RIU Will Open its Hotel in Edificio España in June with a 65% Occupancy Rate

21 February 2019 – Cinco Días

The work to renovate Edificio España is progressing towards its imminent completion after years of drama involving the historical skyscraper in Madrid’s Plaza de España, constructed between 1948 and 1953. The hotel chain Riu expects to conclude the renovation work in the spring and will inaugurate its hotel Riu Plaza España at the beginning of the summer, most likely in June. The Mallorcan chain expects to open with an occupancy rate of 65% for the first few months of operation, according to explanations provided by sources at the company.

The hotelier expects that half of the guests at Riu Plaza España will be business travellers and the rest tourists. The company chose the 4-star format for this establishment precisely to strengthen its business market, since many companies expressly prohibit their employees from staying in 5-star hotels.

Riu Plaza España is one of the company’s largest hotels, with 585 rooms and the first to operate under the Plaza brand in the city, focused on the urban market. Regarding the provenance of its guests, Riu expects 60% to come from overseas (…).

Original story: Cinco Días (by Alfonso Simón Ruiz)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Four Seasons to Invest €600M in a New Resort in Marbella

27 September 2018 – Diario Sur

The Four Seasons hotel chain, one of the world’s leading luxury tourism companies, is preparing to make its debut on the Costa del Sol with a resort in which it plans to invest €600 million. Although this will be the brand’s second project in Spain, given that it has been working on the construction of a 22-room hotel in Madrid since last year, this latest initiative is much more ambitious, both in terms of volume and location.

The resort is going to be built on a plot measuring around 400,000 m2 on the beach front and which occupies land on both sides of the A-7 motorway. It is the last plot of its kind that has not been built on yet in one of the most sought-after parts of Marbella, in the Los Monteros area.

The plot is owned by Villa Padierna, which is, in turn, owned by the Málagan businessman Ricardo Arranz, who has teamed up with the US firm Fort Partners for this development and the Brussels-based real estate firm Inmobel. Four Seasons will participate not only in the management of the hotel, it will also lend its name to the whole development, which will include private residences and villas in addition to a 200-room hotel. The complex will also include restaurants operated by international brands, which will make their debuts in Spain with this project.

It is expected that the urban developments will occupy approximately one quarter of the 400,000 m2 land. The project will be developed by the architect Richard Meier and construction work will begin as soon as the execution has been completed of a partial plan that has already been approved, according to explanations from Arranz.

One of the most notable features being planned is a tunnel underneath the road, which will allow the hotel and the homes that are going to be built to the north of the motorway to have sea views. The corresponding permits for that piece of work have already started to be processed.

Arranz highlighted the transcendence that the arrival of a leading brand such as Four Seasons has for Marbella and the Costa del Sol as a whole. It will be the first firm of its standing to operate in Andalucía and it will play an important role in the battle against seasonality given the large portfolio of clients that it enjoys (…).

Original story: Diario Sur (by Héctor Barbotta)

Translation: Carmel Drake

The Hotel Ritz in Madrid Closes its Doors for a €99M Refurb

27 February 2018 – Invertia

Following the purchase of the Ritz hotel in 2015 for more than USD 148 million (€120.7 million), its current owners, Mandarin Oriental and the Saudi group Olayan, announced that they would subject the property to an extensive renovation to significantly improve its facilities and services.

The investment by Mandarin Oriental, which administers the hotel under a long-term management agreement, quantifies its stake in the renovation at USD 60.5 million (€49 million), which is going to be financed through an appropriate combination of capital and debt.

Whilst the hotel is closed, its staff will participate in training programs and/or will be sent on temporary assignments at other Mandarin Oriental establishments, in preparation for the grand reopening.

Following the remodelling, in which the Spanish architect Rafael de La Hoz is participating, along with the French designers Gilles & Boissier, the hotel will have 106 rooms and 47 suites and Mandarin Oriental will be added to its current name ‘the Ritz’.

The intention of the owners is to improve the facilities and services at the hotel but to conserve its essence, which is defined by the “Belle Epoque” style of the original building.

Sources at the Hotel Ritz have informed Efe that the construction work will involve the remodelling of the dome and the installation of a swimming pool, amongst other aspects.

The same sources have said that the furniture and objects of value at the hotel will be stored in warehouses in Madrid and that a decision will be taken in the future as to whether some of them will be sold directly or through auction.

The hotel, located in the so-called “Golden Art Triangle” of Madrid, has hosted members of royalty, politicians, magnates and celebrities since its inauguration in 1910.

Original story: Invertia

Translation: Carmel Drake

Hyatt To Open Its New 5-Star Hotel In Madrid In December

6 November 2017 – Cinco Días

Nine years after it stopped managing Hotel Villa Magna, the North American hotel chain Hyatt, is finalising its return to Spain and will benefit from first-mover advantage in the battle between the luxury hotels in Madrid. It will be the first to open, but close behind it will be followed by the five-star Four Seasons hotel in Canalejas, the four-star RIU hotel in Plaza de España and the five-star Starwood hotel in the former Hotel Asturias.

The hotel will be located in the heart of Gran Vía, will have 159 rooms (of which 10% will be suites with views over the iconic street) and will be very focused on tourists with a high purchasing power. Gonzalo Maggi, Director of the hotel, highlights that it will be the first hotel to operate under the Centric brand in Europe. “The main features of the brand including being at the centre of the action. We are targeting clients who want to explore, get to know the city and discover new things and who want to use the hotel as a launch pad for their stay”, says Maggi, who admits that the building work is being accelerated to ensure that the hotel will be ready to open in December to take advantage of the Christmas rush.

Maggi defines the client that his hotel is targeting as “lifestyle”, which serves, in his opinion, to differentiate its offer from those of the other operators that are going to compete with Hyatt. “We are going to target people who place a lot of importance on design, fashion, the people they share space with and the gastronomy they seek. We are going to position ourselves in the high-end segment. Of the scale of traditional five-star hotels, we are going to aim a bit lower, but in the highest range of the new establishments”, he says. Another feature of the chain is the food. “We are going to have a music studio in the hotel lobby specialising in vermouths, a restaurant with international food and a rooftop bar, which will open in the first quarter of 2018”, he says (…).

The Director of the Hyatt Centric forecasts that to start with, 40% of the hotel’s clients will come from the USA, where the brand has been established for 60 years and is very well known. The rest will come mainly from three European countries (France, Germany and the UK) as well as from certain Asian countries. Maggi does not rule out that the hotel will also spark interest in the domestic market, despite its high prices, given its good location.

The director of the hotel highlights that Spain represents a very interesting market, as shown by the opening of the Park Hyatt in Mallorca a year and a half ago, although he is sure that the main opportunities are in Madrid and Barcelona (…). Asked about the hotel moratorium, he says (…) “as soon as they let us build there, we will launch ourselves into that market. It is a fantastic city and has a great deal to offer”, he says.

Original story: Cinco Días (by Carlos Molina)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Schauinsland-Reisen Buys Two Hotels In Fuerteventura

28 November 2016 – Real Estate Press

The German tour operator Schauinsland-Reisen has acquired Hotel R2 Río Calma and the Maryvent apartment complex, both located in Fuerteventura.

According to a statement issued by the Company, the Canary Islands represent one of the main destinations for the tour operator. For this reason, Schauinsland-Reisen has invested in two very well-known and well-regarded tourist complexes in the Canary Islands. The two buildings are located on the Costa Calma de Fuerteventura and are very popular with the German market, according to the company. The group has acquired 100% of the superior 4-star Hotel R2 Río Calma, which has 416 rooms, and has become the majority shareholder of the Maryvent apartment complex, which is also a 4-star property.

Gerald Kassner, CEO at the company, appeared very happy with the success of the agreements and the incorporation of these hotels into the firm’s portfolio. “We are very happy to be acquiring these two beach-front hotels for the German market and for our clients. Both tourist complexes fit perfectly with the Schauinsland-Reisen portfolio in terms of quality and location”, he said.

The group highlights that the Maryvent apartment complex has a “prime location” right on the beach front at Playa de Costa Calma. Guests stay right next to the 1km-long, shallow beach. (…).

Within the R2 hotel chain complex, the tour operator Duisburgo also exclusively operates the 5-star R2 Romantic Fantasia Suites Design de Bahía Playa, the 4-star R2 Design Hotel Bhía Playa and the 4-star R2 Romantic Fantasia Dream.

In June, the German tour operator bought its first hotel in Mallorca, the Bahía Cala Ratjada, a 4-star property, formerly known as Eva Park.

Original story: Real Estate Press

Translation: Carmel Drake

Ayco Buys Hotel Byblos In Mijas For €60M

26 September 2016 – Real Estate Press

As a result of this operation, Hotel Byblos hopes to restore its reputation as a luxury establishment in the health and family tourism sector, focused on the world of golf.

Ayco’s representatives have communicated that the real estate group plans to completely rebuild the property, which houses one of the largest five-star luxury hotels on the Costa del Sol. They plan to retain the hotel’s characteristic features, as well as incorporate new elements, such as a health and beauty area.

The five-star Hotel Byblos Hotel is an icon of the tourism industry on the Costa del Sol, since many internationally famous personalities have passed through its facilities, including the mythical Rolling Stones and Lady Di, amongst many others.

The establishment, opened in 1986, achieved enormous international fame as an icon of high quality tourism until it was acquired by the real estate group Aifos, which then led it to ruin, until its closure on 31 May 2010. In 2009, the British magnate Lord Sugar, founder of the mythical information technology company Amstrad, acquired the hotel and considered the possibility of reopening it in 2013, but that did not end up happening.

Original story: Real Estate Press

Translation: Carmel Drake

Spanish Hoteliers See No ST Threat From Brexit

3 August 2016 – Hotel News Now

Spanish hoteliers said they have yet to see any immediate negative impact on tourism from the U.K. since that country voted to leave the European Union.

“Spain has long been, and should remain for the foreseeable future, the favored vacation destination for British visitors despite Brexit, and all indications are that bookings well into next year are still healthy,” said Juan Molas, President of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (CEHAT), during a 28 July news conference.

The U.K. is Spain’s largest source market for foreign visitors. Last year, 68 million foreign visitors traveled to Spain, which was an increase of 5% over the previous year. Approximately 16 million Britons accounted for 21% of those visitors.

Following the victory for the “leave” vote in the 23 June Brexit referendum and the resulting drop in the value of the pound against the euro, there was concern in the Spanish hotel sector that the subsequent higher prices would keep Britons away.

But hoteliers noted that British travelers traditionally reserve their holidays months in advance, so there appears to be no immediate negative impact on peak business this summer.

Molas said that momentum should extend into the 2016-2017 winter season and next summer. He added that Spain’s tour operators and travel agencies that sell package vacations—which are used by 70% of British tourists when booking their Spanish holidays—have noticed steady booking trends well into 2017.

“Spain continues to be the most popular vacation spot for the British, who don’t tend to travel for leisure to some of our competitors like Egypt or Turkey, which are more popular among the Germans and French,” he said. “Spanish hotels and destinations offer the British what they want on a holiday: safety and good value for money. We’ve seen the pound-euro exchange rate fluctuate often in the past, and there was no lasting major effect on us.”

But Molas cautioned the weaker pound could curtail daily spending by British visitors in Spain and London will now be a cheaper alternative for event booking than Spanish cities.

“London is our biggest competitor in Europe for the convention trade, and Paris, where hotel prices have fallen because of the recent unfortunate events in France, is also a rival,” he said. “But our biggest competitor in all of this would be for the British to decide not to travel and just stay home.”

Long-term effects of Brexit are still unknown, said CEHAT Secretary General Ramón Estalella.

“We don’t have a crystal ball to see into the future, but there are three important unknowns to consider,” he said. “One is when Britain will finally leave the EU and what further effects that might have. Two, no one knows where the pound will be in value (in) six months or there could be a crisis in Europe dragging down the value of the euro and so making the pound stronger. And three, what might happen in our competitor countries that could affect the British source market.”

The CEHAT executives also presented the findings of a survey of its members—which include 54 local and regional hotel associations and 1.5 million beds—on the sector’s performance through the end of the summer. A majority of the respondents are looking forward to a positive high season thanks largely to a rise in room rates and longer average stays by guests, which will result in higher profits.

Molas said hoteliers are confident that the continuing demand from both Spanish and foreign guests will increase.

“What’s important now is to use the occupancy rates to maximize earnings and promote Spain through advertising and marketing so we can cement its position as one of the leading tourism destinations in the world,” Molas said.

Original story: Hotel News Now (by Benjamin Jones)

Edited by: Carmel Drake