RIU launched its plan to refurbish all of its hotels in 2011. This plan involves major refurbishment projects to modernise and upgrade its entire range of establishments. It is a circular and never-ending process as hotels are refurbished every 10 to 12 years, so when all the hotels in an area have been renovated, it is time to start all over again. This is the case of the hotel Riu Gran Canaria, which was fully refurbished in 2013 and has now become the first to undergo its second renovation.
These projects also incorporate improvements in energy efficiency, waste management and reduction and water consumption. Thanks to this project, the hotel will be able to consume electricity generated by the photovoltaic panels installed on the entire roof of the hotel, and any electricity consumed from the grid will be certified renewable energy, measures that will considerably reduce CO2 emissions. Improvements to optimise and reduce water consumption have also been put in place.
The hotel Riu Gran Canaria has 639 rooms and a modern design, with the simple lines that are a common feature in the Majorcan hotel chain’s refurbs. The renovated rooms offer the elegance of wooden furniture combined with green and beige tones to create a welcoming atmosphere. What’s more, the façade has been modified to extend the rooms and give guests more space and increased comfort.
The biggest changes can be found in the hotel’s common areas. The general idea with the interior design was to create fresh and bright spaces by playing with materials in neutral tones and giving vegetation a key role. The lobby has been remodelled to create a larger reception area and let more light in, with huge skylights in the ceiling that make guests feel like they are inside a botanical garden.
As for the hotel’s dining options, the main restaurant "Las Dunas" has undergone a complete makeover. In addition to a completely fresh design and layout, new terraces have been created in the garden so that customers feel a true connection with the outdoors. The swimming pool restaurant "Atlántico" and the Asian restaurant "Kaori" are still in service, and the grill restaurant "Pepe's Food" has been relocated. The gourmet restaurant "Kulinarium" and the Italian restaurant "Amore Mio" are two new options that have been added to the hotel’s existing selection. The hotel now has a new Sports Bar next to the "Moka" café-bar in the bar area, as well as the spectacular "Tivoli" Lounge Bar in the garden, which has a stage for the RIU Get Together Party events that will be held every Friday from the end of November. Guests also have the pool bar "Liquid", the chill-out bar "Sunset" and the terrace bar "Cocktail".
The outdoor area boasts a new swimming pool, which will host entertainment and sports activities. This brings the total number of pools to seven, including the impressive infinity pool on the seafront promenade. In addition, the Riu Gran Canaria has a RIU Art and RIU Land area, as well as an extensive daytime and evening entertainment programme for the whole family.
The international RIU chain was founded in Mallorca by the Riu family in 1953 as a small holiday firm and is still owned by the family's third generation. The company specialises in holiday resorts and over 74% of its establishments offer its acclaimed All Inclusive by RIU service. With the inauguration of its first city hotel in 2010, RIU is expanding its range of products with its own line of city hotels called Riu Plaza. RIU Hotels & Resorts now has 98 hotels in 21 countries. In 2024, the chain welcomed 6,7 million guests and provided jobs for a total of 38.055 employees. RIU is currently the world's 40th ranked chain, one of the Caribbean's most popular, and the fourth largest in Spain in number of rooms.