The Stein Group – which operates 11 luxury hotels in Europe – has announced plans for two new hotels in Spain.

In February 2006, the group is due to open the Gran Hotel Son Julia in Mallorca.

A 150,000sq m (1.6 million sq ft) 15th century mansion, the hotel will feature 24 individually-designed rooms and suites.

It will also include an indoor and outdoor pools; a main restaurant with 60 covers; a banqueting restaurant with space for up to 200 guests; a ballroom; a wine cellar for private dinners; a gym and beauty area; extensive meeting facilities and tennis courts.

New acquisitions this year – including The Cadogan in London, UK; Port Palace in Monte Carlo and Hotel Casa Angelina on the Amalfi Coast in Italy – mean the group has grown from offering 211 rooms to 451 rooms in the space of three months.

Chief executive David Stein, who founded the company in 1999, said: “I am confident that we will reach our goal of having 25 hotels within the next five years.”

The group is set to open the Gran Hotel El Cortesin in Marbella, southern Spain in 2007 and is currently focused on achieving new management contracts, with the hope of expanding further into countries such as Italy. Details: www.thesteingroup.com