Pattaya, Thailand, January 8, 2025 / TRAVELINDEX / Javier Gimeno, a hotel veteran with three decades of industry experience in Asia and Europe, will take over management of the new Meliá Pattaya Hotel.

The hotel, with 234 rooms and suites and sweeping sea views, is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025 in the heart of vibrant Pattaya, just a short drive from Bangkok on the picturesque east coast of the Gulf of Thailand.

He joins the Meliá Pattaya Hotel after more than ten years in senior management positions at Marriott International. Most recently, he was Cluster General Manager of the Marriott & Four Points by Sheraton Tianjin National Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin, China.

He began his career in the mid-1990s in his native Spain as a bellboy at the Hilton Barcelona. He subsequently held positions in guest services and hotel operations in Barcelona and Andorra. His work in Asia began in 2000 in Shanghai, before he became General Manager of Barceló Hotels & Resorts in Davao, Philippines, in 2002. His career also took him to Hong Kong and Malaysia.

“Javier’s exceptional leadership qualities and his extensive and diverse experience in opening and managing hotels in Asia and at key bleisure destinations such as Barcelona make him ideally suited to lead the Meliá Pattaya Hotel. He previously successfully opened the Meliá Koh Samui, the Meliá Phuket Mai Khao, the Meliá Chiang Mai, and the INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit in Thailand,” said Ignacio Martin, Managing Director Asia Pacific at Meliá Hotels International. “Pattaya, a premier coastal destination just a stone’s throw from Bangkok, is an excellent choice for holidays as well as meetings and events. As one of the world’s leading resort hotel companies, Meliá Hotels International is opening a bleisure hotel that not only perfectly complements the destination but also redefines it.”

“My team and I are very excited to open this flagship Meliá Hotels International hotel, which reflects Meliá’s warm Spanish hospitality, exceptional service, and focus on guest well-being,” added Mr. Gimeno. “Our hotel is the epitome of an urban resort, thanks to its numerous facilities that appeal to both leisure and business travelers. These include a rooftop restaurant with a sky bar, a beach club, an executive lounge, the YHI Spa, the Kidsdom children’s club, a swimming pool, a ballroom, inspiring meeting rooms, and much more.”

About Asset World Corp Public Company Limited

Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC) is Thailand's leading integrated lifestyle real estate group and a member of the TCC Group. Its focus is on hospitality, lifestyle destinations, and commercial real estate. Driven by the philosophy of "Creating a Better Future," AWC strives for growth and expansion beyond the norm with a diverse portfolio of high-quality projects, offering responsible and sustainable solutions for all stakeholders. The company operates in two main business segments: hospitality, led by top managers from world-renowned hotel brands such as Marriott, The Luxury Collection, Okura, Banyan Tree, Hilton, Sheraton, and Melia; and commercial real estate. Projects include: 1) Retail and wholesale, encompassing lifestyle destinations, shopping malls, markets, and commercial properties. Notable real estate projects include Asiatique the Riverfront Destination, Gateway at Bangsue, AEC FOOD WHOLESALE PRATUNAM, and Tawanna Bangkapi. 2) Office buildings, including the iconic "The Empire" and the Athenee Tower in Bangkok's central business district. AWC is committed to integrating its sustainability strategy across all business areas to create long-term, sustainable value for all stakeholders. The sustainability strategy is based on three pillars: Better Planet, Better People, and Better Prosperity. As part of this strategy, numerous long-term initiatives have been launched, including ReConcept, The GALLERY, and other projects.

About Meliá Hotels & Resorts

Meliá operates 125 hotels in Europe (56), the Americas (18), Cuba (16), Africa (5), and Asia (30). We have a presence in 32 countries and are currently developing 21 hotels in 11 countries. Meliá Hotels & Resorts is characterized by its unique Spanish style in the hotel industry, as well as by warmth, personal attention, and a passion for service. In this way, we offer our guests a unique wellness experience. Our Spanish warmth and spontaneity are part of our Mediterranean roots and shape the Meliá experience. This experience is enhanced by thoughtful additional services. We pay attention to every detail and offer each guest a personalized experience. How do we understand wellness within the MELIÁ brand? We view wellness from an innovative perspective. Wellness is not limited to nutrition or spa treatments, but is holistic well-being. We want to convey wellness that includes everyone. It can be found in all aspects of the brand from different perspectives: physical well-being, spiritual well-being, leisure well-being, social well-being, professional well-being, ecological well-being, financial well-being, and nutritional well-being.

About Meliá Hotels International

Meliá Hotels International was founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and operates over 400 hotels in more than 40 countries, either already open or in the process of opening. Its portfolio comprises 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 leisure hotel chains and has successfully established itself in the growing market of leisure-oriented city hotels thanks to its long-standing experience in this sector. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led to Meliá being recognized as the most sustainable European hotel company worldwide (S&P Global's 2024 Sustainability Yearbook Member) and as a Top Employer 2024 in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Italy, Germany, France, and Vietnam.