The Gran Meliá brand will debut another splendidly luxurious hotel at the end of July with the inauguration of its fifteenth hotel globally, an energy-efficient prototype carbon-neutral hotel in Menorca - one of Spain's Balearic islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel will offer unique dining options that pay homage to Menorcan cuisine and the island way of life, exquisite rooms with private pools, and suites across 130 square metres.
Located on Santo Tomás Beach, Villa Le Blanc, the five-star luxury resort features a wellness space and spa operated by the French firm Anne Semonin and outstanding dining facilities. Led by Joan Canals, who has replicated the cuisine of the famous Ulises Restaurant in the hotel, the iconic S'Amarador Restaurant, and Cru at Villa Le Blanc offer guests a taste of local products and Mediterranean flavours.
Operated by Gran Meliá, the luxury resort will open in just a few weeks as the latest addition to the prestigious portfolio of the Leading Hotels of the World, the only such hotel on the island of Menorca. A firm dedication to protecting the environment and a dream location make Villa Le Blanc Hotel a "destination hotel", set to become a pivotal location to meet and rest in the Mediterranean.
Halfway between Mahón and Ciutadella, the property boasts an idyllic natural setting on Santo Tomás Beach on the Migjorn coast. A prime spot for discovering all the cultural and natural attractions of Menorca, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993.
Previously the Sol Beach House Hotel, Villa Le Blanc Hotel's renovation is led by the architect Álvaro Sans and blends simple and modern design with lavish details. The hotel features 159 rooms, including 14 Premium Rooms and 86 Supreme Rooms. The Penthouse Suite, the Swim-Up Master Suite and Presidential Suite offer the most extensive collection of luxury amenities and privileged sea views from elevated private balconies and private pools. Designed in shades of white and blue, with large terraces and porches typical of Mediterranean island architecture, the spaces seamlessly merge outdoor and indoor areas.
"Villa Le Blanc is inspired by the vernacular architecture of the island villages. Among other features, special prominence is given to the Menorcan arches and the whitewashed walls so typical of local houses. From a technical point of view, we have rescued the traditional use of tiles, which have been used down the ages in Menorca to combat the rainy winters and which traditionally were always painted white to reflect the heat in summer", explained Sans, from the ASAH studio, architect of Villa Le Blanc.
The Villa Le Blanc Hotel is home to outstanding dining facilities that pay tribute to Menorcan cuisine, with restaurants sourcing the finest fresh ingredients from local farms.
The Menorcan S'Amarador Restaurant is an iconic venue in the town of Ciutadella, renowned as one of the best seafood restaurants on the island. Famous for a wine cellar with over a hundred fine wines and using only the finest local produce to craft its mouthwatering rice dishes and seafood bisques, complemented by the freshest fish from the local market, with a particular focus on one of the culinary highlights of the Balearic sea: the local red lobster.
Looking to the sea on the first floor, S'Amarador pays tribute to the cuisine of the mother restaurant in Ciutadella at the new Villa Le Blanc. The restaurant maintains and adapts all the traditions of the ancient fishermen's taverns that existed throughout the port area back in the day.
In addition to S'Amarador, restaurateur Joan Canals brings his expertise and the personality of the Ulises Restaurant to Cru. This new dining venue reflects the purest essence of the ingredients harvested from the island's land and sea. Canals perfectly combines fresh local fish, shellfish, vegetables and olive oils with contemporary techniques and presentation.
For travellers searching for greater harmony and wellbeing, the hotel also houses a temple to health and beauty, thanks to Anne Semonin Paris. Featuring treatments and experiences inspired by vegan cosmetics and natural products. This will mark the third spa in Spain for Anne Semonin, joining several others in select locations in the most exclusive hotels worldwide, including luxury resorts in Japan, Hong Kong, Doha, Greece and the Maldives.
Villa Le Blanc is also introducing a new multi-sensory experience with a line of in-room amenities with bathroom products and aromas designed by the Carner Barcelona artisan perfumers.
The hotel sustainability project aims to achieve a carbon-neutral footprint by incorporating facilities and technologies that will help reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 87 percent. In addition, the hotel will investigate alternatives to offset the remaining emissions and thus ensure its full net-zero status, contributing to the Company's decarbonisation objectives.
"Villa Le Blanc is a dream come true for our company," said Gabriel Escarrer, Vice President and CEO of Meliá. "A project like this allows us to move forward towards hotel decarbonisation. It is also in such a special place as the Biosphere Reserve of Menorca, making it one of the most tangible results of our commitment to a hotel model based on excellence, responsibility and sustainability."
