Good examples of the Meliá Hotels International Universe, are The Meliá Villaitana Hotel in Alicante, the Meliá Hacienda del Conde in Tenerife and the Meliá Las Américas in Cuba. Jorge Sáez, María Bohórquez and Reynaldo León Díaz have granted Golf Circus an interview where they talk about this remarkably successful synergy for the company.
JORGE SÁEZ, General Manager at Meliá Villaitana
For those who know nothing about the Meliá Villaitana Hotel, how would you describe it considering your personal experience at the resort?
I will try to distance myself from my position as General Manager. However, I can tell you that from the first minute you step into Meliá Villaitana Hotel you realize you are in one of the most impressive resorts in Spain. This is a Mediterranean-style hotel, designed down to the last detail and ideally located. All these elements make Meliá Villaitana a leading holiday hotel.
Meliá Villaitana attracts a wide variety of customers: for meetings, leisure, relaxation, sports, etc. Besides, it is the perfect place to stay: adults only, couples, families or with friends, especially if you are looking for more than just an ordinary holiday. You can enjoy an unforgettable experience at this resort as there is a wide range of sport, leisure and gastronomic facilities.
How does Meliá Hotels International contribute to golf management in the area?
It’s a fact that Meliá Villaitana Golf Club has contributed to golf improvement and growth actively in the Levante area. Golf has been growing exponentially for several years due to the number of events, tournaments and championships organized and other actions carried out by the resort at a local, national and international level.
As a result, a tournament of the European Senior Tour was held at the resort last year that included an inconceivable list of fourteen renowned Ryder Cup players in a professional tournament. This in itself is a clear example of the provided opportunity granted by the European Tour. Regarding the number of golf visitors, quality and service, Meliá Villaitana is a reference resort on the Costa Blanca and in the Valencia Autonomous Community. Nevertheless, we also have to mention all the work carried out by the Valencia Golf Federation, the Provincial Council, Visit Benidorm, and the Costa Blanca and Valencia Community Golf Course Association. They are all together committed to our golf offer and they promote it internationally in key markets such as The United Kingdom, Scandinavia and in North and Central Europe, among others.
On the other hand, Meliá has shown its commitment to golf for many years. It has over 40 golf hotels worldwide and it has launched its own golf circuit, the Meliá Golf Invitational that will be celebrated this year for the thirteenth time.
Have there been any important events in the resort’s history worth mentioning or any must future events?
Hosting the Staysure Senior Tour has set a high bar recently. The Costa Blanca Senior Masters has had a high socio-economic impact on the area as well as media coverage never seen before. Over 100 online national and international communication media have covered the event as well as 25 press media and a similar number of radio stations. We have had 200 hours on TV worldwide with tournament summaries broadcasted to all Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Latin-America and North America, reaching 150 million homes. We feel very proud in Meliá for having had the opportunity to host this tournament successfully; we continue working with our team daily with a responsible motivating force so as maintain golf course condition and thus, providing customers the best possible experience, keeping the Senior Masters in our memories.
This year we are also going to hold other national amateur finals as well as welcoming hundreds of groups who come with PGA professionals from Northern Europe and Scandinavia. We keep on working to host other relevant events soon. Meanwhile, do not miss the opportunity of playing the Meliá Villaitana Levante (Championship Course), a pleasure for any golf player!
Reynaldo León Díaz, Head of Sales at Meliá Las Americas Hotel and Golf Manager at Meliá Hotel International Cuba.
For our readers who know nothing about this hotel, why visit the Meliá Las Americas Hotel?
The most important feature of Meliá Las Américas Hotel, a 5*All Inclusive Adults only resort is its idyllic location. It is the only hotel in this destination that has direct access to Varadero Golf Club, just three minutes away walking. Besides, we are situated on the seafront on a coastal stretch of the Varadero Peninsula and thus, most of the rooms in the main building enjoy breathtaking sea views.
In addition, the hotel has large comfortable Suites, some are part of The Level product, a wide variety of eating facilities, five restaurants and six bars, and an extensive leisure program that make Meliá Las Américas one of the favourite hotels in this destination. It is the ideal hotel for golf players, couples, wedding celebrations and honey moons.
Personally, how do you think Meliá Hotels International golf management contributes to the area?
Although Meliá Las Américas and the Varadero Golf Club are managed by two different companies they are considered just one commercial product. The synergy created between the hotel and the golf course has been very successful. The hotel provides 70% of the annual green fees and the hotel benefits from its closeness to the golf course. This management reduces summer low occupation rates and it is then that Meliá Hotels International organizes golf related events.
Have there been any important events in the resort’s history worth mentioning or any must future events?
Our Company holds their own golf events every year, such as the Meliá Las Américas Golf Cup in May held for the sixth time and the Meliá Cuba Golf Cup in October for the eleventh time.
Apart from these events, the Meliá Hotels International has participated as a collaborator or sponsor in other events such as the European Challenge Tour in 1999, the Audi Cup in 2000, the Audi+Movistar Cup International Final in 2018 and the annual events of the Hispanic Day Tournaments organized by the Spanish Embassy.
María Bohórquez, Manager at Meliá Hacienda del Conde.
For our readers who have not visited Meliá Hacienda del Conde and Buena Vista golf, what are the resort’s main features?
Meliá Hacienda del Conde and Buena Vista Golf offer the perfect combination to enjoy a wide range of top sport leisure activities. Our resort has a golf course designed by Seve Ballesteros and a hotel perfectly integrated in the natural environment of the Teno Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. The golf course exclusive design allows players to use different alternatives to overcome most holes and thus, provides an unforgettable playing experience.
How do you think Meliá Hotels International golf management contributes to the area?
Melia Hotels International is clearly committed to golf and it presents a wider vision of our resort’s management. Apart from staying at a 5* luxury hotel, Meliá offers an exclusive destination on the Tenerife island and the opportunity to enjoy a top level sport experience in an iconic 18-hole course.
What are the must golf events at Meliá Hacienda del Conde and Buena Vista Golf?
During the next months we will hold the 4th Seve Ballesteros Memorial, a tournament of the 12th+1 2019 Golf Meliá Circuit that will take place in September and the Final of the 2019 Audi Circuit that will be held in October.