Growth Continues for Worldhotels in South America; Adds Five Hotels in Ecuador

Oro Verde Hotels Become the Newest Affiliates with Hotels in Cuenca, Machala, Manta and Two in Guayaquil

. March 02, 2016

NEW YORK (Mar. 1, 2016) - Worldhotels, a leading global group for independent upscale hotels, today announced that it has added the organization's first hotels in Ecuador. The new affiliates include Oro Verde Cuenca, Oro Verde Machala, Oro Verde Manta, and two in Guayaquil--Oro Verde Guayaquil and Unipark Hotel. With the addition of the Oro Verde hotels, Worldhotels boosts its presence in South America to 19 hotels, including one in Colombia, five in Argentina and eight in Brazil.

“Adding five hotels in Ecuador at once is a strong statement on how important this country and all of South America is to our guests,” said Tom Griffiths, vice president, Worldhotels-The Americas. “This portfolio represents some of the best hotels in the country and often the top hotel in their respective cities.”

“We see great opportunities in having our properties join the Worldhotels family of independent hotels,” commented Vasco Baselli, area general manager for Oro Verde Hotels. “Our guests and our hotel properties will all benefit from this new partnership.”

The recently refurbished 236-room Oro Verde Guayaquil offers world-class hotel services and accommodations in Ecuador's largest city. In-room accommodations include high-speed wireless Internet, 300 thread-count sheets, minibar with complimentary soft drinks, electric kettle and coffee maker. Other amenities include a complimentary luxury airport shuttle equipped with Wi-Fi, fitness center, sauna, whirlpool, steam room and outdoor pool. The hotel boasts 35,500 sq. ft. of meeting space, 10 conference rooms and a 24-hour business center. Several bars and restaurants in the hotel offer national and international cuisine.

Located in front of Iguanas' Park (ParqueSeminario) and around the corner from Guayaquil's Cathedral, Unipark Hotel is located in the city's tourist and financial center. The hotel is steps away from major attractions and 15 minutes from Jose Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport and the convention center. The recently renovated hotel offers 140 rooms and suites. Two restaurants, Unicafe and Sushi Bar, serve Ecuadorian, Japanese and International cuisine.

With 69 comfortable and elegantly furnished rooms, the Oro Verde Cuenca is the only five-star hotel and the largest in the city of Cuenca. Cuenca is Ecuador's third largest city and was the second largest city in the Inca Empire. Hotel amenities include Wi-Fi, cable television, air conditioning, a fitness center and an outdoor pool. National and international cuisine is available in the hotel's restaurants; a wide variety of cocktails and drinks are on the menu at the Piano Bar. Meeting space includes five meeting and conference rooms for groups from 20 to 700. The hotel is located 12 minutes from downtown and the airport.

Oro Verde Machala is the first and only luxury hotel in the city of Machala. The hotel is located at the entrance of the most exclusive residential area (UNIORO), just 10 minutes from downtown and 35 minutes from the airport in Santa Rosa. Guests enjoy the hotel's tropical gardens and luxurious facilities. The hotel offers a wide selection of exclusive gourmet food.

The five-star Oro Verde Manta is the most prestigious hotel in the province of Manabi, offering incomparable views of the beach and the Pacific Ocean. Dining options within the hotel include a lobby bar, snack bar, restaurants featuring national and international cuisine, and the best barbecue in Manabi province. The hotel is located in the central business district and just 10 minutes from the airport.

Manta, Ecuador's second largest port, is a major commercial and resort center, including an active cruise ship port of call. Manta offers year-round arts and cultural activities and is surrounded by natural beauty, including several beaches and Machalilla National Park, a breeding sanctuary for humpback whales.

Worldhotels makes it easy for guests to book rooms with member hotels via telephone, online or through 450,000 travel agent terminals worldwide—as easily as with hotels and resorts affiliated with large franchise operations. With the group's new loyalty program, Worldhotels Peakpoints (worldhotels-peakpoints.com), guests can redeem points for hotel vouchers or collect miles for eligible stays thanks to an extensive list of 25 frequent flyer programs of the world's premier international carriers.

Other advantages include participation in advertising, promotions and public relations campaigns, as well as exposure at industry events and trade shows attended by Worldhotels. Specific advertising materials include a page in the Worldhotels' hotel/resort directory, a listing on www.worldhotels.com, and inclusion in print ads to capture the atmosphere, amenities and unique essence of each property.

In addition, more than 35 sales and reservation offices staffed by 80 employees worldwide work on behalf of all Worldhotels' properties to create and sell special programs for business and leisure travelers.

About Worldhotels:

• Worldhotels is a global brand that brings together some of the world's most unique independent hotels. It targets savvy business and leisure travellers that seek an authentic and local experience when choosing a hotel. Worldhotels now offers 450 hotels in 250 destinations and 65 countries worldwide, including hotels under development and in integration.

• With 45 years of excellence in the industry, the company's mission is to provide access to 4 and 5 star hotels of character and distinction. Each hotel in the Worldhotels portfolio has been carefully selected to ensure it meets the group's strict quality standards. Each hotel is measured against over 1,000 quality criteria every year.

• Guests can also earn points with the group's loyalty program, Worldhotels Peakpoints (worldhotels-peakpoints.com), and redeem them for hotel vouchers. Alternatively, they can collect miles for eligible stays thanks to an extensive list of 24 frequent flyer programs of the world's premier international carriers. Air France, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, United Airlines are just some of the partners that make earning miles with Worldhotels easy.

• Through a comprehensive range of services that includes global marketing, sales, training, e-commerce and state-of-the-art distribution and technology, Worldhotels backs independent hotels with the power of a global brand while allowing them to retain their individual character and identity. In addition to its classic “affiliation model”, the group offers independent hotels a soft franchise branding solution which is the perfect alternative to standard franchise contracts.

For reservations or information, visit worldhotels.com. Images are available in the “news & press” section of worldhotels.com or from [email protected]

For most recent news, follow Worldhotels on Facebook and Twitter.www.worldhotels.com/facebook www.worldhotels.com/twitter