Former Spanish tennis champion Rafa Nadal has officially opened his first hotel in the Canary Islands, marking another milestone in the expansion of his hospitality brand.
The new ZEL Fuerteventura, a four-star hotel located beside the spectacular Sotavento Lagoon in the municipality of Pájara, is one of the island's most significant hotel openings of the year.
Famous for its turquoise waters, golden sands and world-class windsurfing and kitesurfing conditions, Sotavento is one of Fuerteventura's best-known beaches and an ideal setting for the brand's focus on wellness, relaxation and outdoor living.
The first ZEL hotel in the Canaries
ZEL Hotels was created in late 2022 through a partnership between Rafa Nadal and Meliá Hotels International.
The brand opened its first hotel in Mallorca in 2023 before expanding to the Costa Brava and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Fuerteventura now becomes its first destination in the Canary Islands, with further openings planned in Madrid, Cozumel in Mexico and Crete.
The new hotel features 142 rooms and suites, designed around a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle that blends indoor and outdoor living.
That philosophy fits naturally with Fuerteventura, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve renowned for its endless beaches, volcanic landscapes, year-round sunshine and ideal conditions for water sports.
A focus on active wellness
The hotel has been designed to offer more than just a place to stay, combining open architecture, abundant natural light and communal spaces aimed at guests seeking an active and healthy holiday.
Its location next to Sotavento Lagoon places visitors within easy reach of one of Europe's premier destinations for windsurfing, kitesurfing and other outdoor activities.
The culinary offering includes several dining venues, including Café de Finca, Parda Restaurant and Voltaje Bar, giving guests a range of options throughout their stay.
The opening further strengthens Fuerteventura's growing reputation as a destination for high-quality tourism, while expanding Nadal's vision of combining sport, wellbeing and hospitality in some of the world's most desirable coastal locations.
