Latest news with #GranMeliá
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Riva Opens Its First Lounge in Spain Inside a Legendary 5-Star Hotel
Riva isn't something one typically associates with Spain, but that could soon change. The historic Italian shipyard, founded in 1842 by Pietro Riva and acquired by the Ferretti Group in 2000, has teamed up with Gran Meliá to open a new yachting hub on the sunny island of Mallorca (or Majorca). More from Robb Report NFL Star Joey Bosa Is Asking $4 Million for His L.A. Home Ulysse Nardin Just Launched a New Limited-Edition Freak Watch Buffalo Trace Is Going to Start Selling Its Rare Whiskeys on Sazerac's New Online Shop The Riva Lounge is located inside the legendary Hotel de Mar Gran Meliá. The five-star, adults-only hotel, one of several helmed by the Meliá Hotels International brand, occupies pride of place on the coast of Illetes, making it an ideal destination for Riva's latest location. The lounge, which is fittingly located in the hotel's seafront garden, takes design cues from Riva's iconic runabouts, naturally. The counter and tables are crafted from the rich mahogany that is synonymous with Rivas, while the seating evokes the upholstery on the legendary speedboats. (Some of the furniture, such as the Aquarama chairs, can be purchased via the Riva boutique.) The space is also adorned with books, model yachts, and other Riva-themed memorabilia. Beyond elegant styling, the lounge offers all-day dining both indoors and outdoors. The restaurant aims to spotlight the best of the Mediterranean, serving up fresh local seafood and dishes that reflect Mallorcan cuisine. Similarly, the drinks feature some authentic flavors of the region, with signature cocktails showcasing ingredients such as fresh Sóller oranges and Italian amaretto. Perhaps most importantly, guests will be able to take a Rivamare for a spin. The zippy 800 hp motorboat will be available to rent for a full or half day, with both hotel guests and visitors able to enjoy private jaunts. Yachters can use the sleek 39-footer to explore the idyllic coves of Mallorca, such as those along the cliffs of the Sierra de Tramuntana. Alternatively, guests could head to Palma for lunch at Hotel Victoria, Gran Meliá, or take a romantic sunset cruise. Joyrides are on the table, too, with the Rivamare capable of reaching 40 knots at full tilt. Riva has so far opened outposts in Monaco, Venice, Saudi Arabia, Paris, and, of course, Italy, but this marks the yard's first venture in Spain. It's not a bad foray, either. Hotel de Mar Gran Meliá has a total of 60 rooms and 77 suites. The top-tier Royal Suite Sea View costs in the ballpark of $930 per night. Best of Robb Report The Ultimate Miami Spa Guide: 15 Luxurious Places to Treat Yourself The 7 Most Insanely Luxurious Spas in the World, From Tokyo to Iceland 17 Reasons the Caribbean Should Be at the Top of Your Travel Itinerary Click here to read the full article.
Forbes
13-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Meliá Grows Luxury Portfolio With Historic Hotels And Rafa Nadal Lifestyle Brand
The restaurant at Casa de las Artes, Meliá Collection, in Madrid Meliá Hotels International has long been known for its portfolio of hotels across both business and leisure sectors. In recent years, however, it has been dipping its toes into more premium brands that help it compete with larger hospitality names. The Mallorca-based company is no newbie. It dates back to 1956 when it opened the Altair Hotel on the Spanish island's largest city, Palma. Today, its reach covers North and South America as well as properties across Europe, Asia and Africa. Over the past few years, the company has been adding more high-end properties with strong local heritage and existing reputations to its luxury and lifestyle collections. By bringing them into the Meliá family, this sort of soft brand collection helps to round out its existing network of hotels. Villa Agrippina Gran Meliá in Rome 'Soft hotel brands leverage storytelling to create unique and memorable guest experiences,' says Daniel Lesser, co-founder, president and CEO of LW Hospitality Advisors. 'This approach allows for differentiation from traditional hotel chains and fosters a stronger connection with guests, ultimately driving loyalty and brand recognition.' A guest room at Palacio de los Duques, a Gran Meliá Hotel, and member of The Leading Hotels of the World Among its most premium hotels are Gran Meliá properties, often situated in historically significant or locally important buildings. These luxury hotels tell a story, something that Gabriel Escarrer, chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International believes is an ongoing trend with travelers looking for authenticity and deep local connections when they travel. The hotel list includes Palazzo Cordusio Gran Meliá in Milan, Villa Agrippina Gran Meliá in Rome and Palacio de los Duques in Madrid. Some of these hotels also belong to The Leading Hotels of the World group, yet another indication of their high standards. The gardens in Madrid's Palacio de los Duques Palacio de los Duques was once the regal residence of the Duke of Granada and also served as the Convent of Santo Domingo. Today, the palace is a virtual museum of artifacts, some on loan from neighboring museums, and reproductions of Diego Velázquez's art. Its gourmet Jardin de los Duques restaurant, specializing in typical cuisine from the capital, is located in the former stables. The hotel's design is testament to the history of the building and the city, and that's exactly what the brand wants. There are no skyscraper or airport-centric properties in Meliá's luxury brands. Gran Meliá hotels embrace neighborhood storytelling into their design. Its latest brand continues that theme, but one where the hotel name does not directly include the Meliá name. The Meliá Collection is a soft brand, much like The Luxury Collection with Marriott or Curio Collection with Hilton. These properties have their own identity although remain connected to the larger Meliá landscape through their reservation systems, loyalty programs and brand standards. For example, Casa de las Artes in Madrid belongs to The Meliá Collection, but is known simply as Casa de las Artes. One of the original buildings that now belongs to Casa de las Artes in Madrid Escarrer says distinctiveness and independent character are key to deciding which hotels fit well into the collection. The company started the brand during the tail end of the pandemic in 2022 when travel was at an all-time high and authenticity and splurging on cultural experiences was top of mind. It represents independent, boutique properties that benefit from Meliá's reach, but have their own story to tell like Casa de las Artes in Madrid. This hotel specializes in combining several art forms (fashion, music, cinema, art and literature among others) throughout its design and via numerous events open to the public. Its rooms blend contemporary style with the historic nature of the interconnected buildings (the indoor swimming pool is a standout feature in such a historic building). The surprisingly modern indoor pool at the historic Casa de las Artes in Madrid A calendar of weekly events invites the community in for poetry readings, fashion shows, musical performances and film screenings (the hotel has its own cinema). Dalí lithographs are on display, and each room showcases Gustave Doré's drawings from a historic copy of Don Quixote. Escarrer points out this is a next-level type of neighborhood immersion, where the hotel is symbolic to the area, but also invites locals to participate in it. Another property, Maison Colbert in Paris, is the closest five-star hotel to Notre Dame and makes up the former residence of Simone de Beauvoir. It takes its design inspiration from the works of Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla, who had a strong connection to Paris. The outdoor terrace at Ngorongoro Lodge overlooking the crater Safari-bound travelers will discover Meliá Collection properties in Tanzania with the Serengeti Lodge and Ngorongoro Lodge, both near the Ngorongoro Crater. Both properties are geared around connecting guests with the sounds of nature and viewing the park's wildlife. There are currently more than 10 projects underway to expand the brand in destinations like Albania, Malta and China. On its home turf of Spain, where name recognition is already high, the brand has plans to grow in Mallorca and Andalusia. A new resort in the Maldives is coming soon to The Meliá Collection, too. INNSiDE Elounda on the Greek island of Crete Beyond the luxury-focused soft brand, the larger pipeline consists of 69 projects across all its brands. This year, ME Málaga, ME Lisbon and INNSiDE Elounda in Greece will open. These are just a handful of the more than 20 properties it plans to open in 2025. The U.S., however, remains fertile ground for growth. There are two properties open now: Meliá Orlando and INNSiDE New York Nomad. Escarrer says that the U.S. is a significant outbound market for its brand, but as part of the expansion strategy, he is keen to grow in the domestic market. 'We are actively seeking opportunities to expand in the key 'gateway cities' of the U.S., such as Miami and New York, as well as in destinations with a strong 'bleisure' component, an area where we particularly excel,' adds Escarrer, referring to the trend of travelers mixing business and leisure during the same trip. Zel Mallorca is part of the brand's partnership with Rafa Nadal A partnership with Spanish super-athlete Rafael Nadal and Meliá has led to ZEL, a hospitality concept that 'mixes Mediterranean values and lifestyle,' says Escarrer. This brand mixes relaxation, sports and fitness into one resort while focusing on enhancing 'social connection,' too. Inspired by Mediterranean homes, ZEL hotels target the laid-back yet active lifestyle. Its first hotel opened in Mallorca in 2023 with a second in Costa Brava, Spain the following year. Late last year, ZEL Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic opened with more planned for Sayulita in Mexico and Vlora, Albania, marking its expansion into non-Spanish-speaking territory. The rooftop terrace at Madrid's Palacio de los Duques overlooks the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral. Recent McKinsey research points to the fact that some segments of the luxury travel market are growing quickly to meet demand. This is, in part, due to an 'expanding base of aspiring luxury travelers with net worths between $100,000 and $1 million, many of whom are younger and increasingly willing to spend larger shares of their wealth on upscale travel options.' According to Lesser, however, hotel brands should focus on differentiation, not just addition. He argues that the entire lodging industry, including the luxury segment, is 'way overcrowded' with brands, which could lead to some confusion among travelers and dilute brand identity. He believes a wise strategy should be to enhance existing brands to meet specific customer needs rather than create new ones. This approach not only provides clarity to consumers but also strengthens brand resilience in a competitive market, he adds. The lobby lounge at Hotel Fénix Gran Meliá, which also belongs to The Leading Hotels of the World Still, operating multiple and diverse brands allows hotel groups to appeal to a wider range of travelers and capture a broader spectrum of the market, from budget-conscious to luxury travelers, says Lesser. Meliá's approach follows right in line with these recommendations. It was missing a larger piece of the higher-end luxury segment, which it is now growing. It also is providing differentiation by adding recognized, historic properties to its collections rather than launch new brands where it had to start from scratch. Each Meliá Collection property is unique McKinsey's study points out that not all luxury travelers are wealthy. A growing number of brands may seem dizzying, but Lesser says it gives a wider range of options for different travel styles and budgets. People are looking for more than just a place to stay, but also a brand they can identify with, which is why differentiated products can make sense, adds Lesser. Whether that is staying somewhere affiliated with a famous athlete or in a historic palace, the consumer ends up with more choice. Escarrer believes there is plenty of space for expansion, and instead sees the biggest challenge for hospitality to be sustainability. He says the main responsibility should be generating a positive impact on destinations, which the brand is doing with its Menorca property. Villa Le Blanc Gran Meliá is the flagship for the brand's sustainability efforts. Villa Le Blanc Gran Meliá in Menorca became the brand's prototype in 2022 for maximizing efficiency and environmental responsibility. It was also the island's first grand luxe hotel, and late last year, completed the last step to become a 'net zero' hotel. S&P later recognized Meliá's as the most sustainable European hotel company in 2024. 'Sustainability has become increasingly important to travelers when choosing a hotel, with significant numbers indicating they prioritize and are willing to pay more for eco-friendly accommodations,' says Lesser. 'Implementing sustainable practices can improve a hotel's brand reputation, attract eco-conscious travelers, and create a competitive advantage.'
