Melia CEO sees Q1 global bookings surpassing 2019 levels by 40%

MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish hotel chain Melia expects global bookings to surpass pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 40% in the first quarter of 2023, Chief Executive Officer Gabriel Escarrer told reporters on Wednesday.

The Mallorca-based group is planning to open 25 more hotels this year, Escarrer added, as it forecast a good year for the Spanish and wider European tourism industry.

(Reporting by Corina Pons. Writing by Emma Pinedo; Editing by Andrei Khalip)