Sanctuary Cap Cana by AlSol introduces its new adults-only concept to the AlSol Hotels and Resorts portfolio. Offering the ultimate in luxury for couples seeking romantic getaways, the growing brand’s recently renovated and reopened flagship property will welcome travelers 18-years-old and older to its pristine oceanfront location in Cap Cana, the jewel of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic beginning December 15, 2015.
Hilton Worldwide and Resorts World Bimini, the world's first cruise destination resort, have announced the newest luxury lifestyle hotel in the Bahamas will fly the Hilton Hotels & Resorts flag. The newly-built luxury marina hotel, slated to have its official grand opening at Resorts World Bimini in the Bahamas this summer, will operate as Hilton at Resorts World Bimini, and marks Hilton Worldwide's second hotel in the Bahamas.
The new Marriott Port-au-Prince Haiti Marriott Hotel today checked in its first guests. Among the 200 new Haitian hotel workers who welcomed them were young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and Haitian-Americans who want to share their hospitality skills to help boost Haiti's tourism economy. The stories of these new associates include Luccardo, who was recruited to work at the hotel's front desk from the Nos Petits Frères et Soeurs orphanage, and Hermine, who was part of the hotel's intern program and will be an entry-level supervisor. In addition to members of a Haitian-American executive team, the Haiti Marriott is led by a veteran Marriott general manager who was previously at the Marriott Champs Elysees in Paris.
Baha Mar, the new $3.5 billion resort, will introduce a new era of luxury, glamour, gaming and excitement to The Bahamas when it begins hosting paid guests on March 27, 2015, at Baha Mar Casino & Hotel, Rosewood at Baha Mar and SLS LUX at Baha Mar. Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar will open shortly after.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) and Playa Hotels & Resorts B.V. ("Playa"), a leading owner, operator and developer of all inclusive resorts in prime beachfront locations, announced the opening of Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, an adult-only all inclusive experience, opens on the heels of Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, an all inclusive experience for guests of all ages.
"The Caribbean remains a positive market, as far as hotel performance is concerned - and it will be for some time to come," says Mr. Parris E. Jordan, Chairman, Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS) and Managing Director of HVS's operations in the Caribbean. "If you're a hotelier in the Caribbean, things are good…very good." Approximately 300 delegates gathered at the Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS) 2014, held last week at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Recognized as the leading venue for the hospitality industry in the region, CHICOS is known throughout the hotel investment world as the place where deals get done. This is the must-attend event for anyone with interest in hospitality in the Caribbean region. "Visitor arrivals to the region continue to increase," Jordan adds. "Hotel operating performance is healthy and strong, particularly average daily rates and revenue per available room (RevPAR). It will surpass the prior peak of 2007 by the end of this year. And the percentage of RevPAR growth, year-to-date 2014, is surpassing even what we're witnessing in the United States." With regard to hotel investments, Jordan goes on to share that the future of Caribbean financing is in alternative sources of capital, as opposed to traditional debt sources. "The banks and lenders who were active in the prior cycle are not active now, but capital is available and we can assist developers in finding these sources." Many of the speakers commented on the notable and increasingly active feeder markets to the Caribbean region from South America. CHICOS 2014 featured numerous panel discussions composed of prominent executives in the industry. Participants included Kenny Blatt, Principal and COO, CPG Real Estate; Nicholas Hecker, Principal, Och Ziff Real Estate; Honorable Minister Sealy, Chairman of Caribbean Tourism Organization and Minister of Tourism for Barbados; Adam Rosenberg, Global Head of Gaming and Leisure, Fortress Investment Group- Credit Funds; Hugh Riley, CEO, Caribbean Tourism Organization; Roland Mouly, VP Development, Latin America, Mexico & Caribbean, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group; Doug Kulig, CEO, OBM International; Patrick Freeman, President, Cisneros Real Estate; Alinio Azevedo, Director of Development, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts; Denis Ebrill, EVP Product Development North America, Melia Hotels International; Rafael Blanco, EVP, Viva Resorts; among many others. In addition to the event organizers, CHICOS was sponsored by: Host Patrons Dominican Republic Export & Investment Center and Hard Rock International; Patron Sponsors Interval International and MasterCard; Platinum Sponsors KPMG, Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Club, Marriott International, Choice Hotels International, JetBlue and OBM International (OBMI); Silver Sponsors Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, BCQS, Melia Hotels International, Apple Leisure Group, K&L Gates, PKF, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, BanReservas, Rider Levett Bucknall; Cisneros Real Estate, Banco Popular; and Media and Education Partners Hotel Executive.com, HotelNewsNow.com, STR and Florida International University. CHICOS 2015 location and dates are to be announced shortly. Photography and video footage of CHICOS 2014 are available upon request. For more information about CHICOS, visit www.hvschicos.com
An agreement has been signed between the Government of Dominica and Range Developments, a development company, for the construction of a luxury hotel resort as an approved project under its Citizenship By Investment programme. Further to an agreement signed by Range Developments with Kempinski Hotels for the operation of the hotel, the resort will be Kempinski's first luxury hotel project in the Caribbean. The Cabrits Resort Kempinski Dominica will be a 101 room hotel on Douglas Bay in Cabrits on the north shore of the island, close to the town of Portsmouth.
Positive Trends and Cautious Observations to be discussed at 2014 HVS Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference and Operations Summit (CHICOS) this November In Punta Cana, Dominican Republic;"Hospitality Developers in the Caribbean Need to Get More Creative"
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H), PRISA Group and McConnell Valdés Consulting today announced the groundbreaking for Puerto Rico's fourth Hyatt-branded select service hotel, the $29.7 million Hyatt Place San Juan. The announcement comes on the heels of the recent opening of the 126-room Hyatt House San Juan, which opened October 1, 2014, and confirms Hyatt's commitment to Puerto Rico and the region. Hyatt Place San Juan will be developed by a joint venture between affiliates of Hyatt, PRISA Group and McConnell Valdés Consulting, Inc. As part of the transaction, a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management and related agreements with the joint venture for the operation of the hotel. Hyatt Place San Juan is expected to open in the first quarter of 2016.
Gansevoort Hotel Group has announced it will be officially opening its doors December 15, 2014 to its latest oceanfront resort--Gansevoort Playa Imbert--on the Dominican Republic's north coast.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) and PRISA Group and McConnell Valdés Consulting today announced the opening of Hyatt House San Juan, debuting as Puerto Rico's first extended stay hotel as well as the brand's first Hyatt House hotel outside of the continental United States. The Governor of Puerto Rico, the Hon. Alejandro Garcia Padilla, attended the hotel's ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Discussion panels and workshops at the Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS) will focus on key subjects impacting the investment climate in the Caribbean including available capital, mixed-use development and other investment opportunities in the region. CHICOS, scheduled for November 13-14, 2014 at theHard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, will showcase an impressive panel of investors and operators who will discuss the major issues which affect them today. And sharing their insights of the region's strengths weaknesses, opportunities and challenges are four of the Caribbean's movers and shakers.
Discussion panels and workshops at the Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS) will focus on key subjects impacting the investment climate in the Caribbean including available capital, mixed-use development and other investment opportunities in the region. CHICOS is scheduled Nov. 13-14, 2014 at theHard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – August 27, 2014 - Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) continues to grow its world-class luxury JW Marriott hotel brand with the opening of the 150-room JW Marriott Santo Domingo. The grand opening celebration took place today in Santo Domingo and was graced with the presence of President Danilo Medina, Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia, along with the President of FVI-Fondo de Valores Inmobiliarios S.A.C.A, Mr. Luis Emilio Velutini and Mr. Craig Smith, President of the Caribbean and Latin America at Marriott.
Occidental Vacation Club (OVC) has completed the First Phase of a $1.4 million renovation to its Grand Punta Cana Beach Club. In the fall, the Beach Club renovation will be quickly followed by renovations to the exclusive First Club Lounge.
The 4th annual Caribbean Hospitality Investment Conference and Operations Summit (CHICOS) will be held Nov. 13-14, 2014 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and is co-hosted for the second consecutive year by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), representing over 600 Caribbean hotels, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), representing over 30 Caribbean governments, and HVS, the leading global hospitality consulting firm.
Baha Mar, the $3.5 billion integrated destination gaming resort, and SLS Hotels today announced the signing of a management agreement that will bring SLS Hotels' distinctive service, style and sophistication to Baha Mar's 300-room luxury lifestyle hotel, including its 107 residences. SLS at Baha Mar will be the brand's first international venture, and will complement SLS' soon-to-open hotels and resorts in Las Vegas, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Brickell, Miami and China, as well as its signature hotels in Beverly Hills, California and Miami Beach, Florida.
Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Ltd. – a collection of luxury hotels and resorts – has assumed management of Belize Ocean Club & Resort, located on Maya Beach, Placencia,Belize. The property is the 18thaddition to the Noble House Hotels & Resorts (NHHR) hospitality portfolio, and the first international resort to join the collection.
Hilton Worldwide today announced the signing of a management agreement with CAB, S.A. to operate the new build Hilton Garden Inn Port-au-Prince Louverture Airport. Scheduled to open in 2016, this new Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Haiti will introduce the Hilton Garden Inn brand to the Caribbean and debut the company's first hotel in Haiti. "We are excited the Hilton Garden Inn brand continues to grow around the world and we are looking forward to opening in Port-au-Prince," said Adrian Kurre, global brand head, Hilton Garden Inn. "Value-conscious guests will enjoy their stay with an award-winning upscale and affordable hotel experience with superior amenities at an affordable price." Forming part of the award-winning, mid-priced brandthat delivers high quality and value, Hilton Garden Inn Port-au- Prince Louverture Airport will be strategically located in the airport's industrial park area – acting as the only internationally branded hotel at the airport. The newest hotel to the airport complex will welcome travelers with on-site staff to arrange transportation from the airport to the property. Danny Hughes, senior vice president, Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America, Hilton Worldwide said, "As tourism continues to contribute significantly to Haiti's economic development, we are thrilled to work with Dominique Carvonis, President of CAB, S.A. and her team, and play a part in this growth. With the brand's value proposition and the hotel's strategic location, we are confident the Hilton Garden Inn Port-au-Prince Louverture Airport will be a successful partner in the nation's capital and commercial hub." Welcoming guests to Haiti's capital city, the Hilton Garden Inn Port-au-Prince Louverture Airport will be designed in line with the Hilton Garden Inn Latin America prototype, featuring the brand's quality standards while incorporating local elements to give the hotel an authentic style. The hotel will feature 152 guest rooms including eight suites, all outfitted with comfortable bedding, LCD high-definition flat- screen television, easy-to-set alarm clock with MP3 connectivity, a spacious work desk, and a "hospitality center" that features a mini refrigerator and coffee maker. Dining options will include a full service restaurant and lobby lounge offering freshly prepared full, cooked-to-order breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hotel will also feature the 24-hour Pavilion Pantry® shop with a selection of delicious readymade meals, beverages and snacks. Recreational facilities will boast an outdoor swimming pool, and a complimentary fitness center featuring cardio and strength training equipment by Precor. Travelers to Hilton Garden Inn Port-au-Prince Louverture Airport will also have access to comfortable and efficient meeting space with a pre-function area, three flexible meeting rooms and one boardroom. Signature Hilton Garden Inn brand attributes such as complimentary Wi-Fi and a 24-hour business center complete the facilities. Dominique Carvonis, President of CAB, S.A. said, "Our joint efforts with Hilton Worldwide will help boost the environment of this industrial zone, creating nearly 100 direct jobs and 300 indirect employment roles. With Hilton Worldwide's comprehensive hotel training programs, we will develop skilled human resources thus contributing to increase the standards and quality of service to our guests, and ultimately enhance the prestige of our beloved Haiti." The hotel will participate in Hilton HHonors®, the only guest rewards program that allows members to earn Points & Miles® for the same stay and redeem points for free nights with No Blackout Dates at more than 4,000 hotels worldwide. Hilton Worldwide currently has a portfolio of 15 hotels and resorts open and welcoming travelers in the Caribbean. For more information about this hotel and upcoming openings of the award-winning Hilton Garden Inn brand, please visit hiltongardeninn.com or news.hgi.com.
Radisson®, one of the world's best-recognized hotel brands, today announced the opening of the Radisson Hotel Trinidad. The 243-room hotel is on Wrightson Road in Port of Spain and offers a variety of guest rooms and suites. "The opening of this hotel reinforces our commitment to enhance the brand's portfolio and further expand throughout the Americas," said Javier Rosenberg, chief operating officer, Radisson. "This is the third hotel we have opened in the Caribbean in the last year with this ownership group, we are excited about this expansion and are pleased to welcome a hotel that is perfect for both business and leisure guests."