The vice-president and CEO of Melía Hotels International, Gabriel Escarrer, and the director of the hotel, Ramon Vidal, yesterday welcomed the first guests to the four-star superior hotel which is part of the new Palma Palacio de Congresos convention centre complex.

The family of four were given the luxury of officially cutting the ribbon and declaring the 268-bedroom hotel open. The hotel is not only aimed at businesspeople and those attending conferences and exhibitions but tourists as well. It boasts sea views, a swimming pool on the roof-top terrace, a spa, VIP areas and the Trasluz restaurant, which is open to the public and offers all-day dinning.

The Meliá Palma Bay Hotel has been designed with responsible and sustainable tourism as its primary aims and uses products which have a minimal environmental impact. The Palacio de Congresos, to which the final touches are being made, will begin hosting its first events this month.