Despite its economic woes, tourists are still flocking in their millions to Spain, indicating the current collapse in property values will more than likely only be temporary- last year the country recorded the highest number of hotel stays out of any country in Europe, according to EU statistics body Eurostat. It’s no surprise then that international hotel group Marriott has chosen Spain as the destination to launch its new Autograph brand onto the European market.

Launched successfully in the United States last year, Autograph represents the group’s entrance into the upscale boutique hotel market, following the success of the InterContinental Group’s similar boutique chain, Hotel Indigo. The four new hotels planned in the Spanish cities of Madrid, Granada and the ski resort of Baqueira in the Pyrenees will be constructed from refurbished heritage properties already owned by European hotel group AC Hotels.

Both the AC Santo Mauro and AC Palacio de Retiro hotels in Madrid have been converted from historic houses to 50-room boutique hotels, while the Granada property, AC Palacio de Santa Paula, was a former convent. If successful, Marriott will expand the quirky heritage-turned-modern hotel brand into Italy and Portugal over the next three years.

“We are thrilled to launch the Autograph Collection in Europe with such a dynamic and distinguished group of hotels”, said managing director of Marriott International Europe, Amy McPherson. “Each of these properties offers a truly unique guest experience and fits perfectly within the positioning of the Autograph Collection.”

As the first major hotel launch in Spain since the collapse of the property market plunged its economy into a national debt crisis, the presence of the new Autograph brand will boost both the country’s economy and its public image. With major hospitality brands like Marriott showing confidence in Spain again, the recovery of the property industry can’t be too far behind.

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