Scotsman Ian Connor founded Meridian in 2002 with a group of six long-standing partners and friends. Meridian is an investment company that is currently involved in around fifty projects throughout the world, from the United States to Central Asia by way of Russia and the Philippines. It works mainly in the fields of real estate, oil and gas, and telecommunications.

When asked what led him to invest in the Hotel Métropole, Ian Connor answered that it was a decision that came from the heart of someone who loved the Riviera, who had spent a lot of time there and who wanted to make a contribution, in his own way, to the renovation of a town like Beaulieu-sur-Mer.

The Hotel Métropole was bought in 2004 by the international Meridian group.

The years following the purchase revealed the true state of the premises.

It was decided to carry out a thorough review of the destiny of this hotel, established since 1891 on this privileged site. On 24 September 2006 closure of the establishment became inevitable.