Meliá Hotels International has added a new hotel to its portfolio in the United Kingdom, Innside Newcastle.

It will join the three properties already operated in the UK (ME London, Meliá White House, and Innside Manchester), a key market for the company.

Innside Newcastle will be the result of the development of a vacant office building on the banks of the River Tyne, with exceptional views over the river and its famous bridges.

The hotel will open in 2019 with 160 rooms and all of the Innside brand attributes, such as a restaurant and bar, multi-functional lobby, fitness facilities and spaces for meetings and events.

Innside by Meliá is a great example of the current bleisure hotel trend, the company said, offering an innovative alternative for current work trippers, who seek to combine leisure and work, allowing them to maximise their moments as they work and trip their way around the world.

These hotels offer creative meetings spaces, 24/7 exercise classes, unlimited Wi-Fi and wellness areas.

Newcastle is one of the largest cities in England, located in the north-east of the country.

With a splendid history (the city owes its name to the castle located on the wall built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian), Newcastle has a robust industrial base and a service sector that continues to grow.

It also has numerous attractions for cultural tourism including the Tyne Bridge, Newcastle Castle, the Discovery Museum, and the famous St-James Park football stadium, among others.

The city centre is well connected to international destinations via Newcastle International Airport, just five miles away, and regular train services providing access to the rest of the country in just a few hours.

The hotel owner, Union Property Services, is the leading real estate group in Newcastle, and owns commercial outlets throughout the United Kingdom, managing hotels and shopping centres.

Union Property Services has granted Meliá Hotels International the management of the hotel for the next 25 years.

Gabriel Escarrer, chief executive, Meliá Hotels International, said of the acquisition: “Of all of our brands, Innside by Meliá has had the strongest growth over the past five years due to its international appeal.

“This has attracted investors and hotel owners all over the world to the brand.

“We excited to add this hotel to our portfolio, offering visitors to Newcastle an unbeatable experience and location with Innside hotels’ informal and efficient service combined with cutting-edge technology.”