Spanish hotelier Sol Melia will make its first entry into
the continental United States next month as it assumes operations of the former
Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown, the company announced Thursday.
The Palma de Mallorca, Spain-based company, which has a
portfolio of more than 300 hotels across 26 countries, will assume operations
of the 502-room Atlanta business district hotel from Marriott International on
Oct. 15 and rename it the Melia Atlanta. The company also will commence a $35
renovation project to the property, slated for completion by 2013, which will include
an upgrade to the fourth-floor pool deck and new dining options.
Sol Melia currently operates a handful of properties in the
Americas, including hotels in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, the Dominican
Republic and Costa Rica, but the company is aiming for more expansion in the
United States. “Venturing into this particular market will help with the
development of numerous projects the Sol Melia chain wants to develop in the
U.S. within the next few years,” Sol Melia co-vice president and CEO Gabriel Escarrer
Jaume said in a statement.
Besides the upper upscale Melia brand, Sol Melia also
operates the luxury Gran Melia and ME brands as well as select-service and
midprice brands. In June, the company sold the management rights to its midprice Tryp brand to Wyndham Hotel Group, although Sol Melia retained the
ownership of the properties. Sol Melia plans to work jointly with Wyndham to
further develop the brand, including in U.S. destinations.