’s Cup officially begins this Tuesday after the traditional owners’ cocktail party, an event that took place last night and which normally marks the start of one of the most important sailing competitions in the Mediterranean. This year’s edition marked a change of venue, as the Gran Meliá Hotel de Mar was chosen to host this high-profile event.
The choice of this iconic venue to host the opening ceremony reinforces the strategy of linking one of the main sporting events on the international calendar with one of the most promising hotel brands in the luxury segment. The event brought together over 300 guests, including boat owners, sponsors, representatives from various organizations, and executives from the tourism and nautical sectors, and it solidified its position as one of the key networking opportunities surrounding the competition.
During the reception, Rafael Gil, president of the Royal Yacht Club of Palma, and Gabriel Escarrer, president and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, highlighted the impact the Mapfre King’s Cup has in raising Mallorca’s international profile as a leading destination for luxury tourism, sailing, and major sporting events.
“When two organizations that share these principles work together, they not only create value for themselves, but also for Mallorca and for society as a whole,” said Gil. For his part, Escarrer highlighted that “for more than four decades, the Gran Meliá Hotel de Mar has been a privileged witness to the successive editions of the King’s Cup, and has seen firsthand how this competition has helped put Palma, Majorca and our Mediterranean on the world map,” and highlighted the affinity between the two institutions in terms of values such as excellence, tradition, and hospitality.
Located facing Palma Bay and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the Hotel de Mar, Gran Meliá hosted the event on its terrace overlooking the Mediterranean, where attendees enjoyed a culinary experience inspired by Mediterranean cuisine and live music.
For Meliá Hotels International, this collaboration is part of its strategy to partner with events that can strengthen Mallorca’s international position as a high-end destination. At the same time, the selection of Hotel de Mar as the venue for the boat owners’ cocktail party consolidates the hotel’s position as one of the main venues for hosting exclusive events linked to luxury tourism and the Mediterranean lifestyle.
More than 300 guests
The evening brought together more than 300 guests, including owners, sponsors, and representatives of various organizations – such as the president of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation, Joaquín González-Devesa; the Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Sport of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Pedro Bestard, and Navy Admiral Jaime Rodríguez-Toubes, as well as well-known figures from the social, business, and sports worlds, such as actor Javier Rey, model Eugenia Silva, handball Olympic medalist Eli Pinedo, designer Fiona Ferrer, flamenco dancer Joaquín Cortés, actress Ana Fernández, Italian model Antonio Medugno, influencers Emily Costa and Gloria Montserrat, model and influencer Sara Botton, model Malena Costa, former soccer player Mario Suárez, and director and producer Miguel Ángel Tobías. His film, *Cáscara de Nuez*, has been the center of attention in recent days. Screened at the Royal Yacht Club of Palma with the King’s Cup as a backdrop, the film champions and celebrates the human values that sailing fosters, such as determination, sacrifice, hard work, companionship, and harmony.
Combining sporting competition, luxury tourism, and international exposure, the Mapfre King’s Cup continues to consolidate its position as one of the Mediterranean’s premier showcases, both on and off the water.
