A hedonistic icon of the 80s is soon to be reborn, with the former Byblos hotel near Marbella undergoing a complete transformation before it reopens as La Zambra, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt.
Once welcoming guests such as Diana, Princess of Wales, Julio Iglesias and the Rolling Stones when it was the Byblos, the Marbella hotel is being redeveloped by owners Intriva, a specialist European investment firm. La Zambra will be managed by Marugal, specialists in developing, launching and operating distinctive luxury hotels.
The transformation will be the work of the architectural studio Esteva i Esteva based in Palma, Mallorca. A father and son partnership, Esteva i Esteva has taken its vision to India, Portugal and Los Angeles, as well as many projects in Spain. This includes Marugal’s Menorcan hotel, Torralbenc, which is an impressive example of Esteva i Esteva’s use of natural materials.
La Zambra will be home to 197 rooms, including some with golf views and various suites, topped by a spectacular 125-square-metre Grand Suite. All will feature a terrace with uninterrupted views of the golf course or the mountains. The rooms will be bright and spacious, decorated in soft colours, using natural materials and specially designed furniture to create a relaxing, supremely comfortable ambience, a contemporary homage to Andalusian style.
Guests will be able to choose between three swimming pools, two tennis courts, two paddle courts, a gym, a yoga and Pilates studio, and a wellness centre with Jacuzzi, Turkish bath, sauna, hammam and ten treatment rooms.
Facilities will be complemented by the hotel’s own nightclub, a multi-use events space and a Kids Club.
For the keen golfer, the hotel has two neighbouring golf courses — Los Olivos and Los Lagos and is just a 15-minute drive from more than a dozen other superb courses, including Santana Golf and Chaparral Golf Club. Venture a little further, and you will find world-class courses such as Sotogrande or Valderrama.
The region’s best flavours will be given a distinctly modern twist in a restaurant that will proudly showcase Andalusian dishes. The all-day restaurant will offer Mediterranean cuisine with a relaxed atmosphere and fresh, healthy food for lunch. Come sunset, the mood changes when the spit roast is fired up, and cocktails are the order of the evening at the rotunda bar — with a vibe as glamorous as the golden years of the Costa Del Sol.
“When La Zambra opens next summer, it will become the perfect destination for guests from all over the world who are in search of peace, quiet, privacy and relaxed luxury in a glorious setting,” explained Joost Kruissen, La Zambra’s general manager. “We are excited to be working with some of the world’s best names in architecture and hotel management and look forward to be welcoming guests soon.”
La Zambra is expected to open in June 2022
. The hotel is just half an hour from Marbella, 20 minutes from Malaga airport and less than 15 minutes from Fuengirola.
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