Meliá Hotels International has officially opened the doors to its most environmentally responsible hotel, Villa Le Blanc, a 5-star luxury resort operated by Gran Meliá. The property marks the island of Menorca's first hotel to be a member of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World collection.
Located on Santo Tomás Beach, the stunning property is an ideal location for uncovering the cultural and natural attractions of Menorca. The energy-efficient carbon neutral hotel was built with a strong focus on environmental responsibility to the surroundings, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993.
Previously the Sol Beach House Hotel, the renovation was spearheaded by architect Álvaro Sans and is a mix of simple and contemporary design with elegant details. Featuring a predominantly white and blue palette, large terraces and porches illustrate Mediterranean island architecture, while common areas throughout the resort seamlessly blur the lines between outdoor and indoor spaces.
Villa Le Blanc faces the Mediterranean and reminisces local architecture traditions, with abundant natural light illuminating its spaces through large arches. The white stone construction allows the property to blend flawlessly with the natural environment of the island's south coast.
Villa Le Blanc intends to poise itself as a global benchmark for efficient and environmentally friendly hotels. The property's sustainability project aims to achieve a carbon neutral footprint by integrating facilities and technologies that will enable it to reduce its scope one and two emissions by 87 percent. In addition, the hotel will investigate alternatives to offset the remaining emissions and thus ensure its full carbon neutrality status parallel to the Group's decarbonisation efforts.
With a circular-economy model in its waste management, the hotel aims to minimise waste via reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products. Residual heat from air-conditioning systems will also be used to pre-heat hot water and heated swimming pools, while water from the swimming pools will be used for cleaning the hotel, and rainwater will be used to irrigate the gardens.
Villa Le Blanc comprises 159 guestrooms, including 45 luxurious suites, boasting private balconies with city or sea views. The hotel's dining outlets serve exquisite cuisine made from the island farms' finest, fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.
On the first-floor terrace overlooking the Mediterranean, Villa Le Blanc will be home to the newest location of S'Amarador, one of the top seafood restaurants on the island. In addition to S'Amarador, the restaurateur Joan Canals brings his Menorcan cuisine expertise to the Cru.
