Stoneshield Capital is the second-largest shareholder in Meliá Hotels International (“Meliá”) with a 9.5% stake, and Juan Pepa, co-founder of Stoneshield, has been appointed to Meliá’s Board of Directors.
The appointment reflects Stoneshield’s intention to act as a long-term reference shareholder, supporting the company’s next phase of value creation through disciplined capital allocation and strategic alignment with management.
Headquartered in Spain, with a portfolio exceeding 400 hotels currently open or in the pipeline across leading international destinations, both urban and resort, Meliá has established one of Europe’s leading hospitality platforms, combining a portfolio of high-quality owned real estate with a capital-efficient management and franchise business.
The investment is consistent with Stoneshield Capital’s strategy of partnering with leading real assets platforms that benefit from structural growth trends, where active ownership, balance sheet optimisation and operational excellence can drive scalable and sustainable shareholder value.
Felipe Morenés Botín, co-founder of Stoneshield Capital, said:
“Tourism remains one of the most structurally supported sectors globally over the long term. Meliá, alongside the Escarrer family, has consistently demonstrated its ability to adapt to evolving market dynamics and to build a globally recognised hospitality platform. We look forward to working constructively with the Board and Gabriel Escarrer’s management leadership to support the company’s continued international growth and long-term value creation.”
Juan Pepa, co-founder of Stoneshield Capital, added:
“Meliá combines high-quality real estate assets with a leading global operating platform – a combination where Stoneshield has deep experience in driving value creation. We see a significant opportunity to further strengthen the company’s positioning through active capital management, operational excellence and disciplined expansion.”
Gabriel Escarrer, Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, stated:
“We are delighted to welcome Stoneshield as a new large shareholder, a partner whose track record, vision, and long-term commitment to value creation stand as a powerful endorsement of our strategic direction. Together with our Board of Directors, largely composed of independent members, it provides a solid additional guarantee of resilience and sustainable long-term success, which is already being recognized by the market.”
