Sol Melia’s Grand Melia Enters the Puerto Rico Market

The re-flagging of Paradisus Puerto Rico Resort to Grand Melia Puerto Rico will be the brand’s first entry into U.S. Territory. The conversion introduces Melia’s new brand attributes to the Caribbean Grand Melia, Melia Hotel’s most prestigious brand, will be introduced for the first time in U.S. territory on May 1.

Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts has made its flagship in Puerto Rico a Grand Melia, which recently revamped its brand attributes and is initiating new improvements. The brand’s changes reflect the outcome of the company’s research department which analyzed market trends and new consumer profiles.

The conversion to a Grand Melia Puerto Rico, a traditional European Plan (EP) resort, is the result of changes in Puerto Rico’s marketplace, as well as Sol Melia’s ongoing strategy to expand the Grand Melia brand in the Americas. Grand Melia is Sol Melia’s most luxurious EP brand, aimed at both the high-end leisure and business traveler.

Grand Melia Puerto Rico will join the Grand Melia Cancun as the second Grand Melia resort in the Caribbean. Grand Melia Puerto Rico is located beachfront on the island’s northeastern coast known as Coco Beach, in the town of Rio Grande. The hotel features 486 junior suites distributed among 20 two-story bungalows, 96 suites, 5 The Garden Villas and one Presidential Villa.

Sol Melia plans to make investments to improve the hotel’s services and décor subsequent to the new, rigorous standards set by the Melia brand. Grand Melia Puerto Rico will offer The Level, an exclusive service, more personalized than Royal Service, which will provide the most discerning guests with private areas, exclusive pool and beach areas, personal concierge and other customized services.

“It is a pleasure to welcome the new Grand Melia to Puerto Rico,” said Terestella Gonzalez Denton, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. “Hotel development and renovation are key to the future of Puerto Rico’s tourism growth and the core of our strategic plan to grow visitors to the island through 2011.”

Grand Melia hotels are located in major international cities and resorts throughout the world, including Europe, Asia and the Americas. Many of the brand’s properties have been recognized by The Leading Hotels of the World and by American Automobile Association (AAA).