Caribe Hospitality sees branded, select-service hotels as the path forward in the Caribbean and Latin America
Caribe Hospitality sees branded, select-service hotels as the path forward in the Caribbean and Latin America
Costa Rica-based owner finds value in sustainability efforts
Costa Rica-based Caribe Hospitality owns a portfolio of 12 hotels across Costa Rica, Mexico, Jamaica, and El Salvador. Pictured above is the Hyatt Centric San José Escazú. (Hyatt Hotels Corp.)
https://www.costar.com/article/228571227/caribe-hospitality-sees-branded-select-service-hotels-as-path-forward-in-caribbean-and-latin-america?
By Bryan Wroten
CORAL GABLES, Florida — As the Caribbean and Latin America region grew as a major destination, so has Costa Rica-based Caribe Hospitality grown its portfolio of branded, select-service properties aimed at business travelers visiting the region.
The ownership and development company has been around for 26 years, building a portfolio of hotels across Costa Rica, Mexico, El Salvador, and Barbados, said Daniel Campos, director general and partner at Caribe Hospitality, in an interview at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit CALA. It developed the first Marriott International-branded hotel in the region, a Courtyard by Marriott in Monterey, Mexico. Following development projects also introduced branded, select-service hotels to markets around the region.
Currently, the company owns 12 properties, 10 of which are Marriott brands and two are with Hyatt Hotels Corp., he said. All are select-service hotels with the exception of one, which is a Hyatt Centric.
Caribe Hospitality is a one-stop shop as owner, developer, and asset manager for its hotels. When starting out, there weren’t many third-party management companies as most hotels were either brand- or owner-managed, he said. Given his company’s focus, he had the brands manage his properties, which aligned with the brands’ goals.
“The hotel brands were interested in going to these markets, but they wanted to be sure that the hotels were operating at the right standard, which didn’t happen all the time, so they did the management,” he said.
Now, there are more third-party operators that want to manage properties in the region, he said. On a single-property basis, the cost of operations isn’t going to differ much between brand management and a third-party manager.
“But if you’re a professional third-party manager and you have two or three or four or five properties, for sure you’re going to be able to run them for less than what it costs to run by the brands,” he said.
Caribe Hospitality takes a long-run approach to ownership, Campos said. If there’s an opportunity to sell, it would consider its options. In 2007, it sold some properties when debt was cheap, and there was a lot of money and private equity available, and investors were competing for deals.
Growth through transactions would be a challenge as the market is shallow, leaving few opportunities, he said. Even so, there are potential deals out there, and it’s a faster way to enter a market than developing.
Most of Caribe Hospitality’s hotels cater primarily to business travelers and groups, but the company is considering all-inclusive resort development in Costa Rica as the country’s infrastructure improves, Campos said.
“One of the biggest challenges on the North Coast, we are one of the rainiest countries in the world, but we don’t have water,” he said. “There’s no infrastructure to get the water into the developing area, but the area is getting better."
The big brand companies have moved mostly into the luxury all-inclusive spaces, but the mid-market ones are where many business travelers want to spend their built-up points to vacation with their families, he said. That’s where his company would look to work with the brands in the all-inclusive space.
As a company based in a country where most of its energy comes from renewable resources, Caribe Hospitality has prioritized a sustainable development process. It also makes good business sense, Campos said.
Many corporate clients, when looking for accommodations, have a requirement to show they are staying somewhere with sustainability-focused practices or designs, he said. Without those, it would lose out on many potential customers.
The other side is the savings sustainable practices and designs create, he said.
"If your business model is right, you're going to save money because you're going to use less water, you're going to use less energy, you're going to recycle, you're going to get into a circular economy," he said.
Having certifications from the International Organization for Standardization also means earning a better rate on energy costs, he said.
"So, it's good for the business because we're going to save money, and it's in line with our principles and our policies of trying to be more efficient," he said.
5 things to know for June 9
Today's headlines: Odds of rate hike in US increase; A look at the planned $8 billion renovation at New York's Penn Station; MGM Resorts exec says market undervalues his company amid takeover bid; New York hotel offers $1 million World Cup package; Emirates looks to overcome Middle East travel drop with incentives
This rendering shows the $8 billion planned renovation for Penn Station in New York City. (Penn Transformation Partners, Amtrak)
https://www.costar.com/article/1883409641/5-things-to-know-for-date?
1. Odds of a rate hike in the US increase
While much of the interest rate discussion in the U.S. has centered on the pace of possible rate cuts, signs now point to an increased possibility of a rate increase, Reuters reports.
Persistent U.S. inflation and a weaker jobs market are combining for the type of environment that would favor a rate hike, according to the news outlet, and experts say such a hike is already priced in.
"The front end now of the Treasury yield curve has priced in a rate hike," said Kevin Flanagan, head of investment strategy at WisdomTree.
2. A look at the planned $8 billion renovation at New York's Penn Station
The "busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere" is on tap for a major makeover with plans unveiled for an $8 billion sweeping renovation of Penn Station in New York, The Associated Press reports.
The updated design aims to return to the grandeur the station once featured, based on renderings released by Amtrak and Penn Transformation Partners.
"Inside, commuters are to be greeted by a sunlight-drenched grand concourse with soaring ceilings more than 50 feet high in places," the news outlet reports. "It includes such touches as bronze finishings and other ornamental details, like a bas relief of the city’s famous skyline and a large, classic station clock, also made of bronze."
3. MGM Resorts exec says market undervalues his company amid takeover bid
Speaking during the recent NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum, MGM Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Halkyard said his company continues to be undervalued by the wider market, according to CoStar News' Bryan Wroten report.
The resort-casino company is currently trading at $47.73 a share with a cash offer from Barry Diller's People Inc. to buy it out for $48.30 a share in cash.
But Halkyard seems to indicate the company continues to have runway for growth on its own.
“You account for [both domestic and international growth] — the valuation on our domestic business, which most people know about in Las Vegas and other places, is at a very low multiple, and that’s been the case for quite a while,” he said.
4. New York hotel offers $1 million World Cup package
It's been reported recently that success for hotels in World Cup markets will be driven more by rate than demand growth, and one hotel in New York seems to be taking that very seriously.
The Mark Hotel in Manhattan is offering a $1 million World Cup VIP experience around the final for the event, CBS News reports.
That price includes a 5-bedroom penthouse, butler service, a private chef, and helicopter transport to the game.
5. Emirates looks to overcome Middle East travel drop with incentives
The war in Iran has severely disrupted travel in the Middle East, and Dubai-based airline Emirates is now offering "all sorts of incentives other than price" to try to overcome that, Reuters reports.
The sticking point of not being able to reduce prices comes largely from increasing fuel costs, which have been reported to broadly cut airline profits in half this year.
Incentives "could be new means of ensuring their safety of operation, for instance," said Emirates President Tim Clark. "We'll take care of all of that, including flying them on other carriers if necessary to bring them home or get the kids into school."
Meet the Trailblazing Women Shaping the Travel Industry
Courtesy of Beth Santos-Bessie Awards
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/a-look-at-the-2026-bessie-award-winners
A look at this year’s Bessie Award winners.
There’s no doubt that women are a driving force in travel, comprising more than 64% of the world’s travelers and 54% of the travel workforce. Every year, the Bessie Awards celebrate the women and gender-diverse people shaping the industry for the better. Named after Bessie Coleman, the first woman of African American and Native American descent to hold a pilot’s license, the Bessies honor gamechangers from every corner of the travel sphere, from content creators with a mission and ethical safari companies, to brands and marketing companies setting a new standard for truly inclusive products and campaigns.
The awards were created by Wanderful, a “travel sisterhood” of content creators and avid travelers who share resources and advocate for an industry that is equitable, inclusive, and welcoming to all. The Bessies are one of Wanderful’s cornerstone initiatives—and an annual reminder to founder Beth Santos of why she built it in the first place.
“This community keeps raising the bar, not just for what travel looks like, but for who gets to lead it,” explained Santos. “This year, we introduced the Allyship Award for the first time, because we know that building a more equitable travel industry isn’t work that women can do alone. Seeing the response to that category, and to every winner on that stage, made me incredibly proud of how far this community has come.”
The 2026 Bessie Awards took place in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on May 30th. Click through to read about the evening’s deserving winners.
PHOTO: CLAY WILLIAMS
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Creator of the Year Winner: Anela Malik
There are thousands of travel content creators out there, but not all of them are attempting to drive positive change through their work. The Bessie Creator of the Year award honors those who combine creativity and advocacy to challenge the industry’s status quo—creators like Anela Malik, who took home the award this year.
Exploring food and travel through the lens of culture and identity, Malik doesn’t just document the world’s most popular foods; she examines their connection to history and politics. Her warm, curious personality and dedication to sharing the human stories behind the world’s dishes have drawn a social media audience of almost 400,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Beyond the digital, Malik has cultivated a community by leading immersive travel experiences and co-authoring the National Geographic book American Soul, which celebrates the Black history of food in the United States.
PHOTO: KEINER LOPEZ
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Trailblazer Award Winner: Eileen Ivette
The Trailblazer Award honors those who have channeled their passions into successful businesses, platforms, or initiatives, paving the way for other travel leaders to do the same.
This year’s winner, Eileen Ivette, is a former video producer and journalist known for her cinematic travel content. Case in point: Black Latin History, Ivette’s award-winning video series that uplifts Afro-Latino narratives and confronts the anti-Black erasure that persists in Latin American diaspora histories. As a powerful voice in cultural storytelling underpinned by investigative rigor and genuine joy, Ivette’s work has expanded to include public speaking, hosting trips, and mentoring fellow creators on the do’s and don’ts of ethical historical reporting.
PHOTO: @XARTCIX
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Social Impact Award Winner: Kai Bouhmad of Black Girls Shoot Too
The Social Impact Award celebrates those who are creating positive change in the travel industry through their dedication to diversity, equity, or environmental justice.
This year’s winner, Kai Bouhmad, is a multidisciplinary creator, photographer, and advocate with a passion for travel and human rights. Her incredibly impactful work spans youth empowerment initiatives in Nairobi, collaborations with global nonprofits, and travel photography projects that focus on authentic cultural narratives. Bouhmad is also dedicated to community building. In 2025, she founded Black Girls Shoot Too, a creative space for LA-based Black female photographers of all experience levels to gather for networking, education, mentorship, collaboration, and mutual support.
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Innovation in Travel Marketing Award Winner: TUI Accessible Holidays — Accessibility Ambassadors Program
The Innovation in Travel Marketing Award recognizes a brand campaign that pushed the envelope with its bold, inspirational approach.
The 2026 winner sets a new standard for ethical creator collaboration in travel marketing. TUI Accessible Holidays’ Accessibility Ambassadors Program forged trusted, long-term partnerships with disabled and neurodivergent creators, giving them ownership of the brand’s storytelling efforts and ensuring the campaign reflected their authentic travel experiences. Rather than treating the creators as promoters, they empowered them as experts and authorities, demonstrating how travel brands can prioritize authentic community collaboration.
PHOTO: NALANI HERNANDEZ
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Allyship Award Winner: Danny Guerrero The Culturist Group
Women need non-female allies to help support and champion them. Enter The Bessies’ Allyship Award, which recognizes an individual who, although not a woman themselves, has made a significant effort to elevate women in travel.
This year, that individual is Danny Guerrero, founder of The Culturist Group, a travel marketing and communications agency focused on multicultural inclusion and equitable representation. After noticing that most travel brands “leave their most valuable audiences on the table,” Guerrero set out to help them better understand and welcome diverse travelers using advertising, DEI education, and inclusive storytelling. If you noticed shifts in the way travel marketing reflects and serves multicultural communities in recent years, that’s thanks, in part, to Guerrero’s tireless advocacy and research.
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Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Dr. Sian Proctor
Presented in memory of JourneyWoman founder Evelyn Hannon, the Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a person aged 50 or over who has shown a long-term commitment to improving the travel industry.
This year’s winner, Dr. Sian Proctor, is a true pioneer. Her work blends space travel, sustainability, and creative expression (she’s a poet, which won her a seat on the SpaceX Inspiration4—the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit in 2021). Her myriad achievements continue to inspire the next generation, expanding the limits of where our adventures can take us and who can claim the title of “explorer.”
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Storyteller Award Winner: Chloe Jade Meltzer
We’re all positively swimming in content these days, so when something breaks through the noise and expands the way we see the world, it’s undeniably special. The Storyteller award honors a written, audio, or visual piece of content that powerfully moved the travel community.
This year, that special piece of content was a viral TikTok titled “Everything In This Video Is Now Ill3g4l in Afghanistan.” Content creator Chloe Jade Meltzer spliced past travel footage from Afghanistan against the stark reality of the country’s rapidly changing laws—many of which restrict the freedoms of women. Her video, which ignited important dialogue about women’s rights, exemplifies how travel videos can transcend the “inspiration” genre and deeply affect an audience.
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Travel Startup of the Year Winner: Still Waters Safaris
The Travel Startup of the Year Award celebrates a start-up business chosen by the Wanderful community for its unique and innovative approach to travel, and the positive impact it has on the communities and environment around it.
This year’s winner is Still Waters Safaris—a Tanzania-based safari company with an ethical approach that balances wildlife protection with economic empowerment for local communities. Founded by sisters Amanda and Asnath Kessy as an antidote to the industry’s lack of diversity (only 10% of safari companies are led by women and only 15% are Black-owned), Still Waters creates custom experiences led by local guides and operates with reverence for conservation and unwavering cultural respect.
PHOTO: YOUMIE JEAN FRANCOIS
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Wanderful Award Winner: Youmie Jean Francois
Selected by the Wanderful team, this award honors an individual whose contribution to the Wanderful community and to the broader mission of women in travel deserves special recognition.
This year, Haitian-born, New York City-raised entrepreneur Youmie Jean Francois took home the award. An entrepreneur with feet planted in the worlds of travel and wellness, her projects and achievements are refreshingly wide-ranging, reflecting her zest for life and refusal to be limited by labels. Francois is the founder of Flex-N-Fly, a wellness company providing yoga and relaxation programming in select airports, and Flex Bags, a stylish travel bag designed to be theft-resistant. She’s also a licensed private pilot, a certified money trauma expert, fluent in four languages, and author of the book The Sacrifice: When Transition Looks Like Chaos. Additionally, her non-profit, the Flex-N-Fly Foundation, endeavors to empower underserved communities through travel, wellness, and entrepreneurship.
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