GLASGOW, Scotland and PLANO, Texas—Aimbridge EMEA has been appointed by Santa Maria Group to manage its independent, 402-key Grand Luxor Hotel & Village resort on the Costa Blanca. The deal marks a milestone for both companies, signaling their joint ambition to accelerate growth and provide experiences in the market.
Aimbridge EMEA is expected to bring its two decades of operational experience and talent development to the four-star rated resort. The Grand Luxor Hotel & Village houses a 300-guestroom hotel, including two Presidential Suites, five food and beverage outlets, and 102 villas, both with communal and private swimming pools.
Located adjacent to the Terra Mitica theme park, and a 40-minute drive away from Alicante Airport, the resort also offers a spa, a gym, three outdoor pools, mini golf, a kids’ club, and more than 1,500 square meters of meetings and events space. The hotel will benefit from the Terra Mitica Convention Centre and event spaces, totaling 12,000 square meters, including an Iberian Village, and a 3,000 square meters Circus Maximus Auditorium.
Terra Mitica is under the same ownership group and the theme park is a key destination for family tourism in the area.
David Anderson, divisional president at Aimbridge EMEA, said, “We are incredibly excited to partner with Santa Maria Group and announce our entry into the Spanish market. The Grand Luxor Hotel & Village, located on the Costa Blanca—one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations—is an impressive and sought-after resort, and we look forward to helping the owners meet their growth goals.”
Formerly known as Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Aimbridge EMEA has seen development deals across Europe soar over the last six months, as travel returns to pre-pandemic levels and investors regain confidence in the hotel and tourism sectors.
“As a division of global powerhouse Aimbridge Hospitality, this deal also reflects our commitment to accelerate growth across the region. The Iberian Peninsula has been a major focus for our development plans over the last 12 months, and we have made sizable investments in the market, including several new hires in key locations, such as Madrid and Barcelona,” Anderson continued.
In addition to its entry into Spain, the company has also announced a number of new additions to its EMEA portfolio in recent months, including the Holiday Inn Eindhoven Airport, the Adagio Aparthotel Antwerp City Centre, and the Alliance Palace in Batumi, Georgia.
Last month, the business welcomed Niall Kelly, who has been appointed as head of development—EMEA, bringing more than 25 years of deal-making experience within international markets to his role.
Anderson added, “We’re focused on attracting top talent with expertise in multiple languages and across all verticals, building on our relationships with both existing and new hotel owners to create returns and unlock more opportunities for their properties.”
The Aimbridge Hospitality global portfolio, inclusive of managed and pipeline properties, includes approximately 1,500 hotels in 20 countries around the world.
