Meliá Hotels International Adds Kobi Onsen Hue to its Vietnam Portfolio Meliá now operates 20 hotels and resorts throughout the country

HO CHI MINH CITY - One of the largest hotel groups in Vietnam, Meliá Hotels International, inked an agreement with local player BB Group Hospitality this month, bringing Kobi Onsen Resort Hue into the Spanish company’s fold.

Joining Meliá Vinpearl Hue, this unique hot spring resort, will be the hospitality group’s second hotel in the city and its 20th hotel in Vietnam. The group will start managing the property under the name of Kobi Onsen Resort Hue, Affiliated by Meliá, in Q4 this year. It will then undergo a rebranding process over the next 12 months emerging as Meliá Hue Kobi Onsen Resort next year.

Kobi Onsen Resort Hue, Affiliated by Meliá is located on the outskirts of Vietnam’s former capital, close enough to explore the Imperial City but far enough away to reap the benefits of the property’s serene and healing setting. Tapping into the natural mineral-rich hot springs of My An, the main draw of this spacious 155-key resort is its broad range of curative waters, along with wellness facilities and treatments that draw inspiration from the region.

“The latest addition to our Vietnam portfolio strongly aligns with one of our key values, which is ensuring the overall wellbeing of each of our guests,” said Ignacio Martín, management director for Melia Hotels International in the APAC region. “Through properties like Kobi Onsen Resort Hue we are helping raise awareness of the importance of living a balanced life while also showing our passion for caring for all our guests’ wellbeing on a holistic level.”

In addition to a traditional onsen with indoor and outdoor hot spring baths separated by gender, the resort features a range of wellbeing facilities, including a steam bath, soda bath, dry sauna, and Himalayan salt sauna. Wellness treatments integrate oriental medicine and massage practices once used by the royal family in Hue, as well as herbal treatments used by the Red Yao people, who are renowned for their healing herbal baths.

The resort features tranquil Japanese-style gardens and the largest koi pond in Hue designed to offer a feeling of serenity. The Japanese carp within the waters symbolize good fortune and good luck. Other wellbeing offerings include an outdoor swimming pool, well-equipped fitness center and a golf simulator.

Several dining facilities are located on site including authentic Japanese cuisine, along with a restaurant serving local and European dishes. Rooms, suites, and villas range in size from 36-square-meters to 255-square-meters with spacious the property’s 11 one-of-a-kind villas featuring private onsens.

The property is a 30-minute drive from Phu Bai International Airport and less than 15-minutes from the UNESCO-designated Complex of Hue Monuments. This former feudal capital was the political and cultural heart of the country for close to 150 years and its rich history remains with preserved ancient palaces and shrines along with the Forbidden Purple City. While the less-touristy destination of Hue offers travelers a glimpse into the country’s past, it also is a destination rich in ancient wellness traditions making it an ideal location to slow down and focus on wellbeing.

“Through BB Group we are continuing to grow our presence in the country with trusted partners who are also passionate about building the tourism industry in Vietnam in a sustainable manner,” said Gabriel Escarrer, CEO and chairman of Meliá Hotels International.

The signing of the company’s 20th hotel in Vietnam marks a significant milestone, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Meliá Rewards loyalty program. To celebrate, members can enjoy best prices, exclusive discounts, and a host of surprises across all properties in Vietnam and over 400 hotels worldwide.

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About Meliá Hotels International 

Founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International has more than 400 hotels open or in the process of opening, in more than 40 countries, and a portfolio of nine brands: Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ME by Meliá, The Meliá Collection, Paradisus by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ZEL, INNSiDE by Meliá, Sol by Meliá, and Affiliated by Meliá. The Company is one of the world’s leading hotel chains in the leisure segment and its experience in this area has allowed it to consolidate itself in the growing market of urban hotels inspired by leisure. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led it to be recognised as the most sustainable European hotel company in the world (chosen as “Sustainability Yearbook Member” in 2024 by S&P Global), as well as being a “Top Employer 2024″ brand in Spain, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Italy, Germany, France and Vietnam. For more information, please visit www.meliahotelsinternational.com

Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote

Meliá Hotels International named best luxury leisure hotel group in the world and best hotel chain in the Caribbean American magazine Global Traveler also named its Paradisus brand as the best in all-inclusive resorts

Palma de Mallorca. The Global Traveler readers have once again voted Meliá Hotels International as the best hotel group in the world in the leisure segment; a distinction that, on this occasion, comes in addition to those of “Best hotel chain in the Caribbean” and “Best all-inclusive resorts” for its Paradisus by Meliá brand, which has just made its debut in the Canary Islands with the Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote and Paradisus Gran Canaria hotels.

Global Traveler magazine’s annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards reflect the thousands of surveys conducted among its readers between December 2022 and April 2023, and aim to reward the best destinations and companies in the travel industry in the leisure and lifestyle segments. Meliá, whose roots go back to being a leisure group and which has become a leader in the segment, currently has 63 hotels under its luxury brands: Gran Meliá, ME by Meliá, The Meliá Collection and Paradisus by Meliá (44 of them in operation and 19 due to open in the near future). Furthermore, the Group continues strengthening its Premium segment brands (Meliá, ZEL and Innside by Meliá), with 170 hotels in operation and 33 more in the pipeline.

Meliá’s Chairman and CEO, Gabriel Escarrer, underlines the leadership of its brands for 8 years, practically non-stop, and highlights, in particular, the election of the Paradisus by Meliá resorts as the “best all-inclusive resorts” according to Global Traveler: ”Our commitment to luxury leisure hotels and our strong brands have enabled us to become leaders in an extremely competitive environment, as proved by the warm response to the new resorts opened in the Canary Islands – Paradisus Salinas and Paradisus Gran Canaria – the brand’s first resorts to be opened outside the Caribbean. Paradisus by Meliá’s exclusive concept, Destination Inclusive®, have changed the experience of our guests, who are now fully involved in the destination, discovering the environment and culture of the destination through their stay and with activities specially designed for them.”

With Destination Inclusive® as part of the room rate, Paradisus by Meliá luxury resorts go beyond the traditional leisure tourism experience, giving the destination the spotlight. Available to guests in the Nikté and The Reserve categories, Destination Inclusive® experiences are carefully selected by local experts to connect guests with the nature, culture and beauty that surrounds each hotel.

Escarrer also highlights that: “Both have certainly earned their place as the best luxury resorts in Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, respectively, and we look forward to continuing to expand this successful brand in many of the stunning holiday destinations in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and South East Asia.”

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Meliá Ba Vi Mountain Retreat is nestled deep in nature in the Ba Vi Mountain range with a stunning panoramic view of the Northern Delta

Meliá Hotels International Makes Its Mark As A Sustainability Leader The growing hotel group has received multiple accolades for its sustainability efforts

Meliá Hotels International may be expanding its development footprint across Asia, but Spain’s largest hotel group is making the most dainty steps possible when it comes to the environment – and being awarded for its efforts.

Meliá was recently named the second most sustainable hotel company in the world in S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), the world’ most comprehensive sustainability assessment, which ranks more than 10,000 companies across all industries. In 2019 and 2020, Meliá ranked first in the global hotel industry, and in 2021 maintained its leadership in Europe and Spain.

“As we continue to expand our presence globally we are committed to working towards a new sustainable and responsible hospitality model, increasing the contribution of the industry to society and helping protect the planet,” said Gabriel Escarrer, CEO of Meliá. “Our company is now seen as a benchmark for sustainability around the world.”

Meliá properties throughout Asia have embraced core sustainability principles by reducing or entirely eliminating single-use plastics and implementing energy and water conservation measures.

Individual Meliá properties are also rolling out environmental programs with efforts to create a more circular hotel economy and to help the environment through collaborative projects.

The 260-key urban hotel Meliá Chiang Mai, which celebrated a grand opening in April, launched with a ‘360° Cuisine’ concept. Dishes served in the dining outlets include produce from the hotel’s organic farm. After every possible part of each ingredient is used in the kitchen, leftovers are returned to the farm as compost. Under the program, the hotel’s kitchen works closely with local farmers to help improve sustainability and encourage ethical production. Meliá Chiang Mai has partnered with ORI9IN The Gourmet Farm, a nearby organic farm, to grow an array of fruits, vegetables and herbs on a two-acre plot on the broader ORI9IN property for its restaurants, bars and spa.

The Balansa organic garden at Meliá Ba Vi Mountain Retreat

In Vietnam, Meliá Ba Vi Mountain Retreat follows a similar philosophy. A range of produce is grown in the property’s Balansa organic garden and used in the restaurant, spa, and the staff canteen. Leftovers are returned to the earth. Each day the property composts approximately 100 pounds (45 kilograms) of organic and biodegradable waste.

Meliá Koh Samui, a beachfront property in Thailand, is also focusing on sustainable agriculture. They have added a four-acre organic garden that will do more than just supply the kitchen with an abundance of fresh produce. The garden will be a site for learning and connection. One of the long term goals is to help educate people of the importance of cultivating the land sustainably, through hands-on farming experiences and cooking classes.

Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort, along Vietnam’s Southern Coast, started their Spice Garden in response to a shortage of vegetables during the ongoing lockdown but the project has grown to encompass a wide variety of different herbs and vegetables. Like Meliá Koh Samui they have plans in the works to roll out a range of fun, free gardening activities for guests, such as painting pots, flower puzzling, leaf crafts, and making herb-infused essential oils.

Eight Meliá properties throughout Southeast Asia from Meliá Kuala Lumpur to Meliá Bali, as well as Meliá Danang, Meliá Hanoi, Meliá Ho Tram, and Sol by Meliá Phu Quoc (all in Vietnam), have worked with hygiene and cleaning solutions company Diversey on the “Soap for Hope” project.

The hotel soap recycling initiative helps save lives in disadvantaged communities by improving hygiene practices, while also creating livelihoods and minimizing the soap waste created by hotels. Local people are taught to use a cold-press method, which requires no electricity or water and takes under 10 minutes, to recycle used soap from hotels into reconstituted bars. The fresh soap is then distributed to communities lacking soap or sanitation.

Meliá is also doing its best to ensure their reach ripples further afield. In February, Meliá was named a “Supplier Engagement Leader” by CDP, an international organization specializing in reporting environmental impact. The hotel group achieved the highest rating in the Supplier Engagement Rate (SER) category in CDP’s annual Climate Change survey. In addition to reducing the emissions Meliá hotels generate directly, Meliá Hotels International works with its suppliers towards a reduction of emissions within the supply chain. The hotel company also has a mandatory Supplier Code of Ethics that ensures the alignment of suppliers with the sustainability commitments made by the sustainably-minded hotel group.

“Every day should be Earth Day,” said Ignacio Martin, Managing Director Southeast Asia at Meliá Hotels International. “Prioritizing sustainability is something we’ve been weaving deeper into the fabric of our company, regardless of what day it is.”

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