Luxembourg-based hospitality stalwart Cipriani is coming to Uruguay's Punta del Este, investing more than $450 million to convert the Tudor-style San Rafael Hotel into the Cipriani Ocean Resort and Club Residences complex.
Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly will reconstruct the historic hotel, preserving the original design and adding residences, restaurants, spa, pools, boutiques and a private casino.
The first phase of the renovation is scheduled to be completed in November 2021, and will include 164 hotel suites. An additional 800,000 square feet of residences will be added in the second phase of the project.
The hotel and the club residences will be decorated by Florentine architect Michele Bönan, who will create all of the furniture from bedside tables to door handles. Bönan has worked on previous Cipriani projects.