TORONTO — Melia Hotels International is bringing its Sol by Melia brand to Costa Rica, taking over the Tamarindo Diriá Beach Resort and renaming it Sol Tamarindo Hotel effective Aug. 1.

The move marks Melia’s return to Costa Rica.

With more than 370 properties around the world Melia Hotels International has a long list of well-known resort brands including core brand Melia, the luxurious Paradisus by Melia, and Gran Melia.

Another brand, ME by Melia is all about ‘luxury lifestyle’. And sister brand Sol by Melia is ‘ME lite’, says Melia’s VP Global Brand Strategy, Tony Cortizas.

The Sol brand has a lot of the same emphasis on style as ME by Melia, but at a lower price point. In an interview with Travelweek, Cortizas noted that Sol has a lot of appeal for younger Millennials.

Melia has chosen a strong destination for its first Sol by Melia in the Americas. The resort is right on Tamarindo Beach, known as one of the best beaches in Costa Rica.

The resort is owned by the Diriá Group, the biggest real estate group in the area, and is located alongside the beach and the famous Diriá Grand Boulevard with a selection of restaurants, shops and a casino.

The resort has 242 rooms in several buildings, half with sea views and the others with views of the pools or the gardens.

Dining options include six restaurants and three bars, plus there are four swimming pools, tennis court and gym.

Tamarindo and Liberia airports are five minutes and one hour away respectively. San Jose Airport is about four hours away by car.

MHI says the new addition reaffirms its commitment to growth in the Caribbean and Central America, reinforcing its market leadership and extending the international expansion of its Sol by Meliá brand of resort hotels.

“As world leaders in resort hotels with brands such as Sol by Meliá which will now be present in 10 countries on four continents, we continue to strengthen our presence in the most important leisure destinations,” says Gabriel Escarrer, MHI’s Executive Vice President and CEO. “We are also very excited to welcome the addition of Sol Tamarindo, a resort which allows the company to operate again in the essential destination of Costa Rica.”