Gran Melia Rome Villa Agrippina to Open

Palma de Mallorca (Spain) – 16 February 2012 – The Gran Melia Rome Villa Agrippina hotel will open its doors in one of the most exclusive areas of the Eternal City during Easter week 2012. The hotel will provide a unique destination for travellers with its impeccable architecture, impressive gardens and exclusive facilities. It is a place where art, hospitality and well-being will come together. The Gran Melia Rome Villa Agrippina promises to be the brand’s most luxurious hotel to date.

Located at 4, Via del Gianicolo in the centre of the city by the Tiber River, the hotel will be surrounded by shops and monuments such as the Coliseum, Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza Navona and the Oratorio del Gonfalone, all within easy walking distance. This paradise in the heart of the Eternal City will offer visitors a sanctuary away from the urban hustle and bustle, yet in the center of it all.

Guests staying at the Gran Melia Rome will be immersed in the local art, history and culture of Rome. The hotel is a genuine museum within the city, standing on the site of what was once the Villa of Agrippina, named in honor of the mother of famous Roman emperor Nero. The archaeological remains unearthed during its construction will be on display throughout the elegant galleries and communal areas of the building.

Gran Melia Rome emerges from the magnificent Orti Domiziani gardens, the original and first botanical gardens built in the city, named in honour of Domitia, Nero’s paternal aunt. The hotel is a modern day Garden of Eden in the heart of the capital featuring native plants, a variety of beautiful indigenous flowers and surrounded by ancient orange trees. The hotel’s expert botanical guides will provide tours along Orti Domiziani allowing guests insight into both the local history and impressive flora.

In the midst of this unparalleled 10,000 square-metre setting are the hotel’s 116 rooms and suites, each with a unique story, elegantly arranged across eight floors. Each thematic floor acts as an art gallery boasting pieces inspired by well-known pieces on display in the city’s museums. Guests staying on the RedLevel, all suite area, have a wide range of exclusive services at their disposal such as private check-in and an exclusive lounge.

Gran Melia Rome hotel will offer an extensive choice of outstanding restaurants specializing in Italian, Mediterranean and international haute cuisine, such as the Roman-inspired VIVAVOCE restaurant, in addition to elegant bars and lounges that will provide guests with la dolce vita experience without the need to leave the hotel. Two of the hotel’s most distinctive venues will consist of a Pool lounge perfect for light meals and canapes as well as a Roof Garden with 360-degree vistas of the city, ideal for cocktails and wine.

The hotel’s YHI Wellness area, featuring the hydrotherapy ritual and an exquisite relaxing treatments area will invite guests to discover a new world of well-being, health and beauty treatments– an antidote to the metropolis’ hectic buzz.

Lastly, an event planning team that is CMP-accredited (Certified Meeting Professional) will provide business travellers with the experience and services needed to set up an event of any style or size, through the brand’s exclusive RedGlove Meeting&Events programme.

Gran Melia Rome will allow guests to enjoy an unparalleled experience in unique surroundings. The values that define Gran Melia hotels, exceptional service based on traditional luxury and avant-garde style, will be exemplified at Gran Melia Rome Villa Agrippina, the brand’s new flagship.

Gran Melia Hotels & Resorts
Based on a bold vision of fine living, the Gran Melia Hotels & Resorts brand brings together the Company’s most luxurious hotels under a revamped image, which represents more than 55 years of hotel experience and the deep-rooted values of Melia Hotels International.

With its striking architecture, this portfolio of first-class hotels and resorts has been designed with the most experienced travellers in mind, located in the world’s leading tourist destinations, where every aspect is infused with warm Latin character.

About Melia Hotels International
Founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Melia Hotels International is one of the world’s largest hotel companies and the leader in the Spanish market. It currently has more than 350 hotels and 87,000 rooms in 35 countries on 4 continents, operating under the following brand names: Gran Melia, Melia, ME, Innside, Tryp by Wyndham, Sol and Paradisus . Club Melia, the only holiday club company among Spain’s hotel chains, rounds off the Company’s range of products and services.

This year, the family company founded by Gabriel Escarrer Julia, which operated for decades under the name “Sol Melia”, is taking a new direction under the brand name that represents its present and its future: Melia Hotels International.

Media Contact:
DKC Public Relations
Victoria Hart
+1-212-981-5217
Victoria_Hart@dkcnews.com
www.dkcnews.com