The iconic Gran Meliá Hotel by the Sea hosts the opening ceremony of the 44th edition of the regatta
The Copa del Rey Mapfre officially kicked off its 44th edition with the traditional Owners’ Cocktail Party, one of the most prominent social events of the Mallorcan summer. The Gran Meliá Hotel by the Sea was the setting for the gathering, a hotel where the Mediterranean finds its finest expression.
The Shipowners’ Cocktail Party brought together more than 300 guests, including shipowners, sponsors, institutional representatives such as the president of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation, Joaquín González-Devesa; the Minister of the Environment, Rural Affairs and Sport of the Balearic Islands Government, Pedro Bestard; and the Navy admiral, Jaime Rodríguez-Toubes. Also in attendance were renowned figures from the social, business, and sporting spheres, among them actor Javier Rey, model Eugenia Silva, Olympic handball 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 footballer Mario Suárez, and director and producer Miguel Angel Tobías.
The exclusive Gran Meliá Hotel de Mar, a leading icon of Mediterranean luxury and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, opened its stunning seafront terrace to welcome guests. With gardens suspended above the Mediterranean, iconic architecture, and its spectacular Sky Pool overlooking the bay, the hotel provided the perfect setting to inaugurate a new edition of the Mediterranean’s most prestigious regatta.
Rafael Gil, president of the Real Club Náutico de Palma, and Gabriel Escarrer, president and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, welcomed the guests and emphasized the importance of a competition that, year after year, solidifies Mallorca’s position as a leading international destination for sailing.
“When two entities that share these principles sail together, they not only generate value for themselves, but also for Mallorca and for society as a whole,” Gil affirmed. For his part, the president of Meliá stated that “for more than four decades, the Gran Meliá Hotel de Mar has been a privileged witness to the successive editions of the Copa del Rey, observing from the front row how this competition has helped to project Palma, Mallorca, and our Mediterranean to the world. This celebration is therefore so meaningful, because we share the tradition, the excellence, the passion for the sea, and the appeal of an international community that shares our values.”
During the evening, attendees enjoyed a gastronomic experience inspired by Mediterranean flavors, accompanied by live music and a relaxed atmosphere that brought together sport, hospitality, and lifestyle.
For Meliá Hotels International, this collaboration represents another step in its commitment to supporting events that contribute to projecting Mallorca’s image as a destination of excellence internationally. Similarly, the selection of the Gran Meliá Hotel de Mar as the venue for the Shipowners’ Cocktail Party reinforces the hotel’s position as a leading example of Mediterranean luxury and a prime location for hosting some of the island’s most exclusive events.
The Copa del Rey Mapfre continues to be one of the Mediterranean’s premier sporting and social events, attracting participants and visitors from around the world each year and offering a unique experience both on and off the water.
