Diáz-Canel said on his X account that he felt shocked by Escarrer’s passing and sent condolences to his family, friends and the staff of the hotel group.

‘He bet on Cuba and has left us very valuable lessons to learn from.

Farewell friend,’ he wrote on the social network.

Appointed honorary president of Melia Hotels International after resigning just over a year ago, to continue at the helm of the group, Gabriel Escarrer founded the chain in Mallorca in 1956, when he was just 21 years old.

The consortium currently operates 310 hotel facilities in the five continents, with many of them located in Latin America, in countries such as Cuba, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Earlier this month, the company reported revenues amounting to 1.544 billion Euros in the first nine months of this year.

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