Meliá Hotels International continues to strengthen its expansion on the Asian continent, where it has just announced the opening of its first hotel in Laos: an old palace located on the banks of Luang Prabang, one of the country's largest cities and its main tourist center. , which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for two decades.
The currently known as Grand Luang Prabang Hotel will join, starting this month, the portfolio of the Spanish company, and during the coming months - while it remains operational - it will undergo a reform and rebranding process to raise its standards and offer an exclusive luxury experience, joining the distinctive portfolio of The Meliá Collection brand. As the former palace of a Laotian prince, known as Xiengkeo Palace, this establishment has the kind of history and unique roots that distinguish The Meliá Collection hotels.
"For the Meliá family, we are very happy and proud to begin our journey in Laos with this extraordinary hotel," said Gabriel Escarrer, President and CEO of Meliá Hotels International. “We expect destinations like Luang Prabang to become more popular with today's travelers seeking unique experiences, and I am confident that this hotel, with its unmistakable sense of place, will allow guests to fully enjoy the destination.”
Located on a lush riverside, the Grand Luang Prabang is a hotel with 75 rooms spread across eight buildings. The complex is located in a bend of the Mekong River, offering unique panoramic views of the place.
Formerly known as Xiengkeo Palace, the property's roots lie in French colonial-style architecture, although with clear Laotian influences. Prince Petcharath, the aristocrat who once lived on the grounds of the current hotel, is well known among Laotians and served a term as prime minister during World War II.
Room balconies offer views of manicured gardens and lotus ponds, while interiors exude local charm through traditional wooden furniture and timeless details. The hotel also has a large swimming pool in the gardens. Meliá will add distinctive Spanish hospitality to the mix, ensuring the hotel retains its unique character.
“Luang Prabang is a hidden gem in Asia, steeped in so much history and culture with countless ancient temples and monasteries,” says Ignacio Martín, General Director for Asia Pacific at Meliá Hotels International. “We want to immerse guests in local history through a hotel that is truly part of the beautiful essence of this destination.”
The hotel is owned by the TCC group, based in Thailand, and one of Meliá's main partners in the region for more than two decades.
Meliá Hotels International first landed in Asia in the 1980s with the opening of Meliá Bali. Since then, the region has become a strategic area for the group, where it currently has a portfolio of fifty hotels (open and in the process of opening) in Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, China and Laos.