Recent Posts
- F&B Strategies For 2009
- Is Free Breakfast Enough?
- Painting The Pig
- Courtyard's New Look & Feel
- Halloween Costumes & Witches' Brews
- Best Western To Rename Loyalty Program
- Culinary Drama At The Westin Chicago North Shore
- If At First You Don't Succeed...
- Another Leading Hotels Promo Update
- The Latest On Leading's 1928 Deal
Recent Comments
- CR on Is Free Breakfast Enough?
- F&B Manager on F&B Strategies For 2009
- Bargain Hunter on Is Free Breakfast Enough?
- slider on Painting The Pig
- GADtalk on Taking Holiday Inn Upscale
Most Commented On
- Taking Holiday Inn Upscale (9)
- The News From Honduras (9)
- Brand Flags To Fly In Honduras (7)
- Rooms With A View (5)
- Leading Postpones 1928 Promotion (4)
Archives
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
Blog
Brand Flags To Fly In Honduras
July 7, 2008
While spending 5 days in Honduras, I saw many small, unbranded hotels that were quite nice and seemed to be doing very well. But I also noticed right away the potential for branded properties.Of course, many before me have noted the same potential (visitor arrivals are greater than 1.3 million per year and growing), which is why several branded hotels are under development not only in major cities like San Pedro Sula, but also in resort areas along the north coast, like Tela.
The favored brand for Honduras (at least at this moment) seems to be Westin, with one under development by Grupo Karims as part of its Mystic Resort project, and another rumored to be part of the Los Micos Beach & Golf Resort project.
Meanwhile, the Westin Resort & Spa Roatan is scheduled to open later this year on the Honduran island of Roatan, a place The New York Times called one of 53 Places to Go in 2008.
Other upscale and lifestyle brands are interested in Honduras as well, with a Nikki Beach project also under development on Roatan, and Raffles planning to manage a mixed-use resort on another Honduran bay island, Guanaja, which is less even developed than Roatan.
Posted by Derek Gale on July 7, 2008 | Comments (7)
In response to: Brand Flags To Fly In Honduras
marc commented:
When will these properties open??
In response to: Brand Flags To Fly In Honduras
Derek Gale commented:
The Westin that will be part of the Mystic Resort project by Grupo Karims is scheduled to open in October of 2009; the one that will be part of Los Micos is scheduled for a late 2010 or early 2011 opening. The Nikki Beach project is aiming for fall 2010.
In response to: Brand Flags To Fly In Honduras
rfortenberry commented:
Derek, Thanks for all of the excellent information you have provided on development in the bay islands. Do you have any further information about the Raffles development on the island of Guanaja? Any additional information is greatly appreciated. Thanks
In response to: Brand Flags To Fly In Honduras
Derek Gale commented:
Yes, I have quite a bit of information on the Raffles development, but perhaps better that you contact the source for that information directly--his name is Thierry de Pierrefeu Midence and his company, Grupo Midence Soto-Pierrefeu is based in Tegucigalpa.
In response to: Brand Flags To Fly In Honduras
hondurasorbust commented:
Hi Derek, A few questions for you if you don't mind: What's your opinion regarding other brands that might make sense in Honduras? Marriott isn't there yet, for example. Is Honduras/Roatan ready for a 5-star resort? Also, I understand Westin is (unofficially) planning three Westins in Honduras: Roatan (Mystic Harbor), San Pedro Sula, and the largest at Tela (Los Micos) which is also being developed alongside a large Conrad resort. Can the market support this??? Particularly the 3 Westins, which are all within an hour or so of each other.
In response to: Brand Flags To Fly In Honduras
Derek Gale commented:
Actually, Marriott has been in Tegucigalpa for a while, but that's the only property in the country. IHG, which is prominent in San Pedro Sula, is opening a new Holiday Inn there, and another in Tegucigalpa. San Pedro Sula has 500 new rooms coming online this year, and Roatan is growing at a similar pace. So there is opportunity, although US air carriers cutting routes is bad for business. As for the country's readiness for a 5-star resort, again, I would recommened talking to Thierry de Pierrefeu Midence, mentioned in my comment above, who is a former Honduran tourism minister and is involved with the Raffles development on Guanaja. Another good contact is Daniel O'Connor with Pluribus, based in Tegucigalpa. He's involved with the Nikki Beach project. They can probably speak to demand better than I can as an outsider who's visited the country only once.
In response to: Brand Flags To Fly In Honduras
rfortenberry commented:
Derek, Unfortunately I have not had any success trying to get in touch with Thierry de Pierrefeu Midence would you happen to have any contact information for him or could you possibly provide me with more information on the Raffles development in Guanaja. Thanks you can also email me at randykbrf at a o l dot com