LONDON Sol Meliá announces the sixth property under its lifestyle ME Hotels brand, a London hotel slated to open in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The 173-key ME London is slated for the site of the City Bank building. The hotel, which will target both business and leisure travelers, will feature “cutting-edge” design by renowned British architect Norman Foster.
The announcement of ME London comes on the heels of the May groundbreaking of ME Vienna. Four ME properties are already open, in Madrid, Barcelona, Cancun and Cabo.
“With ME Vienna’s recent announcement, we are excited about the rapid expansion of the ME Hotels brand,” says Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, vice chairman and CEO of Sol Meliá Hotels and Resorts. “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.”
ME London 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 that was previously the site of the famous “Casa Marconi” and the City Bank building. The property is in the final stage of construction and is set to open in 2012 prior to the city’s Olympic Games. Built in line with the most rigorous standards, ME London will have “Biosphere Hotel” certification, a social and environmental hallmark already granted to the ME Madrid, ME Cancun and ME Barcelona.
The property will feature two destination restaurants and bars at ground level, as well as a convention center with 7,857 sq. ft. of available space. “The Level,” ME’s signature VIP floor, is an exclusive retreat that will offer aromatherapy products, complimentary cocktails, petit dejeuner, a separate check-in area and private access to an intimate lounge “where anything goes.”
ME London is Sol Meliá’s second hotel in London, joining Meliá White House, located next to Regent’s Park.