Meliá Hotels International has announced the reopening of its iconic Sol La Palma hotel in Puerto Naos, situated in the southwest of La Palma. This significant event, scheduled for next month (July), marks 1,000 days since the catastrophic eruption of the Tajogaite volcano, which ravaged the municipalities of El Paso, Los Llanos de Aridane, and Tazacorte.
On September 19th, 2021, the volcanic eruption forced the evacuation of 650 people, including guests, employees, and their families, from the hotel. This mass evacuation, the largest in La Palma's history, was executed in just 45 minutes.
Those evacuated were temporarily housed in an emergency shelter before being relocated the next day to two Meliá hotels in Tenerife, where they stayed for the remainder of their trips.
The Sol La Palma hotel, built on an ancient lava flow from the 1949 eruption of the San Juan volcano, has been closed for 1,000 days. During this time, it has symbolised resilience and solidarity for the local community. Although Puerto Naos was not buried by lava, it was isolated and impacted by residual toxic gas emissions following the disaster.
The hotel, operated by Meliá under its Sol brand and including adjacent apartments, is owned by Atom Hoteles. From the outset, both the owner and operator committed to reopening the hotel.
However, in a move to enhance quality and sustainability, the property is being rebranded to one of Meliá’s premium brands, Meliá Hotels & Resorts. This transition, requiring an investment of nearly four million euros, is expected to be completed by November 1st, introducing new and innovative gastronomic and experiential concepts.
While much of the renovation is finished, the hotel will initially reopen under the Sol brand's standards and attributes this July, continuing its phased transition to the Meliá brand.
Gabriel Escarrer, President and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, expressed optimism about the hotel’s transformation into Meliá La Palma. He anticipates this new chapter will herald a period of prosperity, helping the island recover from the eruption’s devastation and highlighting its potential as a premier destination for quality, nature, and unique experiences.
