1912 Hotels is strengthening its European portfolio with the long-term management takeover of the Marbella Old Town Hotel Collection, a group of three boutique hotels located in the historic centre of the Andalusian city. The deal also marks the official launch of 1912 Collection, the Hamburg-based group’s new boutique luxury brand.
The collection brings together the Hotel Maison Ardois, the Hotel Santo Cristo and the Hotel El Castillo, totalling 37 rooms spread across several of the most sought-after addresses in the old town. The properties also include several restaurants, rooftop spaces and extensive outdoor terrace concessions.
Three historic addresses repositioned under the 1912 banner
Housed in fully restored historic buildings, the three hotels combine authentic Andalusian character with a contemporary level of service. As part of the takeover, the properties are being renamed 1912 Maison Ardois Marbella, 1912 Santo Cristo Marbella and 1912 El Castillo Marbella, becoming the inaugural properties of the 1912 Collection brand.
Marbella has established itself as one of Europe’s most sought-after leisure destinations, driven by strong international demand, good air connectivity and a hotel market that remains active year-round. Quality boutique supply is still limited there, a factor that supports long-term market fundamentals for this type of asset.
1912 Collection, a brand built for independent hotels of character
Rather than imposing a standardised brand identity, 1912 Collection has been designed to preserve each property’s heritage while layering on timeless design, personalised service and curated local experiences. The group says it intends to roll the brand out selectively, on future projects where its philosophy naturally aligns with the destination, the architecture and the guest experience.
Audun Lekve, co-founder and CEO of 1912 Hotels, said that the Marbella Old Town Hotel Collection reflected exactly the kind of hospitality the group wants to create through 1912 Collection. He stressed that the group intends to preserve the individuality of each building while elevating the guest experience, adding that the brand is meant to bring together a portfolio of independent boutique hotels where heritage, character and authenticity define the stay.
A food and beverage offering built around the group’s own concepts
The food and beverage operations at the three properties will be repositioned and developed under 1912 Hotels’ own concepts, with the ambition of creating a collection of destination restaurants, rooftop venues and lifestyle spaces catering to both hotel guests and Marbella’s local community. Each concept will be developed individually to reflect the character of its property. Further details on the concepts will be announced in due course.
Katharina Hohn, co-founder and CFO of 1912 Hotels, said the ambition had been present from the earliest conversations around building long-term value through thoughtful hospitality and operational excellence. She said the group wanted to go beyond the hotels themselves, with restaurants, bars and rooftop concepts individually designed for each property, and saw the project as an opportunity to strengthen the appeal of Marbella’s old town to both international visitors and local residents.
Marbella, a strategic development ground for the Costa del Sol
The deal comes amid a broader rise of the Costa del Sol in the luxury segment, where several international groups have recently strengthened their presence, including Meliá Hotels International with the opening of ME Marbella earlier in the year. For 1912 Hotels, the deal also marks a further step in the disciplined European growth pursued by its founders, Audun Lekve and Katharina Hohn.
Founded in Hamburg, the group has set itself a target of twenty hotels in Europe by 2028, and recently strengthened its governance with the appointment of a Vice President of Development tasked with repositioning its portfolio. The takeover of the three Marbella addresses marks the group’s first entry into Spain, alongside an existing portfolio in Germany and Austria.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
1912 Hotels enters Spain with a boutique hotel collection in Marbella’s Old Town
Deal: long-term lease and operation of the Marbella Old Town Hotel Collection
Portfolio: 3 boutique hotels – Maison Ardois, Santo Cristo, El Castillo – totalling 37 rooms
Brand launch: 1912 Collection, a new luxury boutique brand for independent heritage properties
Amenities: multiple restaurants, rooftop venues and outdoor terrace concessions
Leadership: Audun Lekve (CEO) and Katharina Hohn (CFO), co-founders of 1912 Hotels
