Spanish hotel group Melia is expanding its presence in Thailand, with the signing of two new hotel projects in the country.
The additions will see Melia take on two hotel assets in the hands of investment group Asset World Corporation, a group with which it already has a strong working relationship. First to join the Melia brand, in late 2024, will be the Grand Sole hotel in Pattaya. The 234 room property will be rebranded as Melia Pattaya City following a substantial renovation of the three star hotel. Exploiting its coastal location, the hotel will have an all day dining restaurant, with a theatre, kids club and fitness facilities being added to the property.
A mega tourism project
The hotel sits within AWC’s large mixed use project in Pattaya, Aquatique, where the developer is aiming to bring together a cluster of hotels and attractions into a new tourism destination. The group is also working with IHG Hotels & Resorts to develop hotels in Thailand, and in 2023 agreed to build a Kimpton branded hotel in Aquatique, which will have 193 rooms and will open in 2028.
With U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport just a 30 minute drive away, and Suvarnabhumi International Airport a little over an hour distant, AWC has high hopes that Aquatique will play a major role in helping raise the international profile of Pattaya as a growing leisure destination for tourists from a growing number of source markets. Thailand continues to grow and upgrade its tourism offering, as it recovers its market position on the global stage, following the disruption of the pandemic years.
A second Melia property has also been planned in Pattaya, showcasing Melia’s all-inclusive brand. The Paradisus Jomtien Resort will launch in 2028 and is a large new build hotel that will have 698 rooms, featuring a 43 storey tower to allow many guests to enjoy sea views from their rooms. The property will feature vertical greenery on its sustainable facade, while 44 suites will include a terrace and plunge pool.
Expanding relationships
“The addition of these two hotels to our portfolio marks a major milestone in our long-term relationship with AWC,” said Melia CEO Gabriel Escaper. “We will build on the success of Melia Koh Samui, Melia Chiang Mai, and most recently Innside by Melia Bangkok Sukhumvit in Thailand with AWC.”
Currently, Melia has four operating hotels in Thailand. With the latest signings, it now has four more in development, giving it a presence in the key Thai tourism destinations of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Phuket and Pattaya.
AWC is a leading real estate developer in Thailand. After a strong 2023 which saw performance at its hotel investments bounce back strongly, the company launched a plan to double the value of its asset portfolio within five years. Working with top tier partners, it intends to upgrade existing assets, convert others to mixed use projects that include a hotel, as well as breaking ground on new developments.