BlueBay Signs JV With Nadhmi Auchi To Operate Hotel Miguel Angel

18 September 2015 – Cinco Días

The Madrilenian Hotel Miguel Angel is going to be operated by a prestigious player once more, but not one that has a significant international presence. The hotel chain BlueBay will manage the property from now on, after it reached an agreement with the owner, the Iraqui born Briton Nadhmi Auchi, who has been running the hotel since December 2013, when Occidental Hoteles departed, whereby putting an end to its operations in Spain.

All of the international hotel chains have had their eyes on Hotel Miguel Angel, amongst others, since the Four Seasons announced its arrival in Madrid, in the Canalejas complex, and Mandarin announced its acquisition of the Ritz. In the end, the Spanish firm BlueBay, owned by investor Jamal Satli Iglesias, will take over the management of the property, which has 267 rooms, under an agreement that will involve the creation of a joint venture between BlueBay and Nadhmi Auchi. Together, they will invest around €35 million on the refurbishment. The renovation will be completed over the next few months and will involve the creation of new facilities and the expansion of the gastronomic offer, according to the chain, which aims to convert the hotel into “one of the most emblematic luxury, 5-star establishments in the city and in Spain”, said the CEO of BlueBay, Joaquín Janer.

This operation is BlueBay’s first foray into Madrid – traditionally, the company has a strong presences in the holiday hotel market, but not in the city hotel segment – it owns one 3-star hotel in Barcelona and two hotels in Mérida (one 5-star and one 4-star). BlueBay’s portfolio contains 52 properties across 27 locations. It will soon add eight more assets as a result of its international expansion, which will take place in the Middle East, Latin America and Europe. In April, it announced its expansion into Morocco and it plans to start constructing four hotels in Brazil this quarter.

In Spain, BlueBay is also working to open two other properties, in Marbella and Estepona, in 2018, which will require an investment of around €100 million. The chain, founded in 1976, operates six brands, including the urban specialist BlueCity. The brand used to be owned by Marsans, but following that company’s bankruptcy in December 2009, the businessman Jamal Satli Iglesias acquired it from Posibilitum, in an operation that included the management of 11 hotels. Satli Iglesias also holds a stake in Málaga Football Club, through which he has a dispute pending with its chairman, Abdullah Al Thani.

Renovation of Madrid’s luxury hotels

The refurbishment of Miguel Angel will represent a new boost for the 5-star segment in the capital, following the arrival of Four Seasons, which resulted in a “pull effect” in Madrid for other major international operators. During this time, Mandarin joined forces with the Olayan Group to purchase the Ritz. Despite this, the city’s hotel market is still missing companies such as Hyatt, Kempiski, Hilton, W and Shangri-La, although the details of the Wanda group’s plans for its hotel project at Edificio España have not yet been revealed. One of the most tempting properties for investors and operators over the coming months will inevitably be the Villa Magna, whose owner rejected a purchase offer from Jaime Gilinski in August for €190 million, and the (Westin) Palace. The owners of the latter have set a sales price of €330 million for the establishment.

Original story: Cinco Días (by Laura Salces Acebes)

Translation: Carmel Drake