Meliá Hotels International, S.A. is a Spanish hotel chain. Sol was founded by Gabriel Escarrer Juliá in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca and Meliá was founded by José Meliá Sinisterra (1911–1999). It is also known as and referred to by its former name of Sol Meliá. The company is one of Spain's largest domestic operators of holiday resorts and the 17th biggest hotel chain worldwide. Domestically in Spain the company is the market leader in both resort and urban hotels. Currently the hotel chain operates 374 hotels in 40 countries on 4 continents under the brands Meliá, Gran Meliá, ME by Meliá, Paradisus, Innside by Meliá, TRYP by Wyndham, Sol Hotels and Club Meliá.