Travelling anywhere fabulous without encountering a Meliá Hotels International property is hard these days. Spain’s leading hotel group – incidentally the third largest in Europe – is known for blending Spanish warmth with world-class elegance, and it’s set to continue to raise the bar for luxury travel in 2025 with the launch of some 15 new upscale hotels globally, each sure to become cultural hotspots in themselves. Prepare for bold, ambitious openings that promise exquisite hospitality, capturing the cultural zeitgeist of their destinations, paired with community-conscious and environmentally responsible luxury in some of the globe’s most enchanting locations.
As 2025 dawns, Meliá Hotels International remains dedicated to its legacy of crafting meaningful, celebratory experiences that embody the essence of a ‘life well lived’ – across Europe and beyond –building on the success of recent landmark openings like Palazzo Cordusio Gran Meliá in Milan and reinvigorations of some of our favourite ME by Meliá branded properties like ME London and ME Barcelona.
We’re enthused to hear that next year, the ME by Meliá brand will debut some monumental properties in Malta, Lisbon, Malaga and Marbella, reaffirming its engagement in destinations where style, culture and luxury naturally collide. A brand built for the modern traveller, ME blends contemporary design, 21st-century service and vibrant, immersive experiences.
It’s no secret that we love Malta, one of Europe’s most OutThere destinations. ME Malta is already turning heads in St. Julian’s, the lively seaside resort neighbourhood on the island’s northeastern coast. Designed by the iconic Zaha Hadid Architects as part of the famous Mercury Towers that dominate Malta’s skyline, we already know that ME Malta will rise quickly to become a cultural hotspot, drawing travellers with its buzzing restaurants, bars and year-round events with 113 rooms, 27 suites, and 35 residences across 20 floors. ME Malta offers the brand’s signature avant-garde design and guests can indulge in world-class dining at the Cabana Club, a rooftop oasis with sweeping views across the archipelago, Mediterranean flavours and a chic pool deck. Radio Rooftop – ME by Meliá’s signature rooftop bar concession – will serve up Asian-inspired menus and expertly crafted cocktails.
ME Lisbon, billed to open in early 2025, will bring the brand’s edgy design and cultural vibe to Portugal’s historic capital. Expect panoramic views from its Radio Rooftop Bar, contemporary dining and over 600 sqm/6,500 sqft of event (read, party) space. It kicks off a spate of openings for the brand: ME Malaga is due to open soon after, with ME Marbella by the summer and across the pond in Mexico, ME Sayulita and ME Guadalajara will bolster the brand’s Central American presence. It seems ME will be everywhere you want to be!
Now, you will always see us heralding growth in luxury travel. But as the rush to expand rapidly continues to dominate the hotel industry, our hope is that Meliá isn’t too blindsided by the new and dazzling in its dreams for expansion. We understand implicitly that OutThere travellers are constantly searching for something new – whether it’s a fresh experience, a hidden gem, or a new adventure to satisfy our curiosities and immerse ourselves in the unexpected. However, focusing solely on new openings over nurturing the properties already in the portfolio – particularly as ME by Meliá boasts design-forward properties – can be risky. A hotel’s initial wow factor may fade if its content and guest experience feel irrelevant or unattended, and the quest for new locations can dilute the brand’s reputation, leaving customers feeling underwhelmed. We have it on good authority that ME by Meliá aims to strike the delicate balance between expansion and ensuring that their existing properties continue to offer an exceptional experience that resonates with guests. After all, a strong portfolio is as much about quality as it is about quantity, consistency, and social currency across every property.
In other Meliá-related news, Meliá Collection – a portfolio catering to affluent travellers seeking boutique stays that blend local design with top-tier amenities – is also set to expand. In 2024, the collection debuted Casa de las Artes in Madrid, a boutique hotel inspired by the works of Cervantes, offering guests a mix of art exhibitions, workshops, and film screenings. Its immersive cultural experience, from the golden-age cinema to the cosy library, captures Madrid’s creative spirit. As 2025 approaches, two more exciting openings are lined up: Residenza Cardinale, bolstering Meliá’s luxury stronghold in Milan, and the first-ever Meliá Collection property in Asia, Melia Ba Vi Mountain near Hanoi.
Paradisus by Meliá continues to roll out its signature Destination Inclusive concept, blending stress-free escapes with deep cultural immersion and wellness. 2024 saw successful openings in Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, and 2025 will see renovations in Fuerteventura and new openings in Pattaya, Thailand. Guests can look forward to wellness-focused stays that offer relaxation and exploration, allowing them to discover local culture while revitalising their well-being.
And, of course, there’s ZEL, the lifestyle brand created in partnership with Rafael Nadal, which arguably will revolutionise the all-inclusive experience. Following its successful launch in Mallorca, ZEL has expanded to Costa Brava, with a new property opening in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in December, offering its signature swim-up suites, beach clubs, and vibrant culinary experiences. Next up: ZEL Sayulita in Mexico in 2025.
With all this talk of growth, building, and expansion, we also need to discuss sustainability. The intersection of growth and construction in the hotel industry with sustainability is a complex yet increasingly vital consideration. As supply and demand burgeons, hoteliers must rise to the challenge of mitigating their impact on the environment and its communities. The Experientialist® has been told that these concerns remain central to the ethos at Meliá Hotels International, and the brand continues to lead with eco-conscious developments. For example, Villa Le Blanc Gran Meliá has become a model of sustainable luxury, earning the title of ‘Net Zero’ hotel by the end of 2024. Through its Travel for Good programme, Meliá is driving positive environmental and social change.
Photography courtesy of Meliá Hotels International, Chino Roca and Vitaly Mazur. Featured imagery courtesy of Mercury Towers
