2023 was “a year of exceptional growth” for Hilton in the Caribbean and Latin America region, the company said in a recent growth report.
Last year, Hilton opened 19 new hotels and approximately 4,000 rooms in the Caribbean and Latin America, representing more rooms added in the region than in any other year in the company’s history. Hilton’s CALA portfolio includes more than 220 hotels and more than 40,000 rooms across 15 brands and 29 countries and territories.
The company signed more than 35 new hotel deals in 2023 for a pipeline of 110 properties.
“The record growth that we achieved in the region in 2023 is a result of our strategic focus to bring the right hotels to the right destinations at the right time by partnering with exceptional owners,” Pablo Maturana, VP of development, Caribbean and Latin America, Hilton, said in a statement. “Hilton’s award-winning brands continue generating interest from hotel developers in the region, where we have almost tripled our presence in the last decade with a diversified portfolio of hotels. The momentum of our growing pipeline reflects the power of our brands and our ability to meet the demands of leisure and business travelers.”
Hilton’s accelerated growth in CALA spans 29 countries and territories with Mexico, Argentina, and Dominican Republic standing out as top-performing growth markets in 2023. In Mexico, Hilton has approximately 120 hotels open and in the pipeline. In Argentina, Hilton has 10 open hotels and plans to almost double its presence in the next several years. And, with six hotels in operation and more than 10 in development, Hilton plans to nearly triple its footprint in Dominican Republic.
Key Growth Drivers
Conversions accounted for more than 40 percent of the openings in 2023. Highlights of conversions throughout the year included Hilton Mendoza, the first Hilton branded hotel in Argentina’s wine-making region and Hilton San Salvador, the company’s first hotel in El Salvador.
New-build hotels were added in a number of key locations. Highlights include Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort near Eagle Beach; Hilton Garden Inn La Romana, overlooking Catalina Island, in the Dominican Republic; and Hilton Monterrey in Mexico, in the center of the city’s financial district.
The all-inclusive segment continued to be a catalyst for growth. In 2023, Hilton signed and opened Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico, marking Hilton’s return to Cancun’s hotel zone, and The Rif at Mangrove Beach Corendon Curaçao All-Inclusive, Curio Collection by Hilton. It also signed the Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton in the Dominican Republic, expected to open later this year.
Brand Milestones
Hilton Garden Inn opened its 1,000th hotel worldwide with the opening of Hilton Garden Inn San Jose Airport City Mall in Costa Rica. The brand also added new markets to its portfolio with openings in Dominican Republic, Panama and Puerto Rico, while Hampton Inn by Hilton premiered in Ecuador.
The Tru by Hilton brand had a breakout year with its arrival in Mexico and 10 new deals signed in CALA in 2023. With 20 hotels in the pipeline, Tru by Hilton is set to premiere in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Puerto Rico, and will continue growing in Brazil and Mexico.
Curio Collection by Hilton expanded its presence in Argentina, Brazil and Colombia, while Tapestry Collection by Hilton made its debut in Chile and Puerto Rico.
Notable openings for the flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand include the Hilton Mendoza in Argentina, Hilton Monterrey in Mexico and Hilton San Salvador in El Salvador.
2024 Planned Openings
Hilton plans to open more than 15 hotels across the Caribbean and Latin America in 2024:
- DoubleTree by Hilton Buenos Aires, marking the debut of the DoubleTree by Hilton brand in Argentina, is now open.
- Motto by Hilton Cusco, the first Motto by Hilton hotel in Peru, nestled in Cusco's Historic Center, is now open.
- DoubleTree by Hilton Lima San Isidro is in the financial district. (Q1)
- Hilton Garden Inn Asuncion Aviadores del Chaco, representing the company’s arrival to Paraguay. (Q2)
- Perla La Paz, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, on La Paz’s boardwalk and Tropicana Los Cabos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton in San Jose del Cabo. (Q3)
- Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Cacique is planned as the first Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts in Costa Rica. (Q4)
- Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, the first all-inclusive Curio Collection by Hilton hotel in Dominican Republic. (Q4)
- Bermudiana Beach Resort, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, expected as Hilton’s first hotel in Bermuda. (Q4)
- Tru by Hilton Chillan Ferrat, marking the debut of the Tru by Hilton brand in Chile. (Q4)
- Tru by Hilton Cali Sur, planned as the brand’s first hotel in Colombia. (Q4)