Viceroy Hotel Group Expands Into South America with Colombia Property
June 10, 2010 - Viceroy Hotel Group is planning the redevelopment of Obra Pía, a UNESCO World Heritage site located within the exclusive Old City in Cartagena, Colombia.
Upon completion in early 2016, Convento Obra Pía, Viceroy Cartagena, the hotel group's first branded property in South America, will boast 102 luxury guest rooms within a majestic restored 17th-century convent off the coast of Cartagena.
The US$50 million project is being led by KIT Capital, an investment group based in Cartagena and Dubai controlled by Colombian-American entrepreneur Kaleil Isaza Tuzman.
KIT Capital has been active in Colombia since 2004 and is currently investing in real estate, health sciences and applied technologies.
Viceroy Hotel Group is based in Los Angeles.
The rapidly expanding brand currently has 16 properties in sought-after destinations worldwide, including: Abu Dhabi, Anguilla, Beverly Hills, the Maldives, Miami, New York, Palm Springs, Riviera Maya, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Snowmass, St. Lucia and Zihuatanejo.
In addition to Cartagena, Viceroy has forthcoming openings in Dubai and Turkey.
“The Viceroy Cartagena represents an important milestone for both our city and for the country of Colombia,” remarked Admiral Jose Alfonso Díaz Gutierrez, chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Cartagena.
“This is our country's first true 'six-star' hotel development - bringing a level of amenities and service heretofore unseen in Colombia.
“The Convento Obra Pía, Viceroy Cartagena also reflects the ascendance of the Getsemaní neighbourhood within the Old City and the transformation of Cartagena into a tourist destination that can truly compete for the world's most selective travellers.”
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