Spanish chain Sol Melia is taking over the Renaissance Atlanta Downtown, a move that will give the company its first U.S. hotel.
Sol Melia said it will take over the 502-room hotel on Oct. 15, and then begin a $35 million renovation.
By planting its flag at the edge of Atlanta's downtown business district, the company said the new Melia Atlanta will set the footprint for Sol Melia's expansion and help the brand gain name recognition.
"We are thrilled to take over such hotel operations and open the Melia Atlanta," said Sol Melia CEO Gabriel Escarrer Jaume. "I believe venturing into this particular market will help with the development of numerous projects the Sol Melia chain wants to develop in the U.S. within the next few years."
The Spanish hotel chain is best known in the Americas for its resorts in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.
The company said it wants to strengthen its brand in the U.S. because it is a key feeder market for those destinations,
The company has more than 300 hotels in 26 countries under the brands Gran Melia, Melia, ME by Melia, Innside by Melia, Tryp, Sol, Paradisus and Sol Melia Vacation Club.