notitur.com August 6, 2026
Investment & M&APublished August 6, 20261 min read

Kaya buys the ME Barcelona for €100M, Meliá keeps operating

JSBy Joan SanzCurated by Joan Sanz. · August 6, 2026 · Follow on LinkedIn
Voice reading · ~1 min

The ME Barcelona hotel changes hands, but not operator. Turkish group Kaya has paid over €100 million for the 164-room property, as reported by Hosteltur, and Meliá will keep managing it. That classic split between ownership and management works well for Spanish hospitality.

The ME Barcelona opened in November 2021, after a six-year renovation, with 12,649 square meters and 3,000 of outdoor space. The deal lands in a strong half-year: hotel investment in Spain topped €2.53 billion, and Hosteltur highlights Barcelona as the leading market for profitability, with more than €160 million moved in hotel assets alone.

My take: Turkish money is eyeing Barcelona as a safe bet, and Meliá is doing the hard part, keeping the operation without locking up cash. The owner holds the asset, the operator brings brand and distribution. Short term, few better pieces of news for a city hotel than keeping the team.

Quick questions

How much did Kaya pay for the ME Barcelona?
Over €100 million for the 164-room hotel, according to Hosteltur. The Turkish group keeps Meliá as the operator of the property.
Who operates the ME Barcelona after the sale?
Meliá does. The Turkish group Kaya bought the asset for more than €100 million, but the Balearic chain keeps the management contract.
How many rooms does the ME Barcelona have?
The hotel opened in November 2021 with 164 rooms, after six years of renovation. The property spans 12,649 square meters, with 3,000 of outdoor space.
How much hotel investment has Spain seen?
It surpassed €2.53 billion in the first half, according to Hosteltur. Barcelona moved over €160 million in hotel assets and leads in profitability and appeal.
Why doesn't Meliá sell the management too?
It's a common split: the owner invests and the operator brings brand, distribution and know-how. Meliá earns fees without locking money into real estate.

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