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Silicius, the manager of the Thader Shopping Centre in Murcia, has unveiled plans to open a new budget hotel within the complex, with an estimated investment of 3 million euros.

 

The hotel is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025, pending approval of the necessary licences. While construction work has already commenced, this is actually an adaptation rather than a new build, as the hotel will be located within an existing commercial gallery that has seen reduced occupancy in recent years.

 

The new hotel will feature 75 rooms, including both double and triple options, spread across 3,000 square metres on the first floor of the centre’s interior plaza. This area currently houses an ice rink as well as operators like Sfera and Dock39.

 

 

Silicius has emphasised that hotel guests will have direct access to the shopping centre’s wide range of retail and leisure offerings, making it an attractive option for visitors looking for convenience.

 

The hotel will be managed by the B&B chain, a well-established operator of budget accommodation. Silicius has secured a long-term rental agreement with the French company, which already operates a similar establishment near Thader that opened in 2021.

 

This addition will bring the total number of B&B’s rooms in the Thader area to over 150, further enhancing Murcia’s hotel capacity, which is set to surpass 5,000 rooms across the city.

 

The hotel is expected to cater to budget-conscious travellers, but including modern amenities such as a large breakfast buffet, high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the building, free parking and a 24-hour reception

 

According to Silicius, this initiative is part of a broader strategy to repurpose underused spaces within the shopping centre and to increase footfall, providing a boost to the centre’s existing businesses amid a changing retail landscape.

 

The rise of online shopping has led to a decline in fashion sales at physical stores, prompting the centre to pivot towards leisure and mixed-use offerings. This shift appears to be working, with Thader reporting a 3% increase in visitors and a sustained rise in operator sales during the recent campaign.

 

Silicius’ aim is to make Thader a go-to destination for leisure, sport, catering and services, with several new openings expected to support this vision.

 

In addition to the hotel, Thader is set to welcome a new Areafit gym, which is promoted as Spain’s largest machine room and one of the biggest in Europe. Scheduled to open in January 2025, the gym is already accepting memberships and has received positive feedback.

 

Moreover, the online electronics and computer retailer PC Componentes is preparing to open its second physical store in the centre, further expanding Thader’s tech offering. A new Más Café kiosk is set to open shortly in a 200-square-metre space near the Alcampo supermarket, and a new café, karaoke and dance area will extend the bowling alley’s current leisure facilities.

 

 

Image: Thader