Melia to enter Morocco with three new hotels

Spanish operator Melia Hotels International has signed an agreement to manage three new hotels under the Meliá Hotels & Resorts brand in Saidia Med, Morrocco, marking its first entrance to the destination.

The operator has joined forces with SDS, a partnership between Moroccan institutional fund, CDG and the Moroccan Tourism Development Fund.

Meliá Hotels International vice chairman and CEO Gabriel Escarrer said, "Along with growing leisure travel, we are also seeing a growing demand for superior quality, and travellers seeking the exclusive and unique experience that our Meliá brand offers guests, thanks to its unique attributes and service culture.”

Anasshouir Alami, chairman of SDS explained that: "Meliá has been chosen to operate the new luxury hotels due to its leadership and international experience in leisure travel, which will be key to the development and success of Saidia Med, and also its ability to diversify products to improve the segmentation and attractiveness of the destination."

The three properties include a Meliá beach hotel, with 396 rooms, a spa, convention centre, four restaurants and three bars, a kid's club and a beach club. Alongside this will be Meliá luxury holiday apartments with 190 rooms. Additionally a club hotel for families overlooking a golf course will offer 150 rooms.

All three properties are expected to open in 2016.

In the same year, Melia Hotels is expected to open its second property in Dubai, under its ME by Melia brand.

Unveiled as part of the Opus development from Dubai based developer Omniyat, ME by Meliá Dubai will be designed by the award winning Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid and located in the city’s Business Bay district.