Meliá adds five stars to Málaga with the opening of the ME Marbella and a luxury expansion plan.

Meliá Hotels International officially opened ME Marbella on July 24th, the second five-star hotel the chain has launched this year in the province following a six-and-a-half-month express renovation and a €20 million investment . The project, which doubles the workforce to 250 employees , consolidates the Balearic group's commitment to the luxury segment , which already aims to add five top-class establishments in the province of Málaga .

This renovation is part of the Balearic company's €125 million investment plan in Malaga . These two 5-star hotels in Marbella (Hotel Don Pepe Gran Meliá and ME Marbella) will be joined by three more properties in Malaga , Ronda , and Estepona with the same hotel rating. This commitment to the Costa del Sol is justified by its constant growth in luxury tourism , as stated by Petra, the company that owns the hotel.

The project completely transforms the 1980s building located in Puerto Banús. The renovation, designed by architects Adriana and Álvaro Sans (Estudio ASAH), reinterprets the Roman villa of Río Verde with circular courtyards, fine materials, and a seamless integration of interior and exterior. The complex offers 200 rooms, 24 of them suites, the presidential suite measuring 420 m² , a spa, several pools, and El Oasis, an indoor beach club that centralizes the hotel's social life.

The ME Marbella offers a diverse and sophisticated culinary offering, designed for both its guests and the local public. Under the management of the Pont Hospitality group, the hotel houses three distinct spaces : Solana , with a concept imported from Miami that fuses charcoal grills, Latin flavors , and a vibrant aesthetic; Barlume , with a cosmopolitan spirit and a coastal menu accompanied by signature cocktails ; and La Terraza del Med , which pays homage to local produce with a Mediterranean menu designed for local guests . This variety allows the culinary experience to be adapted to different environments and times of day, turning the hotel into a new gastronomic hub on the Costa del Sol.

Beyond accommodations, the hotel offers live music , art, and wellness experiences linked to local culture—from underwater wine tastings to pottery workshops—to attract lifestyle travelers seeking unique experiences. With this opening, Meliá consolidates its growth strategy in the luxury segment and once again places Marbella at the epicenter of elite experiential tourism on the peninsula.