José Luis Carrillo, Founder of Hoteles Globales, Dies at 85 After Building a Major Hotel Group in Mallorca

November 06, 2026

José Luis Carrillo Benítez, the founder and president of Hoteles Globales, has died in Palma at the age of 85. The businessman, who began his career working in the hospitality industry before building one of Mallorca's major hotel groups, passed away on Thursday, 5 November 2026.

His death marks the end of a long business career closely connected to the development of Mallorca's tourism industry. From his early work as a waiter to the creation of the Optursa business group and the expansion of Hoteles Globales, Carrillo built a family-run tourism operation with hotels and other travel-related interests in Spain and international markets.

The Federación Empresarial Hotelera de Mallorca (FEHM) confirmed his death publicly on 6 November, paying tribute to his contribution to the hotel industry and describing him as an important entrepreneur with a deep understanding of the sector.

From Hotel Waiter to Hotel Entrepreneur

Born in Huércal-Overa, Almería, in 1941, José Luis Carrillo began working in hospitality at a young age.

According to accounts of his early life, he started as an apprentice waiter before progressing through different positions within the hotel industry. His experience included work in hotel management, eventually giving him an understanding of the business from the operational level upwards.

His professional journey brought him to Mallorca towards the end of the 1960s, during a period of rapid tourism development on the island.

In 1967, he founded Optursa, the business group that would provide the foundation for his later tourism and hotel interests. Mallorca, particularly the municipality of Calvià, became the centre of his business operations.

Carrillo's approach combined hotel ownership, management, tourism services and the development of other businesses connected to the holiday industry. Rather than concentrating on a single hotel, he gradually built a wider operation that would eventually become associated with the Globales hotel brand.

Hotel Don Pedro and the Beginnings of Globales

An important early step in Carrillo's hotel career was his involvement with the Hotel Don Pedro in Cala Sant Vicenç, Mallorca.

He participated in the hotel's development and acquired an initial shareholding before subsequently taking full ownership, according to accounts of the group's history.

The establishment became an important starting point for his expansion into hotel ownership and management.

Over the following decades, the business grew beyond Mallorca, extending into other Spanish holiday destinations, including the Costa del Sol and the Canary Islands.

Carrillo also diversified into tourism distribution and international holiday operations. In 1982, he established Sunbright Holidays in the United Kingdom, with offices in London and Manchester, strengthening the group's connections with the British travel market.

His business interests eventually extended beyond hotels to include travel agencies, tour operations, accommodation services and other activities supporting the tourism sector.

Hoteles Globales: A Family Business with International Reach

Under Carrillo's leadership, Hoteles Globales developed into a substantial hotel group with a presence in several countries.

According to figures cited by La Voz de Ibiza for July 2026, the group operated 57 hotels across four countries, employed more than 4,000 people and had 39 establishments in the Balearic Islands.

These figures illustrate the scale reached by the business he established, although the precise portfolio and workforce can change as hotels are acquired, managed, opened or closed.

Mallorca remained particularly important to the group's development. Its operations in Calvià and other parts of the island contributed to the growth of the local holiday accommodation sector over several decades.

The company also developed interests in other tourism-related businesses, including tour operations, destination services and accommodation distribution.

Despite the size of the group, Carrillo was known for maintaining a relatively discreet public profile. He generally preferred to concentrate on the business rather than seek public attention, a characteristic frequently mentioned in accounts of his professional life.

Air Madrid: A Major Setback in His Business Career

One of the most challenging episodes in Carrillo's career came through his involvement in the aviation industry.

In 2004, he acquired control of Air Madrid, a low-cost airline established to operate routes connecting Spain with Latin America.

The project represented a significant expansion beyond his established hotel and tourism activities. However, the airline experienced serious operational and financial difficulties.

In December 2006, Air Madrid suspended its operations, leaving passengers stranded and leading to insolvency proceedings.

The collapse became one of the most difficult episodes of Carrillo's business career. Nevertheless, his hotel interests continued, and Hoteles Globales remained the central focus of the family group's activities.

The airline's failure did not bring an end to the wider tourism business he had spent decades building.

A Generational Transition at Hoteles Globales

The continuation of the family business was already well established before Carrillo's death.

His daughter, Susana Carrillo Szymanska, assumed the role of general director of Globales in 2015, taking responsibility for the group's executive management.

His wife, Susana Szymanska, and their other daughter, Carolina, are also part of the family behind the business.

The transition allowed the company to continue under the family's leadership while Carrillo remained closely connected to its development and decisions.

His death therefore represents the loss of the group's founder and long-standing president, rather than the beginning of an entirely new management structure. His daughter had already been leading the company's day-to-day executive management for more than a decade.

Recognition for His Contribution to Tourism

Carrillo's influence extended beyond Mallorca, particularly through his business activities along the Costa del Sol.

His contribution to tourism development was recognised by the municipalities of Marbella and Estepona, both of which named streets after him.

These acknowledgements reflected his involvement in the development of the hotel sector in southern Spain, in addition to his long-standing presence in the Balearics.

His career also attracted attention within the hotel industry for his ability to build and maintain a substantial family-owned business while generally avoiding the public spotlight.

Mallorca's Hotel Industry Pays Tribute

Following news of his death, the Federación Empresarial Hotelera de Mallorca expressed its condolences to Carrillo's family and the employees of Hoteles Globales.

The organisation described him as a great entrepreneur and someone with a profound knowledge of the tourism sector, highlighting the lasting mark he had left on Mallorca's hotel industry.

The mayor of Calvià, Juan Antonio Amengual, also expressed condolences, recognising Carrillo's contribution to the development of holiday tourism in the municipality and across the Balearic Islands.

His professional story reflects several decades of transformation in Mallorca's tourism industry, from the expansion of international package holidays to the development of large hotel groups with operations beyond Spain.

Funeral to Take Place in Palma on 9 November

The funeral service for José Luis Carrillo Benítez is scheduled for Monday, 9 November 2026, at 19:30, at the Church of Santa Creu, also known as Santa Cruz, in Palma.

He is survived by his wife, Susana Szymanska, his daughters Susana and Carolina, and the wider family.

From his beginnings in hospitality to the creation of Optursa and the expansion of Hoteles Globales, Carrillo leaves behind a business legacy closely connected to Mallorca and the development of the Balearic tourism industry.

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