Wyndham Hotels & Resorts raised its
flag in Rio Grande, a coastal town on the northeastern shore of
Puerto Rico May 10 as the 600-room Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa
joined the Wyndham family.
The resort,
formerly a Westin property, is the first property to officially
join Wyndham's new Grand Collection tier, which will consist of
luxury and upscale properties.
Wyndham
Worldwide, the parent company of the Wyndham hotel brand, purchased
a partial ownership in the resort March 22 from Rio Mar Associates,
headed by affiliates of the Tishman Realty Corp. Tishman originally
developed and built the resort, which opened in 1996, and continues
to co-own it.
Wyndham Worldwide
said it will invest in and manage the resort under the Wyndham
brand and also will develop an adjacent 26-acre tract as a Wyndham
Vacation Ownership timeshare resort.
Facilities at the
500-acre Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa, A Wyndham Grand Resort
include a mile-long beach adjacent to El Yunque National
Rainforest; a 7,000-square-foot casino; two 18-hole golf courses;
48,000 square feet of meetings space; a spa and fitness center; 11
restaurants, lounges and entertainment venues; a Peter Burwash
tennis center; water sports; and two beachfront pools.
A $36 million
redevelopment project over the next few years, with $15 million
committed for this year alone, will include an overhaul and upgrade
of the casino, golf courses, lobby and guest rooms.
The work will
bolster capital improvements completed during the last two years,
including construction of the Mandara Spa and fitness center,
addition of private cabanas and improved access to the
beach.
Mark Stevenson, a
35-year hospitality veteran, is taking the helm as managing
director, responsible for the resort's operations and management of
its staff of 1,200 employees.
Stevenson
previously served as general manager of the Ritz-Carlton San Juan
Hotel, Spa and Casino from 1998 to 2005 and most recently was
general manager of the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas.
The Rio Mar Beach
Resort & Spa's introductory rate of $249 per room, per night,
double, is valid through May 31 and offers two nights free when two
are paid. For details, visit www.wyndhamriomar.com or call (877) 636-0636.
Ask for rate code BPRBY2R when booking the introductory
rate.
To contact the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail
to Gay Nagle Myers at [email protected].