Mumbai: Minor Hotels and NH Hotel Group have entered into an agreement to operate the Villa Padierna Palace, a hotel located in Marbella in the south of Spain. The property is owned by the Villa Padierna group and will be managed with immediate effect under a variable lease agreement. Following Minor Hotels’ acquisition of NH Hotel Group in October 2018, this agreement will see the first integration of the two companies’ portfolio of brands, with Villa Padierna to be rebranded to Minor Hotels’ core luxury brand Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas in the coming months.
Minor Hotels and NH Hotel Group have successfully started to implement key integration strategies, bringing all of their hotel brands under a single corporate umbrella, now with presence in over 50 countries worldwide. Two key integration initiatives include the transfer earlier this year of Minor Hotels’ Portugal and Brazil operations to NH Hotel Group to benefit from scale and geographic expertise and aligning Minor Hotels’ and NH Hotel Group’s brands so that the geographic operating clusters can best capitalise upon brand expansion and rebranding opportunities. The signing of Villa Padierna and upcoming rebranding to Anantara, to be managed by NH Hotel Group under the guidance and brand oversight of Minor Hotels and with the combined leadership and expertise of both companies, is the first milestone in the materialisation of this strategy.
Located in the Costa del Sol’s Golf Valley, the property will be relaunched as Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavis Marbella Resort, and will become the first Anantara in NH Hotel Group’s home market of Spain and the second Anantara in Europe, the first being the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort in Portugal which launched two years ago.
Dillip Rajakarier, CEO Minor Hotels, commented, “We are very happy to debut our luxury Anantara brand in Spain with the upcoming launch of Anantara Villa Padierna, Marbella Benahavís Resort, which at the same time demonstrates our commitment to integrate Minor Hotels and NH portfolio of brands and operational expertise across our joint and expanding geographical footprint.”
Ramón Aragonés, CEO of NH Hotel Group, said, “This agreement marks excellent progress on our integration with Minor Hotels and the first opportunity for NH to offer Europe an ultimate luxury concept which connects travellers with authentic experiences in privileged destinations.”
Surrounded by three golf courses, Villa Padierna is located in the middle of the region’s ‘Golden Triangle’ made up of Marbella, Benahavís and Estepona, with its impressive proposition comprising a combination of luxurious rooms, fine art, unique culinary experiences and exclusive areas for relaxation, health and wellness. The property was designed principally by the English architect Ed Gilbert in the style of the mythical Tuscan palazzos and is home to more than 1,200 original works of art.
Guests can enjoy a range of luxurious accommodation options across the resort’s 130 guest rooms, suites and villas. Deluxe Rooms are decorated in neutral tones, including details in travertine marble, with views over the golf course, gardens and swimming pools. Suites offer spacious surroundings and balconies with exclusive views as well as being home to some of the most valuable works of art.
The Resort also offers the option of staying in one of its extensive Villas, which combine the exclusivity of a private residence with the comfort of a luxury hotel. One is the Obama Villa, renamed after the First Lady, Michelle Obama, chose to spend her holiday in Spain in it during the summer of 2010.
Inspired by the distinctive character of the local Spanish cuisine, the Resort offers a premium culinary experience designed to enable guests to comprehend, rediscover and connect with their destination. Underpinned by impeccable standards of quality, the hotel offers a range of gastronomic propositions to suit all tastes and times of the day, including La Veranda, La Loggia, Club del Mar, Hole 55, The Grill Club, Eddy’s Bar and La Pérgola.
In addition to the restaurant and bar offerings, the Resort offers its guests all kinds of exceptional outdoor facilities surrounded by gardens and two swimming pools. Villa Padierna Wellness spa, one of the largest of its kind in Europe, is staffed with an ample team of experienced therapists and offers a broad range of customisable treatments. The wellness facilities are complemented by a fully equipped gym.
Located in the heart of the so-called Golf Valley, Villa Padierna Golf Club offers cutting-edge golf facilities. Golf lovers can choose from three courses in the vicinity of the resort – Flamingos Golf, Alterini Golf and Tramores Golf, in addition to The Tramores Golf Academy by Michael Campbell, Europe’s only golf school specialised in the short game and private classes. The Racquet Club encompasses over 22,000 square metres of sports facilities, including two tennis courts, 11 padel courts and two croquet lawns.
For hosting any corporate or social event on the Costa del Sol, the Resort offers the latest and most efficient technology systems across over 2,000 square metres of event spaces, including eight meeting rooms, five terraces and a Roman amphitheatre with capacity to accommodate 400 people.