Apple Leisure Group continued its global expansion through the launch of two resort brands and the acquisition of new companies in the first half of 2018.
ALG also added 12 new hotel projects to its portfolio in seven locations across Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe during this period. The group's pipeline currently has 10,000 guestrooms as part of new-build and rebranding projects.
Global resort expansion
ALG set plans in May 2018 to bring AMResorts’ brands Secrets Resorts & Spas and Dreams Resorts & Spas to Europe. The company also launched its new Amigo Hotels & Resorts brand. ALG plans to debut the new brand in markets across Europe.
The company also appointed Jordi de las Moras as managing director of Apple Leisure Group in Europe to further support its growth in the market. De las Moras will lead the company’s European expansion efforts within this newly-created position.
“ALG is making waves on a global scale–expanding our development pipeline to include new markets in Europe while maintaining our strong foothold in destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean,” Javier Coll, executive vice president and chief strategy officer of ALG, said in a statement.
AMResorts and Mexico's Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe signed an agreement in June 2018 to partner AMResorts’ brands Reflect Resorts & Spas and Krystal Grand with resorts in Punta Cancun, Los Cabos and Nuevo Vallarta. The partnership began on July 1, 2018.
ALG entered the St. Martin market a month later with the signing of a new resort brand management deal to open a Secrets Resorts & Spas property on the island. ALG's pipeline in the Caribbean now has more than 6,000 guestrooms in development.
Strategic acquisitions
ALG and The Mark Travel signed an agreement in early 2018 to develop an integrated leisure travel and technology solutions company. ALG now has 12 subsidiary companies.
The acquisition increased ALG’s distribution network, leading the group to rename the ALG Distribution department as ALG Vacations. The company also recently hired Lynn Torrent as executive vice president and president of ALG Vacations to support the business group.