Blue Clay Collection, the hospitality arm of the Agius Group of Companies, has applied for a large new four-star 295-room Meliá hotel in the heart of Paceville. 

If approved by the Planning Authority, the hotel will be built on the site currently occupied by the Tropicana Hotel and Wilġa Apartments along Triq il-Wilga, Triq Ball, and Triq San Ġorġ.

It will also include a rooftop pool, an indoor pool, underground parking, and six shops.

The original plan proposed a 362-room hotel but it has since been downsized to 295 rooms.

The Agius Group started as a Gozitan beverage distribution business in the 1950s, before expanding into property development, opening the Ta’ Dirjanu chain of supermarkets, and launching a cab hailing firm.

It has expanded aggressively into hospitality in recent years, in collaboration with Spanish hotel chain Meliá.

Three Gozitan Meliá hotels were opened in Marsalforn, San Lawrenz and Victoria, before INNSiDE by Meliá by the Buġibba Square became the group’s first Maltese hotel.

Besides the St Julian’s venture, further hotels are planned for Valletta, Għarb, Qala, and Għajnsielem to a total of nine Meliá hotels.