Madrid hotel takeovers
 

From what I've heard ...

Ritz Madrid (currently Belmond) will become part of the Mandarin Oriental hotel group. MO will be doing (much needed) renovation through 2017.

And just heard this morning that Villa Magna is to be managed by Ritz-Carlton.

So would you recommend the le meridian in barca?

Market rumours or a reliable source re: Ritz taking over Villa Magna?

Quite a ride from Park Hyatt to LHW to RC. Doesn't sound too enticing.

qatar bought IC
ritz bought by private saudi company and MO
villa magna is managed by owner, and may be for sale

http://www.auraree.com/real-estate-n...a-madrid-sale/
http://www.02b.com/en/notices/2015/0...uros-10433.php

Who's the owner of the Villa Magna? Any info?

Thanks! ^

Love the Ritz location. Fingers crossed with MO mgmt will become great again!

FYI, refurb on MO MAD isn't starting till middle/late 2016, hence why it'll take till 2017.

The owner until June 2015 was Portuguese businessman, Pedro Queiroz Pereira. He sold the Villa Magna to Colombian businessman Jaime Gilinski Bacal (Banco Sabadell's largest shareholder).

Any updates on the MO Madrid renovations? Looking at either Barcelona or Madrid for a February stay and trying to scope out my options.

They've started renovations but it's going MUCH slower than anyone expected...not floor by floor (as most renos occur) but room by room. It's very room specific.

I've been told by Mandarin to only book suites right now until the renovations hit their stride.

Anyways, I've always thought the Westin - which is spitting distance from the new Mandarin Oriental - is a fabulous option.

Thanks for the info. Any ideas on what they're actually doing to the rooms that have been renovated? And does the comment to only book suites right now imply that the suites are already renovated?

The non-renovated rooms in the MO Madrid are dire and not worth staying in. How MO can even sell the non-suites as being consistent with the brand's standard is beyond me.

I have seen the Four Seasons is coming to Madrid next to the Sol square, is it also a takeover? I don't remember the history of this building there, and any news about when bookable? Westin is still my favourite in the town and I always got pretty good upgrades there.

I've asked for clarification from Mandarin - will revert once I get an answer and I'll post the info here.

EDIT: renovations at Mandarin Oriental MAD have NOT started. More info to follow.