[eng] The aim of this paper is to analyse the internationalisation process of family
businesses in one of the most important sectors of modern society, which is
undoubtedly the main economic engine for the Balearic Islands: the tourism
sector.
Starting from a theoretical framework on the main aspects of the
internationalisation of family businesses, specifically the process of international
expansion, strengths and weaknesses of this type of business, I propose the
study of the case of the hotel chain Meliá Hotels International, a family business
with a long history and leader in our country.
The analysis of the company in question will be developed from its beginnings
to its internationalisation, ending with a special mention of the actions carried
out by the company in the current context marked by the COVID 19 health
crisis.
Finally, the keys to the company's successful internationalisation will be
analysed, linking them to the concepts developed in the theoretical framework.