Source: Melia
  • The digitalisation of the company and its penetration of the leisure and bleisure hotel segments will accelerate recovery in 2022
  • The hotel company announces more than a dozen new openings for this year, including its first carbon-neutral hotel

At the Madrid International Tourism Trade Fair (Fitur), Gabriel Escarrer, CEO of Meliá Hotels International, the leading hotel chain in Spain, today announced a highly optimistic message about the recovery in the tourism industry expected to take place throughout this year. Despite a first quarter affected by the Omicron variant, the company is confident about the rest of the year, especially in resort destinations, which may reach 2019 levels of revenue per available room (RevPAR) this summer. In city hotels, the recovery is expected to be a little slower.

"Our greater focus on resort hotels, which make up 61% of our portfolio, will help us in this recovery stage, along with the major progress we have made with digitalisation" said Escarrer. Digital transformation has allowed the group to generate more than 50% of total sales in 2021 through melia.com, in addition to increasing the average rate compared to 2019 by up to 15% in premium hotels and reducing the costs of intermediation. A greater focus on sustainability, reinforcing the company's commitment to hotel decarbonisation, on human capital and on financial management were other factors Escarrer indicated in the response to the opportunities in the post-Covid world, to which he also added the company's long-standing commitment to luxury hotels and lifestyle brands and experiences.

Escarrer also presented the most significant company highlights for 2022.

The all-inclusive luxury brand Paradisus by Meliá, which up until now only operates in the Caribbean, will open its first hotels in Spain this year. The Paradisus Gran Canaria and Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote will be the result of the total transformation of the Meliá Tamarindos and Meliá Salinas, respectively. The company will also open the Paradisus Playa Mujeres, a major resort that will enhance the brand's positioning in the Mexican Caribbean.

The luxury brand Gran Melia will add a new hotel with the opening of an extraordinary hotel in Menorca, the first five-star hotel on the island. Designed by the architect Álvaro Sans, it will be the first carbon-neutral hotel, one of the company's most ambitious goals in its efforts to decarbonise its hotel activity. This project involves the comprehensive reform of the existing Sol Beach House Menorca in Santo Tomás, and aims to achieve total decarbonisation by reducing current CO2 emissions by 87% and offsetting the remaining 13% through the use of renewable energies.

Escarrer also recalled at Fitur the recent launch of The Meliá Collection brand, a selection of independent and unique luxury hotels that the company has created to meet the growing demand for premium hotels that enhance local experiences and the authenticity of each destination. Among them, hotels such as Hacienda del Conde (Tenerife), Villa Marquis (Paris) or Serengeti Lodge (Tanzania), are an example of Meliá's firm commitment to the luxury segment.

Expansion will continue to be another of the company's great strengths in 2022. Despite the pandemic, the company managed to sign agreements for 21 new hotels and open 13 hotels in 2021, including such iconic hotels as the new ME Barcelona. In 2022 it expects to continue to grow, with more than a dozen new projects seeing the light, including the mentioned Paradisus Playa Mujeres in Mexico, the Gran Melia Zhengzhou (its seventh hotel in China), the Gran Melia Nha Trang (Vietnam), the Melia Chiang Mai (Thailand), the Melia Trinidad Peninsula (Cuba), the Sol Marina and Blue Sea Beach Affiliated by Meliá (both in Crete in Greece), or the Hotel Las Arenas Affiliated by Meliá (Benalmádena, Spain), among others. "All of them - said Escarrer - will reinforce our leadership in the resort and bleisure hotel segments in our key areas of growth, which are the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and Asia Pacific".

New luxury hotels openings 2022 – 2023

Opening in 2022, Paradisus Playa Mujeres is the latest addition to the Paradisus by Meliá portfolio. Inspired by Mexican design and architecture, this luxury all-inclusive resort straddles the beach and lush jungle in its own self-contained oasis. Home to 498 rooms with beautiful views of the tropical gardens and beaches, each detail is thoughtfully considered to complement the topography and natural surroundings of the land. Guests can enjoy exclusive access to a private marina, where they can sail the Caribbean Sea whilst soaking up unforgettable views.

The Paradisus by Meliá brand will also make its landing in Spain this season with the transformation of Meliá Salinas and Meliá Tamarindos, which will become Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote and Paradisus Gran Canaria, respectively. These impressive resorts, located on the beach, with large gardens, swimming pools, a wide variety of cuisine and steeped in local culture and art, will offer their guests activities inside and outside the hotel to live an authentic destination experience.

Situated in a privileged natural environment on the southern coast of Menorca overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Gran Meliá Menorca will open in 2022 and will be the first and only 5* luxury hotel on the island of Menorca and a benchmark for luxury hospitality in all the Balearic Islands. Designed by the architect Álvaro Sans, the hotel's 156 rooms and suites are spacious and bright, allowing an intimate connection with nature.

Demonstrating the commitment with China, Gran Meliá Zhenghzou will open in 2022, a luxurious property situated in the new business district of Zhengzhou, the capital of east-central China's Henan province. It will be the third hotel of this brand in the country, which consolidates the company's commitment with the premium segment.

Opening in 2022, Gran Meliá Nha Trang is located in the Vietnamese city on the southern coast, part of Vega City - the country's largest arts and entertainment district. It is also considered to be one of the most beautiful bays in Vietnam with previous coral and one of the most sought-after destinations in Asia. Designed to become a symbol of modern architecture, the ultra-luxury hotel is comprised of 95 exclusive beachfront private villas that will offer its guests unique seclusion and personalised services and wellness. Its minimalist and modern architectural design perfectly integrates with its natural surroundings, including private infinity pools that appear to merge with the sea. The interior design is inspired by traditional tales from local culture and legends, whilst blending Spanish warm service with the grandeur of Vietnamese heritage.

Set to open between 2022 and 2023, Gran Meliá Kish, Iran will be thefirst internationally operated five-star upscale luxury hotel Kish Island. Also known as the Pearl of the Persian Gulf it is a a Free Zone and amongst the most popular leisure destination in the South coast, attracting over 1.8 million tourists on an annual basis.

2023 will also see the opening of the Gran Meliá Milan, a striking property situated in a privileged location in the heart of the city. This will be the first hotel of the brand in Milan and thanks to its exclusive services and luxurious experience, it will represent the perfect destination for leisure and business travellers alike.

Opening in 2023, Gran Meliá Cam Ranh Bay will join the brand's portfolio of striking properties in Vietnam. Situated on the southeastern coast, Cam Ranh Bay is considered by many to be the most beautiful deep-water shelter in South East Asia. The hotel is located just 5km from Cam Ranh International Airport and close to key attractions, including the Tu Van Pagoda and Binh Ba Island. Gran Meliá Cam Ranh Bay will offer 201 rooms, all with a sea view, as well as 92 villas with individual swimming pools. Guests will be able to relax at the beach club or spa and choose from two new restaurants.​

About Melia Hotels International

Founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International has more than 400 hotels open or in the process of opening in more than 40 countries, and a portfolio of nine brands: Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ME by Meliá, The Meliá Collection, Paradisus by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ZEL, INNSiDE by Meliá, Sol by Meliá and Affiliated by Meliá. The Company is one of the world's leading hotel chains in the leisure segment and its experience in this area has allowed it to consolidate itself in the growing market of urban hotels inspired by leisure. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led it to be recognised as the most sustainable European hotel company according to S&P Global's Sustainability Yearbook 2024, as well as being a "Top Employer 2024" brand in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Italy, Germany, France and Vietnam. Meliá Hotels International is also part of the IBEX 35. For more information, please visit www.meliahotelsinternational.com