Spanish hotel chain Sol Melia plans to build 20 new hotels in Brazil by 2005, Sol Melia South American Vice President Rui Manuel Oliveira said in an interview recently published.

Sol Melia opened six new hotels in Brazil last year and operates a total of 21.

The executive said Sol Melia had already signed deals with several construction companies, adding that the expansion project would require an investment of 600 million reais ($260 million).