Prevue November/December 2015 - (Page 16)
fresh meets
Melia Hotels International
Revived focus on international growth sparks strategic expansion in emerging markets
Melia Costa Hollywood Beach
A
s the largest hotel company in Spain, 99 percent of Melia
Hotels International's forthcoming hotels are taking
root outside of the country. Revived focus on international
growth has added over 100 hotels to its portfolio over the past few
years, increasing room count across the board by 5,000 since 2014
alone. The majority of new development is happening in emerging
markets within Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean and
Latin America.
In short, the hotel company is slowly crawling out from the
shadows of the world's largest American and Chinese hotel chains.
Vice Chairman and CEO Gabriel Escarrer says despite this resounding
success-including 17 quarters of uninterrupted growth-rest
assured, Melia's commitment to Spain isn't going anywhere.
"We will continue to invest and reinvent our value proposal
for guests and for society as a whole." One case in point is the
173-room ME Barcelona, positioned next to Plaza Catalunya and
Paseo de Gracia, which is soon to be a flagship for contemporary
luxury in Barcelona. The boutique TRYP Castellon Center opened
earlier this year in Castellon, just five minutes from the beach.
Asia remains the strongest area of growth. Since 2012, Melia's
Asia's properties have grown from six to 26, propelling upscale and
premium brands Innside by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, and the
luxury lifestyle ME by Meliá brand forward.
Melia aims to woo Chinese travelers with "Peng You by
Meliá," which will, among other things, teach Mandarin to hotel
staff, accept Chinese credit cards from Union Pay across all hotels,
offer Chinese TV programming, menus and minibar products based
on personal preferences, and provide translations of all guest
materials. Peng You will gradually roll out across 80 hotels within
Melia's portfolio. Asia-Pacific's service and hospitality values found
alignment with Melia, Escarrer says, helping it to quadruple its
portfolio in the region over the past few years.
"Hospitality is universal, and today it has to cater to the C
Chinese [business traveler]," Escarrer explains. "Ultimately, the M
aim of Peng You is to adapt our hospitality to another culture and
Y
language, making us even more universal."
CM
Opening in 2016, the 190-room Meliá Shanghai Hongqiao
will be part of a major urban complex in Hongqiao, featuring MY
commercial and entertainment facilities, dining outlets, green CY
areas and high-end residential villas. The integration of the
CMY
Hongqiao Transportation Hub (Airport & Railway) is expected to
K
position Hongqiao as the business hub for the Yangze River Delta
region. The hotel will be in close proximity to the new National
Convention and Exhibition Center (formerly the China Expo
Exhibition Center), one of the world's largest exhibition complexes.
Indonesia is another important Asia-Pacific target. The country
will welcome its thirteenth hotel in 2017 with the 233-room Innside
Bandung and opening of the Sol House Kuta Bali later this
year. Eight more hotels are scheduled to open in 2016 and 2017.
In Europe, Germany is on the agenda with six new hotels in the
works, including the 291-room Melia Frankfurt slated for 2019,
which will mark the brand's 13th hotel in the country and 900
rooms in the city.
Brazil is getting its piece of the pie-eight hotels are in the
works, including the 350-room Meliá Ibirapuera, while in the
Americas, the 226-room Melia Jamaica, taking shape in the
former Braco Village Resort in Trelawny will open later this year,
130-room ME Miami and 307-room Meliá Costa Hollywood
will open in 2016.-Johnalee Johnston
melia.com
"Ultimately, the aim of Peng You is to adapt our hospitality to another
culture and language, making us even more universal."
16 | prevue magazine
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
http://www.melia.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue November/December 2015
Planner’s Pick: Salt Lake City
Bureau Buzz: Birmingham
Fresh Meets: Melia Hotels International
Good Business: Community Outreach at ASAE
Sea Shores: Crystal Cruises
Ode to Inspiration
ASIA & THE PACIFIC
AMERICA’S SOUTHEAST
SWEDEN
On Location: South Korea
On Location: Istanbul
USVI
LOS ANGELES
On Location: Panama
On Location: Scottsdale
Checkout: Kalahari Resort & Convention Center
Prevue November/December 2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/MarchApril2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/JanuaryFebruary2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/NovemberDecember2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/SeptemberOctober2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/fl2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/visitflorrida
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/SeptemberOctober2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/clubmed
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/JanFeb2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/july_august_2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/may_june_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/march-april-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/jan_feb_2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/nov_dec_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/sept_oct_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/prevue/july_august_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/may_june_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/march_april_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/prevuejan_feb_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/Nov_Dec_2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/sept_oct_2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/july_aug_2010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com