CHRIS+HOLA Connect Deal of the Year Award Winners

Published September 2020

The Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) and Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA) events announced the winners of the prestigious Development of the Year and Transaction of the Year Awards at the three-day virtual event, CHRIS+HOLA Connect, which took place on September 8-10, 2020.

 

Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Cap Cana, Dominican Republic was named the CHRIS Development of the Year 2019. Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana all-inclusive resorts debuted in November 2019. The 750-roomresort complex was the first-ever new build project for the Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva brands and the first Hyatt branded resort in the Punta Cana market. Completely funded by Playa Hotels & Resorts, the US$264 million development was a remarkable milestone, displaying the company’s commitment to expanding Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara brands’ footprint in the Caribbean and Latin America with high quality and well differentiated concepts. The Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana will redefine what all-inclusive means in the Dominican Republic and join the family of the other 6 Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara resorts already owned and operated by Playa in Cancun, Vallarta, Los Cabos, and Montego Bay markets. 

 

Elegant Hotels Group plc, Barbados, was named the CHRIS Transaction of the Year 2019. Marriott International completed the US$199 million acquisition of Elegant Hotels Group plc in December 2019. The Elegant portfolio includes seven hotels with 588 rooms and a beachfront restaurant on the island of Barbados. Marriott plans to renovate hotels and upon completion operate all the hotels as all-inclusive resorts under one or more of Marriott’s collection brands. In keeping with Marriott’s asset light strategy, over time the company also expects to market the hotels for sale subject to long term management agreements.

 

Four Seasons Resort & Residences Los Cabos at Costa Palmas, Mexico, was named the HOLA Development of the Year 2019. Four Seasons Resort & Residences Los Cabos at Costa Palmas is located on the East Cape of Baja California Mexico on 3km of swimmable beach and is part of the 1,000-acre Costa Palmas master planned resort community. It features 118 guestrooms and 23 suites and multiple amenities including five restaurants, six swimming pools, kids club, teen center, a wellness spa featuring 10 treatment rooms, and a collection of Four Seasons-branded Residences. Four Seasons Los Cabos will have access to the community’s Robert Trent Jones II-designed 18-hole golf course and a 250-slip private marina and over 18-acres of organic farms.

 

Gary Brough of KPMG chaired the CHRIS Development of the Year Award committee, Kent Schwarz of Colliers International chaired the CHRIS Transaction of the Year Award committee, and Rogerio Basso of IDB Invest chaired the HOLA Development of the Year Award committee. The committees were comprised of hotel industry leaders who selected, reviewed, and nominated deals. The finalist information was then sent to the delegates for voting.