Meliá Hotels International is preparing to bring its luxury brand, The Meliá Collection, to Southeast Asia for the first time in 2026, as part of a wider push to expand its high-end presence in the Asia Pacific region.“We are bringing the Melia Collection luxury brand to Southeast Asia next year in 2026,” Meliá Hotels International Head of Marketing APAC, Middle East & Africa Andrea Barbi Actis told media at International Luxury Travel Market in Singapore earlier this month.The announcement marks a significant milestone for the Spanish hotel group, which currently operates more than 400 hotels in over 40 countries across four continents.The brand’s Southeast Asia debut will feature two high-end properties in Laos and Vietnam. The first Meliá Collection property in the region will open in Luang Prabang, Laos, a rebranding of The Grand Luang Prabang which is undergoing a 12-month rebranding process.
“It’s a historic hotel. It used to be the palace of the Prince of Laos,” Actis explained. “It’s the only international hotel that is located just next to the Mekong River. So it’s going to be really unique.”The second site will be a tranquil retreat in Vietnam’s Ba Vi mountain range, a lush, forested area located just an hour and a half from Hanoi, Vietnam. Meliá Ba Vi Mountain Retreat will be refurbished before transitioning to become a member of Meliá Collection, its first in Vietnam, with its name to change to Meliá Ba Vi Mountain, Member of Meliá Collection.More than just a geographical expansion, Meliá Collection’s upcoming Southeast Asia debut, represents a cultural integration, according to Actis. “Designed by the destination,” each property in the Collection will allow guests to “live the essence” of the location.
This new property will join Meliá’s already strong Vietnamese portfolio. “In Vietnam, we have 60% of our portfolio in this country,” she noted. “Thanks to our 22 hotels, we are the second largest international hotel company in the country.”Although Europe remains Meliá’s strongest region, the company is rapidly expanding its footprint across Asia Pacific. “Today, we have 42 hotels under operation, and 10 more to open in the coming years,” with presence in seven countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Myanmar and Laos. The company is also introducing its Paradisus all-inclusive concept in Bali.Meanwhile, Actis also highlighted Meliá’s role as a cultural ambassador. In Vietnam, for instance, it has introduced Hispania, a Michelin-endorsed Spanish dining concept, and Erre, a Basque culinary experience that debuted this year in Jakarta. “We are the ambassadors of Spanish luxury to the world,” she added.
