Talaia Hotel & Spa – MGallery Collection opens in Biarritz after major transformation
EXTENDAM and the Groupe Annie Famose announce the opening of the Talaia Hotel & Spa – MGallery Collection in Biarritz. Acquired in 2023, the 4-star hotel has undergone a significant renovation program aimed at strengthening its premium positioning and meeting the growing expectations of guests seeking high-end experiences year-round in the heart of the Basque coast.
A bold repositioning of a strategic hotel asset
Located just steps from the beaches and the city center, the Talaia Hotel & Spa – MGallery Collection now offers 149 rooms, a 130-seat rooftop panoramic restaurant with breathtaking ocean views led by Michelin-starred chef Eric Fréchon, and a newly added external elevator providing direct access to this new venue — designed to attract both hotel guests and outside visitors.
The transformation program, led by the Groupe Annie Famose with support from Capital Hospitality Europe, has enhanced the property’s appeal across several dimensions:
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Complete redesign of the rooftop, now featuring a pool, bar, external elevator, and a 130-seat space that can be fully sheltered to welcome guests all year round;
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A new, more attractive facade design;
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Renovation of all guest rooms and common areas, with interior architecture by Jean-Philippe Nuel;
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Full reconfiguration of the spa and meeting areas, now offering three naturally lit rooms (143 m² total) and a 45 m² coworking / concept store space opening onto a redesigned ground-floor terrace;
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Addition of a 40 m² fitness area, a surf room, and a bike storage area to meet the needs of active lifestyles and new travel habits.
Previously operated under the Radisson Blu brand, the property now joins MGallery Hotel Collection, part of the Accor Group, which includes over 120 distinctive boutique hotels worldwide. Each MGallery hotel is defined by strong personality, unique history, and refined atmosphere, delivering memorable experiences rooted in their location and moment.
By capitalizing on its strategic location and the differentiating features of the MGallery universe, the project aims to offer an immersive, sustainable, and locally grounded experience for guests.
Biarritz: a booming destination
A flagship city on France’s Atlantic coast, Biarritz is enjoying growing tourist appeal and steady year-round visitor numbers, driven by a diverse national and international clientele of both leisure and business travelers. The city welcomes over 3 million visitors annually and has become one of southwest France’s major tourism hubs.
Thanks to its multimodal accessibility (TGV, international airport, highway network) and the richness of its offering—beaches, surfing, gastronomy, heritage, golf, and conferences—Biarritz successfully attracts visitors beyond peak summer seasons. The city has adapted to changing tourism behaviors by upgrading its infrastructure and focusing on high-end accommodation and services.
Within this positive context, the opening of the Talaia Hotel & Spa – MGallery Collection actively contributes to enhancing the destination’s appeal and reflects EXTENDAM’s commitment to long-term investment in high-potential markets.
“This project demonstrates our ability to transform hotel assets into true destination venues — designed to meet new usage patterns and growing demand for hotels that are open to their surroundings and aligned with market expectations. With the Talaia Hotel & Spa – MGallery Collection, we have undertaken an ambitious repositioning of an iconic property in the heart of a thriving destination. We firmly believe in Biarritz’s long-term potential and in the value of a distinctive offering tailored to a demanding clientele in search of unique experiences,” said Matthieu de Lauzon, Managing Partner at EXTENDAM.
“With the Talaia Hotel & Spa – MGallery Collection, our goal was to create an iconic venue that reflects both the DNA of the Groupe Annie Famose and the prestige of the MGallery brand. Our ambition was to turn this hotel into a true anchor in Biarritz—open to the ocean, the city, and the evolving expectations of guests seeking refined and memorable experiences. Being affiliated with Accor enables us to combine our lifestyle hospitality expertise with the strength of their international network—an essential asset to attract local, national, and international clientele,” said Sarah Bremond, General Manager of Groupe Annie Famose.
