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.