Despite the uncertainty caused as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Costa del Sol continues to be an attractive proposition to international hotel companies. Hilton has this week announced that it will take over the former Doña Julia hotel project in Casares, owned by the Platinum Estates Group which is also developing the Hotel W project in Marbella.
The hotel, which will be called Conrad Costa del Sol, is expected to open its doors in early 2022 following works likely to last 20 months. Once Casares council grants the licence, which it is expected to do in August, the works will be put out to tender before getting under way in the autumn.
Conrad Costa del Sol will be Hilton's first luxury hotel in Spain, with 194 rooms, of which 12 will be luxury suites, a large spa with an indoor pool, multiple outdoor pools, two bars and a high-end restaurant.
The hotel will have a main building, with the main common areas, three restaurants, gym, underground parking for 120 vehicles and eight villas that will surround a central pool.
During the project's presentation on Tuesday, the managing director of Hilton's Development for Spain and Portugal, Carlos Miró, highlighted that of the 6,162 hotels that Hilton has around the world, only 39 carry the Conrad brand, the name of the company's founder, "because a series of very special circumstances have to be met for an establishment to be given the Conrad brand".
Hilton has 13 luxury brands, and Conrad is known "for its contemporary design, intuitive, personalised service and state-of-the-art technology".
The unfinished and abandoned Hotel Doña Julia will serve as the base for the future Hilton. José García, the project manager, said that the architectural style will be adapted to Hilton's requirements in terms of image.
