Sol Melia to Open ME London Hotel in 2012

MIAMI, Oct 6. /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Spanish hotel and resort operator Sol Melia is pleased to announce the arrival of ME London as the sixth "experience-based," personality hotel to the ME Hotels brand. Formerly the site of the City Bank building, ME London will be designed as a cutting-edge, contemporary hotel by renowned British architect Sir Norman Foster, making the hotel an icon of the London hotel industry for both business and leisure travelers. The property's announcement comes on the heels of ME Hotel's May 2010 groundbreaking of ME Vienna, in addition to its existing properties; ME Madrid, ME Barcelona, ME Cancun and ME Cabo.

Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, the Vice Chairman and CEO of Sol Melia Hotels and Resorts notes, "With ME Vienna's recent announcement, we are excited about the rapid expansion of the ME Hotels brand.  A flag in one of the travel industry's most important feeder markets will not only strengthen ME's European presence, but will also bring unforgettable experiences to travelers from all over the world."

ME London will be located in the heart of the tourist and business center of London, next to Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square in the district of Holborn. The property will occupy a triangular piece of land which was previously the site of the famous "Casa Marconi" and the City Bank building. The property is in the final stage of construction and is set to open in 2012 prior to the city's Olympic Games.

Designed by architect Sir Norman Foster, a native of Manchester, the 173-room ME London will capture incredible views of the city.  The property will feature two destination restaurants and bars at ground level, as well as a convention center with 7,857 square feet of available space. In keeping with the ME brand's spirit of transforming the routine to the memorable, Foster's vision will allow the property to be integrated seamlessly into the fabric of city life, offering guests an extension of their lifestyles, intriguing, challenging, and stimulating the senses.  ME London will join the ranks of Sir Foster's signature projects including the British Museum, the Beijing Airport, and NYC's Hearst Headquarters, among others. Built in line with the most rigorous standards, ME London will have "Biosphere Hotel" certification, a social and environmental hallmark already granted to the ME Madrid, ME Cancun and ME Barcelona.

"The Level," ME's signature VIP floor, is an exclusive retreat.  In addition to the standard amenities, ME London's Level floor will offer guests aromatherapy products, complimentary cocktails, petit dejeuner, a separate check-in area and private access to an intimate lounge where anything goes.

The ME Hotels brand is the most innovative luxury brand operated by Sol Melia and currently includes two hotels in Spain, ME Madrid and ME Barcelona, and two in Mexico, ME Cancun and ME Cabo, with the addition also scheduled of ME Vienna, occupying 22 floors of the tallest building in the Austrian capital. Sol Melia is confident that ME London, located in the hub of London's social and business life, will further raise its brand awareness and reputation in international markets.

ME London will become the second hotel for the Sol Melia chain in the British capital, joining the Melia White House, located next to Regent's Park, which has enjoyed a decade of uninterrupted success.

About ME Hotels

ME hotels are contemporary interpretations of the Melia experience. It is a brand which seeks to fuse innovative style with local flavors in order to captivate travelers of a common psychographic – those with a decisive taste for cutting-edge art and design, international cuisine and world music – rather than a common demographic. By capturing these elements in urban and resort destinations, in hot spots such as Barcelona, Cabo, Cancun and Madrid, this new philosophy ignites a passion in each guest while appealing to their senses and emotions. The experience is unforgettable. Learn more at www.mebyMelia.com.

About Sol Melia

Sol Melia was founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca (Spain) and is one of the world's largest resort hotel chains, as well as Spain's leading hotel chain in both the business and leisure markets. It currently provides more than 300 hotels in 26 countries on 4 continents under its brands:  Gran Melia, Melia, ME Hotels, Innside by Melia, Tryp by Wyndham, Sol, Paradisus and Sol Melia Vacation Club. www.solmelia.com

Sol Melia is the only travel company included in the exclusive "FTSE4GoodIbex" Spanish stock market index and is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact. In 2008 the company approved its Global Sustainability Policy and in 2009 it was named the first "Biosphere Hotel Company" by the Responsible Tourism Institute, supported by UNESCO. That same year the company was also awarded the Prince Felipe Award for Tourism Excellence for the second time.

The company currently employs more than 33,000 people worldwide with staff from over 90 different countries. The company fully respects equal rights and balance in its contracting of male and female staff and 10% of its workforce is made up of immigrants.

SOURCE ME London