Released on = April 24, 2007, 12:07 am

Press Release Author = Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts

Industry = Food & Beverage

Press Release Summary = Numerous international and national celebrities, including
Cindy Crawford and Elsa Pataky join for a night of glamour, creativity and
sensuality. Performances, presence of international DJ's and international fusion
cuisine: key elements in the launch of the first hotel ME by Meliá in an
unforgettable evening for more than 1,000 guests.


Press Release Body = The iconic ME Madrid Reina Victoria opened its doors yesterday
in the heart of Spain's capital city, with a glittering party to reveal the new 'ME
by Meliá' brand. Sol Meliá executives Sebastián Escarrer and Gabriel Escarrer, vice
chairman and CEO of Sol Meliá, hosted a vibrant and cosmopolitan evening attended by
luminaries from the worlds of fashion, music and cinema.

Guests included supermodel Cindy Crawford, accompanied by her husband Rande Gerber,
founder of After Midnight Company, who along with his brother Scott Gerber, are the
operators of ME Madrid's Midnight Rose and The Penthouse bar and restaurant areas,
as well as Spanish actress Elsa Pataky, model Blanca Romero, actress and singer
Leonor Watling, TV presenter Jaime Cantizano, singer Alaska, TV presenter Patricia
Pérez, model Cristina Piaget, music group Dover, Nuria March, Alvaro de Marichalar,
journalist Luis del Olmo, fashion designer David Delfin and actress Verónica
Echégui, among other guests.

ME by Meliá organized an exclusive event to present their unique new hotel brand, a
concept that fuses design, international cuisine and cutting edge music. Luis del
Olmo, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Sol Meliá, and Guy
Hensley, senior vice president of operations for the new brand, together with Alex
Hugot, general manager of ME Madrid Reina Victoria, were all present alongside other
representatives from Sol Meliá, who came to show their support for the leading
Spanish hospitality brand's latest initiative.

Throughout the evening, more than 1.000 invitees from the realms of art, business,
fashion, culture and music were able to admire the results of an ambitious
renovation and design project by British architect Keith Hobbs of United Designers.
ME Madrid Reina Victoria has retained its beautiful and graceful façade, typical of
Madrid's urban architecture and of special historical value, while the interior has
been redesigned according to ME by Meliá's avant garde philosophy.

Guests were treated to a buffet by Spanish chef Jaime Renedo held in the new
Midnight Rose restaurant, as well as cocktails on the terrace of the hotel's rooftop
bar, The Penthouse, whilst taking in spectacular views of the capital, which have
only been made accessible to the public since the hotel's refurbishment.

To round off a night full of anticipation, guests danced well into the small hours
in CLUB ME, a space especially created for the evening, with music by leading
international DJ's.


About ME by Meliá

ME is a contemporary interpretation of the Meliá experience. It is a brand which
seeks to fuse innovative style with local flavours in order to captivate travellers
of a common psychographic - those with a decisive taste for cutting-edge art and
design, international cuisine and world music - rather than a common demographic. By
capturing these elements in urban and resort destinations, this new philosophy
ignites a passion in each guest while appealing to their senses and emotions. The
experience is unforgettable. Learn more at www.mebymelia.com.

About Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts

Founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Sol Meliá is the world's largest
vacation company. More than half of the industry leader's hotels are located in
cities and by far is the largest hotel chain in Spain as well as one of the most
important in Europe. Sol Meliá's portfolio includes more than 350 hotels in 30
countries over four continents and it employs over 29.600 people in its Meilá, ME by
Meliá, Tryp, Sol, Paradisus and Sol Meliá Vacation Club brands. For more information
and reservation visit www.solmelia.com.

About After Midnight Company

Rande Gerber is the founder of Midnight Oil Company and along with his brother Scott
are the founders and operators of After Midnight Company. The company, an evolution
of their trademark brand, The Whiskey, was created to develop innovative nightlife,
hotel, restaurant and lifestyle concepts. Rande Gerber founded The Whiskey nearly 15
years ago, and he has since become the most influential nightlife proprietor in the
country.

His extraordinary success with The Whiskey Bars has established Gerber as the
pre-eminent tastemaker, with an uncanny ability to create chic, seductive bars with
modern glamour that reflect the times and national moods. Since then, the Gerbers
have expanded their nightlife brand and vision, developing hotel bars with W Hotels
and Ian Schrager. The Gerbers were also tapped by Giorgio Armani to redevelop his
Armani Cafes nationwide and by Donald Trump to transform Trump Parc on Central Park,
now Whiskey Park.

The Gerbers' newest ventures include CHERRY, a nightclub at the new Red Rock Casino,
Resort and Spa in Las Vegas, STONE ROSE Lounge at the recently renovated Sofitel Los
Angeles, MIDNIGHT ROSE, a restaurant and lounge and THE PENTHOUSE, and a roof top
bar, which opens in autumn in the historic Hotel Reina Victoria in Madrid fall 2006.
For additional information, visit www.amcbars.com.

About United Designers Ltd

With leading design projects such as the Metropolitan Hotel in London, the Clarence
Hotel in Dublin, and Parrot Cay Resort under his belt, Keith Hobbs and his
internationally-renowned team, United Designers Ltd, are currently working on a vast
range of exciting and exclusive projects worldwide.

As well as the exciting W Hotels projects in Doha and Miami, the team is working on
the Grosvenor Square and the Four Seasons in Londres and the Dolder Grand Hotel in
Zurich. Other projects in the pipeline include The InterContinental Hotel Miami,
several hotel projects in Ireland, and the refurbishment of the Hyatt Regency in New
Orleans that was due to open the same day New Orleans was devastated by flooding.

The driving force behind the company is their determination to excel, coupled with a
sympathy and ethos of design and a passion for everything new and creative. Aside
from its reputation, the success of United is based on the fact that the company
relishes a challenge and offers a professional level of service and creativity that
cannot be beaten. It is the fact that United continues to bring an energy and
insight to every project they undertake at a global level that has put the company
at the pinnacle of their profession.



Web Site = http://www.solmelia.com

Contact Details = Communications Department
971 22 44 23

Central Corporate Headquarter
Gremio Toneleros, 24. Polígono Industrial Son Castelló.
07009 Palma de Mallorca. Spain
Tel. (34) 971 22 44 00 - Fax. (34) 971 22 44 08