News and press releases

The spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to reduce the pressure on the public health system in the Balearic Islands led to the Meliá Palma Bay Hotel and Palma Convention Centre being converted into hospitals in late March under the management of the Son Llàtzer University Hospital.

Since then, a total of 66 Covid-19 patients have been treated at the hotel facilities, and on Sunday, May 17, the last patients were discharged, applauded by the Deputy Director of Son Llàtzer Hospital, José Luis Gil, the Head of Nursing for the hotel-hospital, Maite Haro, members of the medical team and the General Manager of the Convention Centre, Ramón Vidal.

“The conversion of our facilities was an unprecedented project and one of the most valuable experiences in our history - declared Ramón Vidal - and I’m proud that the Palma Convention Centre and hotel have played a fundamental role in combatting the spread of Covid-19 in the city”.

On behalf of all the health workers who have been working at the hotel, the director of the hotel-hospital (Meliá Palma Bay) and Deputy Director of Son Llàtzer Hospital, José Luis Gil, thanked “not only that the facilities were made available to patients, but also the disposition and sensitivity that the Meliá team has shown at all times. Working together, we have transformed this space to respond to a health emergency, and we can also say with more than satisfactory results."

The adaptation of the hotel and preparation of 258 rooms for Covid-19 patients was carried out in collaboration with the Government of the Balearic Islands, Palma City Council and the Palma 47th Infantry Brigade of the Spanish Army. The Convention Centre housed 105 beds with an oxygen supply and 24 ICU beds as a preventative measure which fortunately has not been needed to date.

The management team of Meliá Hotels International has worked closely with the health authorities, and as a sign of their gratitude to all the health workers who have been working at the facilities over these recent weeks, has rewarded them with two free hotel nights to spend in any company hotel when the situation allows.

For the Convention Centre and hotel it has been a learning experience that has allowed it to optimise all the health and safety protocols in the facilities, something that will be essential to face the post-Covid-19 era and the changes that will occur in the travel and events industries.

Suppliers of the Convention Centre, including companies such Endesa, Otis or Coca Cola, have also shown their solidarity during the emergency, offering their services free of charge during the period that the facilities  have been operating as a hospital.