ME by Meliá Malaga is scheduled to open at the end of 2024, and is intended to become a benchmark for modernity and avant-garde affluence in the Andalusian city.
Authentic experience
The hotel will be located on the Calle Victoria, next to the Plaza de la Merced, with views of the sea and the monuments of the Alcazaba.
Meliá will therefore introduce Malaga to a brand with positive recognition in the luxury travel market, combining architecture, design, art and cuisine to provide guests with an authentic experience connected to the essence of the destination.
Milanese inspiration
The property has been designed by ASAH (Álvaro Sans Arquitectura Hotelera), taking inspiration from another ME by Meliá hotel, ME Milan. The façade of the building will have numerous windows and combine the use of white with the local Malaga limestone to create a greater sense of place.
The ground floor will house the main restaurant and a large reception lounge to ensure the transition between the different spaces occurs gradually, adding more life to the urban environment and encouraging contact with the city.
Extensive facilities
The first floor will feature a convention centre and a gym, while the 128 guestrooms will be on the next four floors. The rooftop will have a large heated infinity pool with a sundeck, bar and restaurant. These spaces will be the epicentre of social experiences and cultural events in the hotel.
After the site’s archaeological surveys have been completed in line with local authority recommendations, construction is expected to begin in March, with the project management and construction in the hands of Domingo Corpas architecture studio.
Star swap
The project was initially planned as a four-star hotel, but was modified to raise its category to five stars and allow the application of the ME by Meliá brand. The hotel group reports this decision was made possible due to Malaga City Council’s intervention, demonstrating all parties’ commitment to boost the destination’s quality and improve its competitiveness in the luxury travel segment.
Gabriel Escarrer, executive vice president and CEO of Meliá, stated: “I’m totally convinced that ME by Meliá will find a natural home in this city, successfully responding to the demands of modern travellers for luxury experiences, and I share the vision and commitment of both Malaga City Council and our partners in the project, aiming to make this hotel a benchmark for luxury, modernity and prosperity on the Costa del Sol.”
Meliá ambition
Meliá continues to grow its portfolio of luxury hotels, which is scheduled to increase by more than 40% over the next 3 years.
On the slate already are the conversion of the historic Palazzo Venezia in Milan into the 84-key Palazzo Cordusio Gran Melia Hotel, scheduled for completion in Q3 this year; ME by Melia at Mercury Towers Malta in the coastal town of St Julians on the Mediterranean island, a 115-room hotel due to open in Q4 2023; and Gran Melia Tirana, delivering 125 keys in the Albanian capital in 2025.