Photo courtesy of Grupo Posadas
Mexico's largest hotel operator is going international. Grupo Posadas, S.A.B. de C.V., already at the helm of over 130 accommodations in its home country, will be bringing their Live Aqua luxury boutique hotel brand to five gateway U.S. cities, according to a recent news release.
A $450 million investment by private equity firm Bighorn Capital, Inc. will help fund the development of the five properties, to be built in the metropolitan areas of Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston and Washington, D.C.
"Live Aqua promises to bring to the U.S. hospitality market a new concept experience found in Posadas' Mexican properties," said Rob Entler, CEO of Bighorn Capital. "Posadas has developed an elegant hotel and resort concept which we believe has enormous potential in gateway cities throughout the country."
According to the release, the reason these cities were chosen was because they "have large Hispanic populations and attract substantial Latin American and international tourists who will provide a strong foundation of guests that have an affinity for the Live Aqua brand concept and sophisticated luxury services."
The Live Aqua U.S. hotels are slated to be managed by Début Hotel Group, a Hampshire Hotels Management company who own and operate such successful hotel brands as Dream Hotel, Night Hotels, and Time Hotels.
"We are proud to partner with Posadas and Bighorn to help bring the Live Aqua Hotels brand to life throughout the U.S.," said Eric Danziger, president and CEO of Début and Hampshire. "We have successfully managed upscale lifestyle properties for over 30 years, and we look forward to leveraging our expertise to maintain the distinctive and exclusive experience that Posadas pioneered with the Live Aqua brand in the Mexican market."
Plans call for each accommodation to offer between 250 and 300 units.
The Chicago location will be the first to open, and is due to be completed in 2017. Sited in the West Loop area, the 82-story high-rise will feature a Live Aqua and Dream Hotels dual brand.
"We are very excited to introduce the American consumer and international tourists to Live Aqua, our luxury brand with a unique Latin style known for warm, attentive service," says Javier Barrera, Vice President of Posadas. "Through our partnership with Bighorn Capital and Début Hotel Group, both of whom have a deep understanding of the innate characteristics of success in the U.S. market, we believe we can establish a lasting and important lifestyle brand in the U.S."
Live Aqua Hotels and Resorts was awarded the title of best resort in Mexico 2013 by Travel & Leisure, was lauded in Conde Nast's 2014 Hotlist, and honored by the Trip Advisor Traveler's Choice Awards.
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