Sol Melia Receives Spanish Business Award

In December of last year, Spain's Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade announced the Prince Felipe Business Excellence Awards. The award in the Tourism Excellence category went to Sol Meliá, making the hotel line the first Spanish company to receive the most important prize for the tourism industry for the second time.

The award was reportedly granted due to several elements of Sol Meliá's business practices: improvements in quality, commitment to competition and innovation, globalization and entry in new markets, as well as the company’s social and environmental commitments.

The company says that its improved competition has been achieved through a consistent brand equity strategy (Paradisus, Gran Meliá, Me, Meliá, Innside, Tryp, and Sol) and customer relationship and online sales projects. With regards to globalisation, the company has recently opened up new markets such as Bali, where it has developed a model of sustainable tourism over a period of 25 years, and reportedly counts more than 80 nationalities among its employees in 30 different countries. In December, the company began operations in China with the opening of its first hotel, the Gran Meliá Shanghai.

With regard to the company contribution to the preservation and improvement of natural and cultural heritage, Sol Meliá recently presented a report focusing on sustainability and social and cultural responsibility in its hotels and corporate offices. This focus has led to the company being certified as a Biosphere Hotel Company by the Institute of Responsible Tourism, supported by UNESCO.

Sol Meliá will be presented with the award on February 3, fifteen years after receiving it for the first time, in an event to be attended by the Prince and Princess of Asturias.