Early Life
Simón Pedro Barceló Vadell was born in Palma de Mallorca in 1966. He is a graduate of Law from the University of the Balearic Islands. Before fully committing to the family business, he was involved in politics, serving as a senator for Mallorca from 1989 to 1993. This experience provided him with a broad understanding of public affairs before his transition to the private sector.
Rise to Success
Barceló Vadell dedicated his professional life to the Barceló Group, the family business. He is currently the co-chairman of Barceló Corporación Empresarial. Under his leadership, along with that of his cousin, Simón Barceló Tous, the Barceló Group has grown to become the second-largest hotel chain in Spain and one of the top 30 largest in the world, with over 300 hotels and 65,000 rooms across 30 countries. The group’s expansion includes international ventures, especially in the Caribbean and the Americas.
Key Business Strategies
Barceló's strategy focuses on adapting to evolving market realities and anticipating future trends in the hospitality sector. The group's approach includes a multi-brand strategy to cater to different market segments, including luxury, upper upscale, upscale, and upper midscale categories. Key to their success has been a commitment to quality and service, ensuring guest satisfaction. Barceló also emphasizes sustainable tourism, with initiatives to minimize environmental impact and promote responsible practices.
Philanthropy
The Barceló Group channels its social work through the Barceló Foundation, which collaborates on projects related to health, education, economic development, and culture in underdeveloped countries.
