The Palace Hotel, Madrid has announced the appointment of Elisa Barral as its new general manager, making her the first woman to lead the hotel since its opening in 1912.
Barral takes on the leadership of the hotel with the intention of “returning The Palace to the very top of Madrid’s luxury hospitality scene and repositioning it on the international stage as the great city hotel it has always been. The renovation has only been the beginning; our goal now is to deliver an experience worthy of its legendary prestige, creating memorable moments and building strong, lasting relationships with our guests. With the renovation project virtually complete, our next chapter is about elevating the essence of The Palace —its service, atmosphere, and experiences—to make it the most desirable destination in Madrid, both for locals and for luxury travellers from around the world, a place with which guests maintain a special connection long after their departure,” she said.
Barral brings to her new role a solid background in the hospitality industry with more than 25 years of experience in management, finance and operations for international luxury brands. Prior to joining The Palace, she served as senior VP of operations and asset management for Mediterranean Europe at L+R Hotels, where she oversaw a broad portfolio of luxury properties in Spain, Monaco and Italy.
However, this is not her first experience at The Palace, as early in her career she was part of the hotel’s finance department for two years. Her professional background also includes notable tenures as general manager of Le Méridien Barcelona, as well as multiple senior roles within Marriott International and previously Starwood Hotels & Resorts.