TORONTO — Travel advisors along with other trade partners and media got the lowdown on all things Melia Hotels International, thanks to not just one but two trade events yesterday.

Sara Ranghi, Marketing & Brand Management Director, Americas, Melia Hotels International, hosted the Toronto events, including a lunch for trade media at Stratus restaurant in the TD Tower, and an event for travel advisors in the evening.

Melia Hotels International’s portfolio includes some of the best-known brands in the business, including Melia Hotels & Resorts, Gran Melia Hotels & Resorts, and Paradisus.

Travelweek touched base with Ranghi to find out all the latest resort updates, plus MeliaPRO and the recently-launched incentive program for agents, ‘Earn & Grow’.

Travelweek: The pent-up demand for travel has no doubt been good to Melia Hotels International! What can you tell us about the company’s performance in 2023? And how are forward bookings for the upcoming winter 2023 – 2024 season?

Ranghi: “2023 has been and still is a good year for Melia, here in America – especially for the Caribbean and our two hotels in the U.S. – and we’re also seeing a big increase in demand for our hotels in Europe.

“Going back to the Caribbean, we have been getting a much more-than-anticipated sales boost versus the previous year, and a big part of it is thanks to the Canadian market that trusts in our brands.

“For winter 2023/2024 we are already getting bookings for Mexico and Punta Cana, a very good boost from the Canadian market. So all good news – and happy to share that right here in Canada.”

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Travelweek: What’s your advice for travel agents who might have clients asking about sun getaways over the December holiday break?

Ranghi: “Our advice to the travel agents is to keep trusting in our brands and our hotels. We have 380 to choose from, 10 brands in multiple segments, more than 40 countries, with new openings coming. And to keep convincing their customers to make their reservations in advance, to be able to take advantage of better hotel rates.

“We do want to take the opportunity to thank all travel agents for the continuous support that we get from them, which allows us to have a good positioning in this market.”

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Travelweek: What’s new with Melia Hotels & Resorts, Gran Melia Hotels & Resorts, and Paradisus, and what are some of Melia’s other brands that you want to be sure Canadian travel advisors have on their radar too?

 Ranghi: “Great three brands to present …

“Paradisus is our flag brand in America, that is where this brand was born and with a strong positioning as a Destination Inclusive luxury brand. We have dedicated more than US$50 million in the renovation of Paradisus Palma Real in D.R. There have been smaller refurbishments but not less important in Paradisus Los Cabos – which is becoming adults-only as of January 2024, we had to make it more appealing for adults, and designed for adults. Paradisus Cancun’s entire The Reserve Pyramid is being refurbished to better service our top adults-only guests. Paradisus La Perla is undergoing many changes for a more unique experience for adults. And last but definitely not least, the opening of the brand in the Canary Islands: Paradisus Gran Canarias and Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote.

“Melia Hotels & Resorts is our mother brand, the one that has the biggest number of hotels, and the one that flags our refined Spanish service culture around the world. In the Americas we continually work on our unique concept of Wellness Inclusive at our Melia Punta Cana Beach, where spa treatments are included in our The Level rooms Category, and with five spaces to allow our customers to enjoy their wellbeing: culinary, social, personal, silent and sensorial. Also in 2024 we will be opening a new Melia in Cancun, which we are very happy to announce.

“Gran Melia is a brand that represents ‘the life well lived’. We have an amazing representation in America with the Gran Melia Iguazu, the only hotel that is inside Iguazu National Park, it is just spectacular. We will be opening a new Gran Melia in the Mexican Pacific coast in 2026.

“We can’t forget to mention our ME by Melia brand, a luxury lifestyle brand that has always been very well represented, especially after last year’s refurbishment of ME Cabo. And already signed: ME Guadalajara and ME Sayulita, both with an opening date of 2024; and ME San Miguel de Allende in 2025.

“Last but definitely not least, our Zel brand is our Mediterranean lifestyle brand that we have just launched in Mallorca with Rafa Nadal and our President, Gabriel Escarrer, it’s a great story of these two great businessmen who share another passion: the Mediterranean. Many projects to come soon with this brand.”

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Travelweek: Is MeliaPRO well-received with Canadian travel agents, and are there any new developments with MeliaPRO that Canadian agents should know about? 

Ranghi: “MeliaPRO is a very good tool that we have available in the market and that keeps growing year after year. We have also launched a new incentive program ‘Earn & Grow’ to incentivize travel agents to book in our hotels. It has an interesting points redemption program, because we know how important it is to keep rewarding our travel agents. They’re the ones that put a lot of effort and passion into selling our products.”

For more information on all of Melia’s properties see Melia.com.