• The company's city hotels will offer "the best office in the city" for use during the day to attract a new niche market
  • Meliá is also finalising details to launch a long-stay product in resort hotels

The COVID-19 pandemic has put the resilience of hotel companies and their capacity for innovation to the test. Travel restrictions and new consumer trends influenced by social distancing and concerns about health and safety mean that companies have to innovate to adapt to the current business environment. In the light of these developments, Meliá Hotels International, one of the top 20 hotel companies in the world, is taking full advantage of its know-how, infrastructure and digital capabilities to explore new business opportunities.

The hotel company is leveraging its know-how and leadership in the "bleisure" segment (hotels designed to combine both business and leisure) to launch new products which allow customers to telework from its hotels while also enjoying all of the hotel's facilities. The product responds to the growing demand from companies and people who need a well-equipped, comfortable and safe space to carry out their work without any distractions and in privacy.

"The idea has been launched in a selection of "bleisure" hotels in city destinations that are looking for new ways to increase occupancy levels and revenues due to the lack of business travel and travel restrictions, focusing on the local market as the main objective" explains André Gerondeau, Chief Operating Officer at Meliá Hotels International. The new "Day Stay" product allows customers to use guestrooms and enjoy hotel services from 8am to 8pm, and is already available on this website in a selection of company hotels in Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and the United States, with prices ranging from 49 to 109 euros depending on the destination and the brand.

The pilot hotels for the product in Spain are the Meliá Madrid Serrano, Meliá Palma Marina (Mallorca), Meliá Sevilla, Meliá Lebreros (Seville), Meliá Bilbao, Meliá María Pita (A Coruña), INNSiDE Zaragoza, Hotel Valencia Oceanic and TRYP Barcelona Apolo. Outside of Spain, participating hotels include ME London (United Kingdom), ME Milan (Italy), Meliá Düsseldorf (Germany) and INNSiDE New York, among others.

The "Day Stay" package includes use of a guestroom certified as a safe space through the Stay Safe with Meliá programme and equipped with all the facilities required for work as well as unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi, mask and hydroalcoholic gel, a complimentary bottle of water, coffee, tea, a fitness ball, printing services and 10% discount at the hotel restaurants. Customers also get free access to the pool, gym and rooftop area and can use other services such as babysitting, room service, minibar, car park, transfers or vehicle rentals at an extra charge.

Long- Stay Workation

The company has also explored new opportunities in resort hotels and is finalising the details for the launch of a new "Long-Stay Workation" experience. As André Gerondeau confirms, "teleworking provides an opportunity to create a new long-stay hotel product which for an employee or customer is a kind of incentive, as it allows them to set up their office on the beach and enjoy all the tourism infrastructure, creating a perfect balance between their work and personal life and all the accompanying emotional benefits".

The experience has been specially designed for three types of traveller: those who are on vacation at the hotel and want to extend their stay to work, those who are on a business trip and want to stay a few more days on vacation in the destination, and those who work part-time and want to spend part of the day enjoying the hotel and the destination.

The program will soon be launched at a selection of all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and resorts in Spain, offering an extra 10% discount on room rates for stays of more than 14 days and 20% for stays of more than 21 days.​

About Melia Hotels International

Founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International has more than 400 hotels open or in the process of opening, in more than 40 countries, and a portfolio of ten brands: Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ME by Meliá, The Meliá Collection, Paradisus by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ZEL, INNSiDE by Meliá, Falcon's Resorts by Meliá, Sol by Meliá, and Affiliated by Meliá. The Company is one of the world's leading hotel chains in the leisure segment and its experience in this area has allowed it to consolidate itself in the growing market of urban hotels inspired by leisure. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led it to be recognised as the world's most sustainable hotel in 2022 according to S&P Global's Corporate Sustainability Assessment, as well as being a "Top Employer 2023" brand in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Italy and Germany. Meliá Hotels International is also part of the IBEX 35. For more information, please visit www.meliahotelsinternational.com