NEW YORK Sol Melia made a successful bid to lease and operate the Gran Melia Roma, a five-star hotel near Vatican City and Castello de Sant Angelo in Italy. The 140-room hotel will be converted from a sixteenth-century palace and is scheduled to open in January 2003. The hotel will be Sol Melia s second property in Rome.
By the end of 2001, Sol Melia will have a total of four properties in Italy, following the inauguration of the 288-room Melia Milano in May 2001 and the four-star, 203-room Melia Confort Verona Hotel in July 2001.
Sol Melia s Vice Chairman Sebastian Escarrer has confirmed the group s growing interest in Italy with a number of potential projects planned in cities including Venice and Florence. (2/9/01)