Meliá celebrates the arrival of its luxury brand ME on the Costa del Sol

Meliá celebrates in grand style the arrival of its avant-garde luxury brand ME to the Costa del Sol. With a party of about 450 guests, they inaugurated ME Marbella, a five-star hotel next to Puerto Banús, in which twenty million euros have been invested. The event was attended by the President and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, Gabriel Escarrer; the President of Costa del Sol Tourism, Francisco Salado; the mayor of the city, Ángeles Muñoz; Gael Lelay, CEO of the owning company, and the Director of Operations in Eastern Andalusia for the chain, Rocío Galán, among other authorities, sectoral leaders like José Luque, President of Aehcos; tourism professionals, entrepreneurs, with the attendance of the President of the CIT (Tourism Initiatives Center) of Marbella, Juan José González, and representatives of major brands. Influencers and celebrities such as María Bravo, accompanied by Amaury Velasco; Nicole Kimpel; actress and model Brigitte Nielsen; or model Águeda López and partner of Luis Fonsi were also present.

This hotel, designed by architects Adriana and Álvaro Sans (ASAH Studio), features two hundred rooms, including 24 exclusive suites, and a culinary and leisure offering that aspires to be "the new epicenter of contemporary luxury on the Costa del Sol. An icon of 'lifestyle'. A guaranteed success," stated Escarrer.

Coinciding with sunset, just after nine-thirty at night, the President of Meliá took the floor to begin by thanking everyone who made this "transformation in record time of just over six months. It's spectacular," highlighting the public-private collaboration with the Marbella City Council. A model that he also valued across the Costa del Sol. "I told the President of Costa del Sol Tourism a few weeks ago that we were going to make a great transformation in the province. And with this hotel, we begin. We will go from having only one five-star hotel, the Gran Meliá Don Pepe, to having five five-star hotels in just over a year. A commitment that will represent an investment of more than 125 million euros and the presence of the chain's luxury brands in Málaga, Estepona, Marbella, and Ronda." Surrounded by his family, Escarrer thanked "the work of Rocío Galán and the great team that has made the transformation miracle possible. We are super proud of the result. We have gone from 138 employees to 250 collaborators. The commitment to creating quality employment is evident."

Next, Lelay spoke to value this new venture, and after a few words from the project's architect, the President of Costa del Sol Tourism emphasized that "Meliá is an ethical concept of commitment to sustainability, to the workers, to the environment. This dignifies an industry so important to us." He stressed that "we are here to work together with the entrepreneurs and to provide the mechanisms to make it easier for entrepreneurs and Meliá has long been committed to the destination and created a quality product on the Costa del Sol." Salado extended his hand to "work so that the experiences in the province are unique and unmatched. For this, public-private collaboration is the key to success."

Patricia Navarro thanked Meliá's commitment in Andalusia, where it has 30 hotels. "For us, it is the best reward for the effort to create the perfect ecosystem for many investments like those of Meliá," she said, considering that "political stability is fundamental to create that climate of security and certainty for companies to establish themselves." Navarro, after declaring herself a fan of Meliá hotels, highlighted that "this chain comes to create added value embodying the strategy for the destination to be a benchmark of that sustainable, innovative, and excellent industry."

The round of speeches was closed by the mayor of Marbella who recalled the presence of this chain for sixty years with the Gran Hotel Don Pepe, which continues to be a benchmark for quality and excellence. "It is an honor to add a new five-star hotel." She recalled that Marbella is the leading city in Andalusia in hotels of the highest category, "which allows us to continue having that leadership to which modernity, innovation, and sustainability are added." She also expressed confidence that "very soon it may have more establishments of the Meliá chain."

Muñoz mentioned the public-private collaboration. "We have worked side by side with the hotel chain so that this transformation could become a reality in record time and with all guarantees, in another example of the public-private collaboration that drives large projects for Marbella." The mayor focused on advancements in sustainability "especially in terms of energy efficiency, with systems that allow the hotel to be practically self-sufficient." After congratulating the hotel director, Luis Domínguez, and his entire team, she thanked Rocío Galán for making the work to have this new five-star so easy.

During a tour of the facilities, including the presidential suite with impressive views and 420 square meters, the guests were also impressed with the exterior of this establishment, which has been conceived as an oasis for leisure and dining amidst lush vegetation and architecture that offers an "immersive experience that invites enjoyment, merging nature, design, and lifestyle in the same environment," as highlighted by the company, which next to the pool and in the hammock area has recreated an artificial beach complete with fine sand.

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These are the rooms offered by this five-star hotel, including 24 exclusive suites

All this without forgetting the commitment to gastronomy that bears the stamp of Pont Hospitality, which Meliá points out as a benchmark in 'lifestyle' dining. "True to its nonconformist and sophisticated spirit, it houses three spaces with their own soul, where design and product set the pace," they detailed. These include the Terraza del Med, which pays homage to Mediterranean and local cuisine; Solana, where grilling reinterprets the tradition of the south with fresh ingredients that turn each meal into a social celebration; and Barlume, which offers a sophisticated yet casual experience, accompanying guests from the aperitif to late dinner. "Its gastronomic proposal combines creative cocktails and authentic Mediterranean cuisine, with top-quality ingredients and a distinct coastal accent," they stated, concluding that the goal is "to create a sensory universe with musical sessions, art installations, culinary experiences, and even cultural events with the aim of making it a meeting point for creators, hedonists, and free-spirited travelers," they recounted.

The hotel, where employees wear Lacoste following a collaboration agreement with this French brand, also features a beach club, the iconic Oasis, which "reveals itself as the new social epicenter of the Costa del Sol," they assured, emphasizing that the hotel is designed for the new traveler seeking experiences. ME Marbella offers guests everything from a beauty ritual inspired by the properties of extra virgin olive oil to creative connections with artisanal ceramics in the workshop of renowned artist Ana Ortiz.