PUNTA CANA — Under a starry Friday night sky, an enviable list of stylish VIPs from government and tourism from the D.R., Spain, Canada and the U.S. were in attendance with international media as Melia Hotels International CEO Gabriel Escarrer Jaume and tennis superstar Rafael Nadal officially opened Zel Punta Cana.

Zel Punta Cana Beach Club

Showcasing Dominican culture through music, artisans and local flavours, Melia formally introduced Zel to the Caribbean (following a soft launch in December 2024) with a raucous party this past weekend, with endless opportunities to taste Mediterranean influences, such as tapas, sangria, grilled seafood and paella.

After brief remarks by Jaume and Nadal, the crowd was treated to a drone show and live music with dancing until midnight.

Zel Punta Cana’s grand opening party featured live music, dancing and more

With nine hotels brands within the Melia Hotels International portfolio, all-inclusive Zel has previously opened in Mallorca and Costa Brava, Spain.

With the tagline ‘Born in the Med,’ this luxury boutique brand was brainstormed between Jaume and Nadal for the past three years.

Zel is a 50/50 partnership between Melia and Nadal.

“Zel is the Mediterranean House of Rafa and Melia. We wanted to find the balance between active wellness and disconnecting,” explained Andre P. Gerondeau, COO, Melia Hotels International. “We work hard, we play hard. We’re proud of having the first international Zel in Dominican Republic.”

Gerondeau detailed how they’re creating a marketing plan which will be decidedly different. Zel Club was launched in 2023 with the opening of Zel Mallorca; the club will bring together thought leaders such as professional athletes with Zel guests, to create a different kind of wellness retreat.

Later this year, the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre featuring trained coaches from the Rafa Nadal Academy will be opened in the Melia hotel zone in Punta Cana; any Melia guests (adults or kids) can register for classes. “Our goal is to offer the most complete resort in the Caribbean,” said Gerondeau.

BRINGING THE MED TO THE CARIBBEAN

Located a half hour from Punta Cana International Airport, Zel is part of the Melia Hotels complex on Playa Bavaro; the hotel was previously Garden Suites by Melia.

With 190 rooms and seven room categories including suites, master suites and swim-up suites, the boutique hotel’s grounds are lush gardens of tall palms, bougainvillea, lilies and tropical plants with two main swimming pools, and smaller pools interconnected with the three-storey room buildings.

Drawing inspiration from Nadal’s and Melia’s close ties to Mallorca – both men were born on the Balearic island – Zel welcomes guests with a quick digital check-in via tablet which occurs in a living room, featuring Cafe de Finca coffee bar and the Zel concept store, offering colourful beach clothing and home accessories. The ‘patio medierraneo’ are low-slung seating areas found throughout the hotel, places to gather and chat over coffee or cocktails.

The hotel’s contemporary decor palette of white, cream and blue seamlessly blends with natural textures such as wood furniture, leather chairs, macrame and rope installations, ceramics, tile, rattan light fixtures and stone flooring in warm shades of cream and caramel.

Master Suite Swim Up Living Area

Rooms feature living/dining rooms, two closets and a jacuzzi on the balcony or patio.

Although not adults-only, this laid-back property is more suited to couples or friend groups who want amenities such as lounge areas with bali beds, the Studios (offering fitness classes and personal trainers) and the AUA Spa, a calming oasis with spacious hydrotherapy area of hot and cold pools. Spa changerooms feature sauna and steam, and each treatment includes aromatherapy.

Zel Beach Club is a 10-minute shuttle from the hotel (which runs from sunrise to sunset), with loungers on Playa Bavaro and a bar/restaurant serving lunch and drinks.

Other dining options include Parda, a Spanish-influenced open-air buffet adjacent to the main pool for breakfast, lunch and dinner; Volcan serving grilled meat and fish for dinner, Nokyo Japanese teppanyaki, Tacorini for lunch and dinner, a mix of Greek and Mexican, Silvestre wine cellar and Voltage nightclub.

Zel will open next in Madrid in 18 months, plus watch for a rebranding of an existing hotel on Formentera, plus other properties in Koh Samui, Thailand, as well as Albania (where Melia will have 20 hotels), Greece and Mexico.

“The plan is to have 20 Zel hotels in five years,” said Gerondeau. “We (Melia) came to the Dominican Republic in 1985; the Caribbean has been very important to our growth.”

Gerondeau added he hopes Melia will have news from Jamaica, Cuba, Costa Rica and Antigua in the future.