Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into an agreement for a Hyatt Place hotel in Manatí, Puerto Rico with Island Hospitality Partners, LLC, a joint venture of PRISA Group and McConnell Valdes Consulting. Island Hospitality is also the owner of Hyatt Place Bayamón Hotel & El Tropical Casino, which is currently under construction and is expected to open in 2014.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced today that it plans to debut the Aloft brand in South Korea in late 2014, signing an agreement with development partner Youngshin HRD. Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of OKHOW Co., Ltd. The hotel, Aloft Suwon, will be the first Aloft hotel in South Korea, adding to the brand's global expansion plan and growth momentum in Asia Pacific that has been building up in recent years.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that a Hyatt affiliate has signed a management agreement with Range Developments for a Park Hyatt hotel in St. Kitts. Slated to open in 2015, Park Hyatt St. Kitts will be located on the southeast peninsula of St. Kitts in Christophe Harbour, a 2,500-acre master planned community that is currently under development. The Christophe Harbour development project will offer a Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole championship golf course, a beach club and a 300-acre super yacht marina and marina village.
Marriott International"s world-class luxury hotel brand, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, announced today plans to open a new 131-room JW Marriott Hotel in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, in 2014. The property will be operated by Marriott under an agreement with Grupo Velutini, a Panamanian subsidiary of Fondo de Valores Inmobiliarios (FVI).
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) plans to debut its Westin brand in the Dominican Republic in late 2013 at the exclusive resort property, PUNTACANA Resort & Club. The franchise agreement for The Westin Puntacana Resort was announced today by Starwood"s development partner Grupo Puntacana at the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE), the 13thannual conference hosted by the Ministry of Tourism. Construction on The Westin Puntacana Resort will begin this summer with an opening scheduled for the winter of 2013.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has signed a management agreement with an affiliate of Island Hospitality Partners, LLC for Hyatt Place Bayamón and El Tropical Casino. It will be the first Hyatt-branded select service hotel in Puerto Rico and, upon opening, will mark the return of Hyatt-branded hotels to Puerto Rico after a nine year absence.
The 16th Annual Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (CHTIC) is geared to emphasize the need for public and private sector partnerships in order to maximize investment opportunities in the Caribbean tourism industry. CHTIC is scheduled for April 24-26, 2012 at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Digicel Group is responsible for designing and building the hotel and chose Marriott International's flagship Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand as its operating partner under long-term management agreement. Construction on the property is expected to begin in 2012, with opening expected in mid-2014. (view video) With roughly 500 hotel rooms operating in the city, the Port-au-Prince Marriott will add 173 rooms to the capital city and create much needed lodging and meeting space for business travelers seeking to invest in the country, non-government organizations (NGOs), humanitarian organizations, reconstruction teams, financial institutions and visitors to the capital. Port-au-Prince is located in the southern part of the country on the Gulf of Gonave and is home to approximately 20 percent of the country's population.
In addition to major hotel investors and government officials, the opening panel is scheduled to include Pedro Fabregas, President and Chief Operating Officer of American Airlines/Eagle and Chad Meyerson, Global Director of Sales of JetBlue Airways. Regional government leaders will also participate in CHICOS 2011; The Prime Minister of Aruba, the Honorable Michiel Eman and the Minister of Tourism for the Bahamas, the Honorable Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace will both speak on separate panels during the opening day of the conference.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. and Dorado Beach Resort announce the grand return of Dorado Beach – one of the Caribbean's most celebrated destinations – with the introduction of Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. More than 50 years ago, Laurance S. Rockefeller introduced the world to the 'luxury island resort' when he opened his eco-friendly RockResorts, including Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico. Today, we are pleased to announce that the exquisite Ritz-Carlton Reserve, a 115-key oceanfront hotel and residences, will be the centerpiece of the renovation of the Dorado Beach Resort set to open in December 2012.
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, LLC a subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE:WYN), today welcomed its first Wyndham Garden® property in Puerto Rico, the 107-room Wyndham Garden at Palmas del Mar in Humacao, expanding its Caribbean portfolio of hotels. The hotel opens as the second Wyndham® property on the island, joining Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa, A Wyndham Grand® Resort in Rio Grande.
Steve Rushmore, president and founder of HVS, the leading global hospitality services and consulting firm, and HVS Bahamas Managing Director Parris Jordan, are pleased to announce the 1st Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference and Operations Summit (CHICOS), that will focus on this region's hotel development and operations issues, as well as current financing initiatives. Scheduled for November 10-11, 2011 at the famed Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, CHICOS is designed to bring global investors and operators together with local Caribbean decision-makers to address the opportunities and challenges faced in the region. CHICOS will provide opportunities to share views, insights, and proposed strategies for advancing the hospitality and tourism sectors in the Caribbean from 2011 and beyond.
Continuing its high-powered global expansion, fast-growing Four Points by Sheraton will debut in the Dominican Republic next winter, parent Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced today.
On the heels of a successful Caribbean Marketplace event in Jamaica, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) returns to the brand new Montego Bay Convention Centre in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from May 10-12, 2011, to stage the 15th Annual Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (CHTIC).
Hard Rock International makes a splash in the Caribbean and rolls out the red carpet to celebrate the grand opening of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, located in the Dominican Republic on Jan. 29, 2011. The lush, 121-acre property located on Macao Beach is Hard Rock’s first all-inclusive Hotel & Casino and marks the brand’s debut in the Caribbean.
On completion the Jumeirah Anguilla Resort project will consist of a 140-room Jumeirah luxury hotel with a spacious spa, conference facilities and beach clubs, as well as 460 residential units, which will also be managed by Jumeirah. Renowned golfer Jack Nicklaus has designed a championship 18-hole "Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course" for the Jumeirah Anguilla Resort. His Signature Course runs along a magnificent stretch of oceanfront property with several holes playing to or along the water. The course offers spectacular views across the sea to the beautiful peaks of St. Maarten. Situated on 370 acres of beachfront and beach view on the south side of Anguilla, the Jumeirah Anguilla Resort has been designed to express Jumeirah's global brand promise to STAY DIFFERENT with imaginative architecture, exhilarating ocean views, thoughtful and generous service and a commitment to creating memorable, culturally relevant experiences for its guests. It is expected that the resort will open in the next 3 years.
With a resort-like ambience, the Wyndham Kingston Jamaica is an oasis in the heart of Kingston's financial and diplomatic district. An 18-story high rise with more than 16,000 square feet of event space rises amid 7.5 acres of manicured lawns, lush night-it gardens and cascading waterfalls. Inside are 303 rooms suitable for business travelers or vacationers, with amenities that include a 24-hour fitness center and six food and beverage outlets.
Boasting an innovative Club House and Entertainment District unlike any other, in addition to a variety of suites to accommodate families and singles alike, the Barceló Bávaro Palace Deluxe has opened the doors to it’s all-new, all inclusive mega resort.
Viceroy Anguilla today announced that Starwood Capital Group has completed the purchase of the loan originally made to the developer of the property, Barnes Bay Development. Viceroy Hotel Group will continue to manage and operate the property as Viceroy Anguilla.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) is gearing up for the November opening of The St. Regis Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico, the island’s first luxury project since 1997. Underscoring the recovery in luxury hospitality, the $172 million resort is nearly sold out for the December holidays. This month, Starwood President and CEO Frits van Paasschen met with Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño, as well as owners and developers, to discuss future Starwood development in this key Caribbean market.