How they will be and where the seven luxury hotels that Rafael Nadal will open in Argentina will be located

After retiring from professional tennis, Rafael Nadal began a new phase of his life marked by business. Far from stepping away from activity, the 22-time Grand Slam champion decided to focus on various business projects related to sports, tourism, education, and the real estate sector.

One of his main focuses is on hospitality, an industry he knows particularly well after spending much of his career traveling around the world. Now, this project could have Argentina as one of its next major destinations.

According to Daniel Scioli, Secretary of Tourism, Environment, and Sports of the Nation, Nadal plans an investment of around US$200 million to develop seven luxury hotels in different tourist spots across the country.

The chosen destinations would be Bariloche, El Calafate, Iguazú, Mendoza, Posadas, Salta, and Ushuaia, allowing the brand to establish itself in completely different settings: from Patagonia and the Andes Mountains to the Iguazú Falls and northern Argentina.

The establishments would be part of ZEL Hotels, the brand Nadal founded together with Meliá Hotels International, which aims to bring the Mediterranean lifestyle to various international destinations.

Where the seven Rafael Nadal hotels will be located in Argentina

The project includes establishments distributed across some of the most important tourist regions of the country. Although the exact locations of each complex and their opening dates have not yet been disclosed, the seven mentioned destinations present very different characteristics from one another.

Bariloche would offer the landscape of lakes, mountains, and Patagonian forests that attracts visitors year-round. In addition to being one of Argentina's main centers for winter sports, during the warmer months it offers hiking, boating, and various outdoor activities.

El Calafate, in Santa Cruz, would allow the proposal to be close to one of Patagonia's main natural attractions: the Perito Moreno Glacier and Los Glaciares National Park.

Ushuaia would complete the brand's presence in the southernmost part of the country. The capital of Tierra del Fuego combines snow tourism, navigation through the Beagle Channel, nature, and a location that has also made it one of the main gateways to Antarctica.

At the other geographical extreme is Iguazú, in Misiones. There, the main attraction is the Iguazú Falls and the jungle environment that surrounds them, a setting that aligns with ZEL's intention to connect its establishments with nature.

The province of Mendoza would add another profile: wine tourism, gastronomy, and experiences linked to the Andes Mountains. Salta, for its part, would incorporate the landscapes, culture, and gastronomy of northern Argentina.

Finally, Posadas, the capital of Misiones, is the seventh destination included in the announced project.

If the initiative is realized as anticipated, Nadal would achieve a hotel presence that spans much of Argentine territory and combines destinations of snow, mountains, jungle, gastronomy, and nature.

What the ZEL hotels coming to Argentina will be like

To get a first idea of what the Argentine establishments might be like, one should look at the hotels the company already has in operation.

The ZEL proposal is inspired by a Mediterranean lifestyle and seeks to combine relaxation, gastronomy, physical activity, wellness, and connection with the environment.

Nadal summarized the brand's philosophy as “a space to feel good, active, and free.”

One of its main international examples is ZEL Punta Cana, inaugurated in the Dominican Republic in 2025. The complex marked the brand's arrival in the Caribbean and its expansion outside of Spain.

The resort features 190 suites, distributed among pools, tropical gardens, and paths surrounded by vegetation. The design of the rooms is based on the concept of outdoor living, which seeks to partially erase the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces.

To achieve this, the decor uses natural materials, light tones, and environments designed to maintain a constant connection with the landscape.

Gastronomy also plays an important role within the concept. The Caribbean establishment has eight restaurants and bars offering proposals that combine different cuisines and local ingredients.