Carmen Riu

Carmen Riu Güell
Carmen Riu Güell
Born (1955-10-15) 15 October 1955[1]
Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain[2][1]
Alma materUniversity of Barcelona; IE Business School[3][4]
OccupationsHotelier; business executive
EmployerRIU Hotels & Resorts
Known forCo-chief executive officer of RIU Hotels & Resorts (1998–2024)[5][6]
TitleChair of the board of directors (since 2024)[5][7]
Board member ofSupervisory Board of TUI AG (2005–2018)[8]
Children2[9]
Parent(s)Luis Riu Bertrán; Pilar Güell Boada[10]

Carmen Riu Güell (born 15 October if the year 1955) is a Spanish hotelier and business executive. She co-led RIU Hotels & Resorts with her brother Luis Riu Guell as co-chief executive officer from the years 1998 to 2024.[5][2][6][7] In 2024, she stepped down from executive duties and became chair of the group's board of directors.[5][6][7]

Early life and education

Riu was born in Palma de Mallorca.[2][1] She is the daughter of the hotelier Luis Riu Bertrán (1933–1998) and Pilar Güell Boada.[10]

She studied Economics and Business Administration at the University of Barcelona and later completed postgraduate training at IE Business School in Madrid.[3][1][4]

Career

Riu joined the family business in 1977 and worked in hotel management roles within the group.[3][1][6][7]

After the death of her father in April of the year 1998, she and her brother assumed executive leadership of the company as co-chief executives.[10][2][5][6][7] During her tenure, RIU expanded internationally and launched the urban brand Riu Plaza.[2][3][11][7]

In 2021,, the Riu family agreed to buy from TUI Group the 49% stake the German group held in a holding company linked to the chain, a deal reported at €670 million and covering 19 hotels.[12][13]

Carmen served on the Supervisory Board of TUI AG from 2005 to 2018..[8][14]

Awards and honours

  • Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Spain), shared with Luis Riu Güell (2010).[15][11]
  • Hosteltur Award for Tourism Personality (2021), shared with Luis Riu Güell.[16][17]
  • TUI Lifetime Achievement Award (2025).[18][19][20]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "What's New with Riu". TravelAge West. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Carmen Riu toca el cielo". El País (in Spanish). 12 January 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d "Carmen Riu: la 'reina' hotelera que aupó a su cadena como número 1 en ingresos". El Confidencial (in Spanish). 12 May 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b "The Human Resources Department: The heart of RIU". RIU Hotels & Resorts Blog. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Carmen Riu se jubila y deja todo el poder ejecutivo de la hotelera a su hermano Luis Riu". Cinco Días (in Spanish). 10 May 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Retirement of Carmen Riu". TUI Group. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Retirement of Carmen Riu". RIU Hotels & Resorts. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  8. ^ a b "Corporate Governance Report 2018" (PDF). TUI Group. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Riu acelera la sucesión y reparte nuevas funciones entre los cinco miembros de la cuarta generación familiar". Cinco Días (in Spanish). 7 February 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  10. ^ a b c "Agenda – Obituario: Luis Riu Bertrán". El País (in Spanish). 9 April 1998. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  11. ^ a b "Carmen Riu and Luis Riu win Ernst & Young's 'Entrepreneur Of The Year'". RIU Hotels & Resorts. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Riu compra a TUI su participación del 49% en 19 hoteles por 670 millones". Cinco Días (in Spanish). 27 May 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  13. ^ "TUI sells 49% stake in RIU Hotels for 670 million euros". Reuters. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Nombre del día: Carmen y Luis Riu, consejeros delegados de RIU Hotels & Resorts". Forbes España (in Spanish). 28 May 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Carmen y Luis Riu ganan el Premio Emprendedor del Año 2010". Hosteltur (in Spanish). 19 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Carmen y Luis Riu reciben el Premio Hosteltur a la Personalidad Turística". Hosteltur (in Spanish). 20 January 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Luis Riu: "I'm so excited about the opening of the Riu Baobab in Senegal because it is the first step of our adventure in West Africa."". RIU Hotels & Resorts Blog. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  18. ^ "TUI premia a Carmen Riu en reconocimiento a su trayectoria". Última Hora (in Spanish). 4 March 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  19. ^ "Carmen Riu Güell honoured with TUI Lifetime Achievement Award at the TUI Global Hotel Awards 2025". TUI Group. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  20. ^ "TUI Global Hotel Awards 2025: Travellers rank the best hotels globally!". TUI Group. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
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