Sol Melia Hotels and Resorts is expanding its ME Hotel brand in two strategic European cities, London and Vienna. At present, the brand, which is geared toward a younger, jet-setting clientele, has four operating properties in Europe and Mexico: ME Barcelona; ME Madrid; ME Cancun; and ME Cabo in Los Cabos, Mexico.
“We are excited about the rapid expansion of the ME Hotels brand,” said Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, vice chairman and CEO of Sol Melia Hotels and Resorts, after plans for ME London were announced. “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.”
Scheduled to open in 2012, prior to the city’s Olympic Games, ME London will be designed by renowned British architect Sir Norman Foster and 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 Holborn’s Casa Marconi hotel and City Bank building. ME London is expected to join the ranks of Sir Foster’s signature projects including the British Museum, the Beijing Capital International Airport and New York City’s Hearst Tower.
The 173-room ME London will feature two destination restaurants and bars at ground level, as well as a convention center with 7,857 square feet of meeting space. Built in line with rigorous standards, ME London will have Biosphere Hotel certification, a social and environmental designation already granted to the ME Madrid, ME Cancun and ME Barcelona.
The Dominique Perrault-designed ME Vienna, which began construction in the summer of 2010, is also expected to be an architecturally stunning property. According to Perrault, the building design’s “features step-like sloping surfaces and looks like a fractionated block that’s been pulled apart.” Upon completion, Me Vienna will become Austria’s tallest building with 58 floors.
Guests at ME Vienna will be able to choose from 255 state-of-the-art rooms, including 102 Deluxe Rooms, 84 Loft Suites, 63 Urban Suites and six Grand Suites, all with panoramic city views. Standard amenities will include LCD televisions, complimentary Wi-Fi access, iPod docking stations, 300-thread-count linen sheets, organic bath products and hydro-massage showers.
“Vienna’s rich tradition of art and culture provides the perfect canvas for the ME modern lifestyle model. ME Vienna, like all ME hotels and resorts will offer guests a unique experience, which goes beyond accommodation, and will broaden the brand’s European presence,” said Jaume.
The Details
ME Hotels
www.mebymelia