Meliá Hotels International has revealed the next phase of its Asian expansion strategy, with plans for its first hotel in Chongqing.
The Spanish hotel group will launch the new Meliá Chongqing Hotel in 2015, adding to the two existing Meliá properties in Shanghai.
The move forms the latest phase in Meliá’s strategy to expand into emerging markets of Asia and Latin America, to cushion it from a downturn in demand in its native Spanish market.
The Meliá Chongqing Hotel, which will become the first Meliá Hotels & Resorts-branded property in China, will feature 280 rooms and three restaurants. The company said it would also “provide the growing business travel segment with the first opportunity to hold events and conventions in a privileged environment”.
Commenting on the Chinese expansion, Meliá’s Vice Chairman & CEO Gabriel Escarrer said the company “will continue to advance in the coming years in positioning its brands in China, to become one of the tourist development leaders in this gigantic market and strengthen its leadership position among the major international hotel chains”.
The new Meliá Chongqing will be the third Meliá hotel in China, following the Gran Meliá Shanghai which opened since 2009 and the Gran Meliá Xian, which is scheduled to open in 2013.The company also has a presence in Indonesia and Vietnam.