Spanish hotel group Melia has signed an additional hotel in Italy, building its presence in the country’s luxury hotel sector.

The new addition will join the group’s Melia Collection brand, and is being developed in the coastal destination of Lerici. The town sits in the Gulf of Poets in Italy’s Liguria region, with the conurbation surrounding a medieval castle. Details are still being finalised, with the 80+ room property due to be completed within the next two years.

Growing to 18 Hotels in Italy

It will be Melia’s 18th property in Italy. The property is being developed by local partner SoGes Group, and will be operated by Melia under a franchise agreement. Guests will enjoy luxury rooms laid out in a series of terraces, maximising sea views, while the hotel will also feature a large spa and wellness facilities, meeting and event spaces, and an outdoor pool.

An August 2026 report by the Financial Times notes that Italy’s luxury hotel market is booming, thanks to continuing strong demand from well-off international travellers. As a result, there is strong demand from investors for a stake in trophy hotel assets, notably those backed by a major luxury brand, with strong international marketing reach.

Another Italian pipeline hotel for the group is planned on the island of Sicily. There, a 115 room INNSIDE branded hotel is in development. INNSIDE Cala Rossa will open in 2028 alongside the town of Terrasini on the island’s northern coast.

Melia launched its collection brand in late 2021, joining other international hotel groups in creating a way for individual private hotels to harness the marketing power of a major brand group, while retaining the look and feel of an unbranded hotel. Currently, Melia has more than 26 properties open or signed under its Melia Collection umbrella.

In Corfu, Melia recently signed the St Georges Bay Country Club & Spa to the brand. The 86 room property will take on Affiliated by Melia branding through the summer of 2026, ahead of an extensive renovation planned for the off-season. Following completion of these works, it will relaunch in 2027 as Melia Collection Corfu. Further works will take the room count up to 140 for the 2028 season.

“The addition of this hotel and its future transformation into The Melia Collection will allow us to deliver a truly differentiated proposition in one of Europe’s most inspiring destinations, while supporting the island’s evolution towards a more exclusive positioning,” commented Melia CEO Gabriel Escarrer. This will be a second collaboration with the Concord Group, who previously delivered the Melia Durres in Albania.

More Additions to the Collection Brand

Elsewhere, Melia Collection Cadiz is nearing completion, with an opening in the Spanish port city scheduled for late 2026. It will be followed by openings of Melia Collection Corfu, and in Mallorca, the Melia Collection Santa Ponsa.

The brand is also making headway in South America. Melia Collection Valle de Uco, and Melia Collection Terrazas del Gutierrez will both open in Argentina during 2028.