The Aquasol in Palmanova has officially reopened after an ambitious six-month refurbishment that has transformed the long-established aparthotel into a four-star property while keeping something increasingly rare in Mallorca tourism, the same family ownership that has guided it for more than four decades. Managing Editor Jason Moore was recently given a tour of the hotel by Vanessa and Lara Cabau, part of the family behind Cabau Hotels, whose portfolio stretches across Mallorca, Ibiza and Gran Canaria. During the visit, it quickly became clear that this was not simply another hotel renovation story. Aquasol is deeply personal to the family behind it.
“Built in 1983, reborn in 2026”
“Built in 1983, reborn 2026,” Vanessa Cabau explained during the tour. “But under the same ownership.” That point matters to the family. In southwest Mallorca, where many older hotels have changed hands or been absorbed into larger investment groups, Aquasol remains firmly family-run.
“We get offers every day,” Vanessa said. “But we want to keep our heritage and look after it.”
The hotel, located just a short walk from the beach in Palmanova, has undergone a complete redesign, including fully refurbished apartments, upgraded infrastructure, new sustainability systems and improved accessibility throughout the property.
A 15 Million Euro Investment in the Future
The investment totals around 15 million euros. “That is reinvesting from our family group of seven hotels over the last decades. We’ve had COVID in between as well and recovered from that. So investing as a family, as an independent hotel chain, I think you can feel quite proud,” said Vanessa.
Three Generations of the Cabau Family
What makes the project particularly interesting is the level of family involvement behind it. Vanessa described how different members of the family contributed to different aspects of the refurbishment.
Lara Cabau, whose background is in fashion design, now works across graphic design, branding and visual identity for the group.
“She’s in charge of all the social media design work,” Vanessa explained. “Lara is our designer. She’s done fashion design but has gone into everything to do with graphic design and social media.” Their mother is in charge of the finishes and interior details, their younger sister Tanit, is an architect and coordinated the project management of the renovation.
Their father remained heavily involved throughout, particularly regarding practicality and functionality within the apartments, not a missing day surpervising the works.
“He is almost 70 years old now and he said, ‘I need to leave the Aquasol how I built it” Vanessa explained.
Vanessa’s grandfather originally developed the hotel before passing away at the age of 57, leaving Vanessa’s father to continue the business while still only in his twenties.
“My dad inaugurated the hotel as well,” she said. Vanessa and her sisters have literally grown up in the hotel business, having even lived at the Aquasol when they were children.
Why Aquasol Still Has “Spirit”
That emotional connection appears to have shaped many of the decisions behind the refurbishment. Rather than chasing ultra-luxury trends or creating a generic international resort feel, the family focused on practicality, warmth and what Vanessa repeatedly described as the hotel’s “spirit”.
“One of the things that my own daughter Charlize has said is that Aquasol has spirit,” she explained. “Very much the Cabau Hotels spirit.”
That atmosphere is also reflected in the staff culture. More than half the employees have been with the hotel group for over 25 years, with some now approaching retirement after decades at Aquasol.
“Our manager, the head of the bar, our head of admin have worked here for 43 seasons,” Vanessa said. “This is season 44.”
Guests Who Return Year After Year
Vanessa believes that loyalty is part of what returning guests recognise when they come back year after year.
“We have guests that now bring their grandchildren,” she said. “The grandparents came with their children, then they grew up and had their own descendancy and now it’s the grandchildren coming.”
Around 25 percent of guests are repeat visitors, with some returning multiple times a year.
“We have one guest from Denmark who comes every month,” Vanessa said. “He stays here for a week, goes back home for three weeks, then comes back again.”
KM0 Design and Local Sustainability
While the emotional side of the story is clear, the refurbishment itself is substantial. All apartments have been redesigned with a more contemporary Mediterranean style, while major infrastructure upgrades have taken place behind the scenes.
“One thing is what you see,” Vanessa explained, “but then we’ve done all the guts of the buildings as well, the electrics, plumbing, air conditioning, the solar panels.”
The project also embraced KM0 principles and local sourcing wherever possible. Vanessa proudly pointed out that many of the materials used during the renovation came from Mallorca itself.
“All the tiling around the pool terrace is from Pavimentos Lloseta,” she said. “This is a company that makes concrete flooring from recycled rubble. Even this is a local recycled product. Everywhere we have these touches of really trying to make things kilometre zero.”
Solar Panels, Recycled Water and Accessibility
The hotel has also invested heavily in sustainability systems, including solar panels and a recycled water programme for irrigation.
“We’ve put all the solar panels in, so we’re going to be almost autosufficient regarding electricity,” Vanessa said. “And we’ve adhered to this water project where recycled water is used for watering gardens.”
Accessibility has also become a major focus. “What we’ve tried to do as well is make the hotel more accessible,” she explained. “We never had a lift before. Now we do. We’ve also made ramps and we now have four accessible rooms.”
The Changing Face of Tourism in Palmanova
The wider redevelopment reflects the changing direction of tourism in Palmanova and Calvià, where many businesses are increasingly focusing on higher quality, longer stays and more sustainable tourism models.
Jason Moore described the project as “part of this push upmarket in this area, Palmanova and Magalluf, which seems to be working very well.”
Future plans for Aquasol already include a rooftop terrace, spa area, indoor heated pool, gym and meeting spaces designed to help extend the season beyond the summer months.
“We will try to open all year round,” Vanessa said.
“This Is Like Their Second Home”
Despite the scale of the investment and the pressure of reopening in just six months, Vanessa believes the hotel’s biggest strength remains its people.
“You can school people and show them standards,” she said, “but if their spirit isn’t right, nothing works.” She pauses for a moment while looking across the newly reopened hotel.
“One of the things I’m most proud of over the last few weeks is how everybody got together to do absolutely whatever was needed. No discussions, no long faces. Everybody just worked towards the goal because they know this is like their second home.”
More Than a Hotel Renovation
And perhaps that is ultimately what Aquasol is about. Not simply refurbished apartments or upgraded facilities, but continuity, memory, family and a sense that, even after 43 years, the hotel still has heart.