Meliá Hotels International confirms new resorts for Dubai and Marrakesh

1024 683 Katy Phillips
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Spanish hotelier pushes its brands into more markets.

Meliá Hotels International has confirmed it will be opening new resorts in the United Arab Emirates and Morocco during 2018.

The first, currently known as the Desert Palm Dubai hotel (main image above), is an exclusive urban site 20 minutes from the city centre that will be re-opened in Q3 2018 as the Desert Palm Polo Club & Resort by Meliá.

The hotel offers 38 rooms, suites and villas as well as a dining and wellness facilities and a horse riding school with a first-class polo field.

In terms of design, Meliá says the resort will combine classic Spanish influence with an ‘uncompromising’ luxury experience.

The hotel is the result of a partnership between Meliá Hotels International and the hotel owner, Albwardy Investment Group, with whom the Spanish company already operates three other hotels across Tanzania and Argentina.

The second new hotel (pictured, below) will be part of the Sol by Meliá brand, with the addition of Sol Marrakesh – the Company’s fifth hotel in Morocco, which will operate under the family-friendly holiday resort brand.

Located in the popular area of Palmaraie, the Sol Marrakesh is 18 kilometres from the airport and nine kilometres from the centre of the city. The resort, which first opened its doors in 1988, is currently closed for full refurbishment and will re-open in late 2018.

Sol Marrakesh will offer 211 rooms (including 25 family units) as well as 6 hectares of indoor and outdoor space. Upon completion, services will include a spa with hammam, fitness facilities, four tennis courts, volleyball court, football pitch, golf driving range and swimming pool with sundeck.

Gabriel Escarrer, Executive Vice President and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, said: “Taking over operations at this exclusive Dubai resort makes Meliá Hotels International very proud and also gives us a chance to demonstrate our proven excellence in the management of luxury urban resorts in a market to which the Company is already firmly committed.”

 

Katy Phillips / 24.04.2018

Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand. During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.

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Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher atSPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.
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