Melia Hotels International : Meliá Hotels International presents the future INNSIDE Newcastle at the World Travel Market in London

Meliá Hotels International announced at the World Travel Market in London the addition of a new hotel to its portfolio in the United Kingdom, the INNSIDE Newcastle, that will join the three properties already operated in the UK (ME London, Meliá White House and INNSIDE Manchester), a key market for the company.

INNSIDE Newcastle will be the result of the development of a vacant office building on the banks of the River Tyne, with exceptional views over the river and its famous bridges. The hotel will open in 2019 with 160 rooms and all of the INNSIDE brand attributes, such as a restaurant and bar, lobby area, multi-functional lobby, fitness facilities and spaces for meetings and events.

INNSIDE by Meliá is the company's main bet for the urban segment and a great example of the current bleisure hotel trend, offering an innovative alternative for current work trippers, who seek to combine leisure and work, allowing them to maximize their moments as they work and trip their way around the world. For them, these hotels offer multifunctional lobbies, creative meetings spaces, 24/7 exercise classes, endless Wi-Fi and relaxing wellness areas, among others.

Newcastle is one of the largest cities in England, located in the northeast of the country very near Scotland. With a splendid history (the city owes its name to the castle located on the wall built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian), Newcastle has a robust industrial base and a service sector that continues to grow. It also has numerous attractions for cultural tourism including the Tyne Bridge, Newcastle Castle, the Discovery Museum, and the famous St-James Park football stadium, among others. The city centre is excellently connected to both major international destinations via Newcastle International Airport, just 5 miles away, and regular train services providing access to the rest of the country in just a few hours.

The hotel owner, Union Property Services, is the leading real estate group in Newcastle, and owns commercial outlets throughout the United Kingdom. Its portfolio includes hotels managed under the most prestigious international brands, as well as offices and shopping centres. Union Property Services has granted Meliá Hotels International the management of the hotel for the next 25 years. For Raj Sehgal, Managing Director of Union Property Services, this project will be a huge step towards the Newcastle's Riverside transformation, and a new hospitality benchmark within the city of Newcastle'.

For Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, 'of all of our brands, Innside by Meliá is the one that has had the highest growth over the last five years, at the same time becoming increasingly international thanks to its customer value proposition and high profitability. That is also the reason it is attracting investors and hotel owners all over the world. We were very keen to add this hotel to our portfolio, offering visitors to Newcastle an unbeatable design and location as well as the characteristic Innside hotels' informal yet efficient service combined with smart technology.'