Riu Continues Expansion
FEBRUARY 11, 2008. Riu Hotels & Resorts announced that in 2008, they will open two new hotels, one in Mexico and one in Jamaica. Additionally, they will be breaking ground in two new destinations: Costa Rica, their first hotel in the country, and in Mazatl'an, their first hotel in the resort town and15th hotel in Mexico. Both hotels will open in 2009. The new hotels and entry into new markets is a continuation of RIU's expansion in the Caribbean and the Americas, where RIU has been operating hotels since 1991.
"We have had great success in the Caribbean and Mexico," stated Mr. Luis Riu, CEO of Riu Hotels & Resorts, the third generation Riu family member to run the global hotel company, "In 2007, we opened our first resort in Aruba, added new resorts in Mexico and Jamaica and enjoyed record-breaking occupancy levels in the region. We will continue to expand in areas where there is demand. With more than 1 million arrivals to Costa Rica each year, this is a destination our guests want to discover."
In 2008, RIU will begin construction on Hotel Riu Guanacaste, a 5-star, all-inclusive, beachfront hotel in Costa Rica, the most visited nation in Central America. Hotel Riu Guanacaste will feature 701 rooms, three specialty-themed restaurants, six bars and five conference rooms. The hotel will open in Fall 2009 on the Pacific coast in Guanacaste, an area known for its beaches, bird watching, sport fishing and surfing.
Also in 2008, Riu Hotels & Resorts will continue its expansion in Jamaica and Mexico, two leading destinations for the company. Riu Montego Bay, opening September 2008, will offer 701 rooms, three specialty-themed restaurants, five bars and a conference room. The 5-star, all-inclusive Riu Montego Bay is the chain's first resort in Montego Bay and its fourth in Jamaica. RIU offers a 856-room hotel in Ocho Rios and two hotels, totalling 836 rooms, in Negril.
Opening October 2008, Riu Palace Pacifico, located in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico will offer 484 guestrooms, four specialty-themed restaurants, five bars and two conference rooms. The family-owned resort chain currently offers two hotels (1,250 rooms) in Puerto Vallarta. Riu Palace Pacifico will be the third RIU hotel in this Pacific coast resort city. Also in 2008, Riu Hotels & Resorts will break ground in a new area of Mexico: the coastal resort town of Mazatl'an. Hotel Riu Mazatl'an, a 5-star, all-inclusive, beachfront hotel will offer 716 rooms, three specialty-themed restaurants, five bars and three conference rooms. The hotel will open in May 2009.
"We have invested in Mexico since 1997 and our guests want to explore more of this beautiful country," stated Mr. Riu. Mexico, the top destination for RIU in terms of arrivals and revenue, is currently home to 13 Riu resorts, offering a total of 6,937 rooms. By the end of 2008, Riu will offer 14 hotels (7,421 rooms) in Mexico. By Spring 2009, RIU will offer 15 hotels with 8,161 rooms all in Mexico.
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