The establishments, some of which are set to be completed relatively soon, are located in historic buildings in the town centre. Although some are in areas that are inaccessible to traffic and the buildings' characteristics mean they don't qualify for the highest hotel classifications, they nonetheless aspire to offer a high-end service. The aim is to target a market that still has a relatively small share in Marbella: tourists that are more attracted by culture and gastronomy, rather than nightlife.
The four properties belonged to a Swiss investment fund and were recently acquired by an individual investor. However, the vision and management of the construction is being carried out by the Rhone company, specialists in the residential and luxury hotel sector. Although the administrative and commercial management of the four hotels will be carried out jointly, these are projects at varying stages of development.
The first one to be set up is located in a palatial house on Calle Ancha. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century it was the residence of the Ardois family who exploited one of the mines in operation in the area. In fact, one of the walls of the building that has been preserved was built with quartz ore from that operation, explained Rhone CEO Miguel Cerván.
This establishment, which will open after the summer under the name of My Zone Ardois, will have nine rooms and a restaurant with at least 25 tables.
At the same time, also in October, a second establishment is scheduled to open in a historical palace located in Plaza del Santo Cristo, in the northern part of the old town next to the chapel of the same name. This hotel will have 15 rooms.
Another part of this project will see the old El Castillo hostel converted into a high-end establishment. It's also a historical building, located in Plaza San Bernabé, which in the 18th century served as a bodega and offered accommodation to travellers. As a new hotel, it is scheduled to open to the public with 16 rooms between November and December.
The last of the four establishments is the one that will be built in the old conservatory, another historical and emblematic building of the old town located in Plaza Puerta de Ronda. This project, which already has its building permit, will consist of 12 rooms, 50 square metres each. It's the only one of the four on which construction has not yet started.
