Archive for January, 2008
Thursday, January 31st, 2008
The RIU-chain will also open new hotels in Mexico, Jamaica and Cape Verde in 2008. México and the Caribean have reinforced their status as the destinations that produce the largest business volume.The chain had 20,000 employees at the close of 2007.
In 2008, RIU will begin expanding in Costa Rica, the Central American country considered one of the world’s most beautiful spots, thanks to its breathtakingly spectacular natural landscape and exoticism.
RIU’s first Costa Rican establishment will be a 5-star hotel built by the firm itself and located on the oceanfront in the beautiful region of Guanacaste on the country’s Pacific coast. The hotel will also be close to the local airport in Liberia.
RIU’s expansion in Costa Rica is its main new undertaking in 2008, after almost two decades of presence on the American continent, where the chain has established itself as a reference point in luxury sun and sand resort hotels.
Specifically, today RIU is present in the Dominican Republic, Florida, Cuba, Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas and Aruba. The Mallorcan firm’s hotels are now synonymous with exceptional quality, modern facilities on the finest beaches, exquisite cuisine and welcoming treatment.
Investments
In 2008, RIU will be investing 337 million Euros in constructing its three new establishments (the Riu Montego Bay, Riu Palace Pacific and ClubHotel Riu Karamboa) and reforming a number of other hotels, among them, the ClubHotel Riu Tequila in Mexico, Riu Hotel Paradise Lanzarote Resort in Lanzarote, Riu Park el Kebir in Tunisia and Riu Cypria Maris in Cyprus.
RIU invested an additional 345 million Euros in building new hotels, renovations and land purchases in 2007.
News
MEXICO: This country is the chain’s number-one destination and the inauguration of the 5-star, all-inclusive Riu Palace Pacific in Vallarta has reinforced its lead. With it, RIU now has a total of 14 hotels with 7,421 rooms in the country, a destination where its presence dates back to 1997.
JAMAICA: Jamaica is now RIU’s leading destination in the Caribbean, second only to the Dominican Republic. The 5-star, all inclusive Riu Montego Bay is the chain’s first resort in Montego Bay and its fourth in Jamaica, joining the hotel in Ocho Ríos and the two in Negril. The new resort will be located close to Montego Bay International Airport.
CAPE VERDE: The inauguration of the ClubHotel Riu Karamboa in Boavista is RIU’s third establishment in Cape Verde (Western Africa), joining the two hotels on Sal Island, and its first on Boavista Island. With 750 rooms, it will be one of RIU’s largest resorts.
CROATIA: The Riu Velaris is a new 4-star, all-inclusive hotel the group has now incorporated into its management portfolio. This brand-new hotel is located at the foot of spectacular beaches lapped by the Adriatic on beautiful Brac Island.
PORTUGAL: The 4-star, all inclusive ClubHotel Riu Guaraná is located in the Portuguese Algarve and upon its inauguration in June this year, will be RIU’s third hotel in the country, joining the Riu Palace Algarve and Riu Palace Madeira.
Revenue and employees
- RIU concluded 2007 with 1.095 billion Euros in revenue and 20,000 employees.
- The chain expects to bring in 1.145 billion Euros in 2008 and close the year with slightly over than 100 hotels.
2008 Summary
- RIU to expand its presence in destinations on the American continent with its first investment in Costa Rica.
- The firm will be consolidating its presence in Mexico and Jamaica with new hotels in each country.
- The chain is slated to open its third establishment in Cape Verde.
- RIU to manage individual hotels as part of its hotel offer in Croatia and Portugal.
- RIU is currently focussing on developing its culinary offering by consolidating theme restaurants that take advantage of the finest ingredients and draw from local techniques, as well as modern preparation and presentation methods in international cuisine, as part of its all-inclusive offer. According to destination, guests will be able to savour exquisite dishes from Mexican, Italian, Andalusian, Japanese or Asian cuisine, among other specialties. The company is also working on expanding its new gourmet concept “Krystal”, created in 2007, which offers elite fusion cuisine at the chain’s main resorts. Attention to detail can also be appreciated in the design and decoration of its dining rooms, as well as the meticulous presentation of its dishes.
RIU evolves along with emerging trends and its guests’ culinary tastes, combining avant-garde and fusion cuisine at the hand of the finest professionals in international gastronomy.
2007 Balance
* 1.095 billion Euros in revenue, 20,000 employees and more than one hundred establishments, as of 31.12.2007.
* Highly successful inauguration of the “Krystal” line of restaurants.
* Major openings: the 902-room Riu Santa Fe in Los Cabos (Mexico), the chain’s largest establishment, which entailed an investment of 120 million Euros, and the Riu Palace Aruba, its first establishment on that southern Caribbean island.
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Thursday, January 31st, 2008
Allergan Inc., the maker of the wrinkle smoother Botox, will close a plant in Ireland, eliminating 300 jobs, and transfer production to a factory in Costa Rica. The move probably will cost as much as $65 million through 2009, Irvine, California-based Allergan said in an e-mailed statement today. The closing “has been made necessary by the high level of investment required to maintain competitiveness at the Arklow manufacturing location” in Ireland, Raymond Diradoorian, vice president of Allergan’s global technical operations, said in the statement.
Ireland has lost about 10 percent of its manufacturing jobs over the last six years, as labor costs climb. Jacob Fruitfield Food Group, the Irish maker of Mikado and Kimberley cookies, said on Jan. 25 plans to halt production at a Dublin factory at a cost of 220 jobs.
“Throughout the country we have had a series of announcements of job losses particularly in the manufacturing sector,” said Liz McManus, a spokeswoman for the opposition Labour Party. “This must ring alarm bells for the government.”
Enterprise Minister Micheal Martin, who said he regretted the loss of Allergen jobs in Wicklow, said the company remained committed to its facility in Westport, western Ireland. While Allergan manufactures silicon implants in Wicklow, the company makes botox in Westport, where it employs 750 people.
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Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
In the wake of a possible recession in the United States who contribute to little over 50% of Costa Rica’s tourism, Costa Rica will double their promotion of themselves to try and offset the recession and keep tourism figures consistent with the last few years.
Last year the Costa Rica Tourism Board spent $7 million in the United States on promoting Costa Rica which undoubtedly helped result in acquiring the approximate 1 million U.S. visitors during 2007.
The tourism minister, Carlos Benavides, said that campaign will promote Costa Rica as an exotic location in close proximity to the United States whilst highlighting its affordability. Promotions will be mainly done via the use of the internet and using public relation agencies in New York.
Efforts will also be stepped up to advertise Costa Rica as a holiday destination to Europe as well as their latest diplomatic partner, China, as the Costa Rican government look towards further investments in the country from places such as Russia, France, Switzerland as well as China.
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Monday, January 28th, 2008
An unfortunate situation turned into a never ending list of miracles for the Rocha Arias family from Alajuelita, Costa Rica. The family’s 2-year-old daughters Aurelia and Fiorella, who were born conjoined at the chest and abdomen, made medical history when doctors at the Stanford University’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Califorina were able to successfully separate them on Nov. 12 after a 9 hour surgery.
Costa Rica News — Separated Twins ready for return to Costa Rica
Originally given a 50 percent chance of survival, the two twins, who once shared a liver and the right atria of their hearts, are now walking and playing on their own. Their treatment included ongoing physical therapy and a slue of other surgeries to correct complications from the separation. Their travel, hospital and housing expenses have all been paid for thanks to the kindness of others.
The U.S.-based Mending Kids Foundation paid for them to travel to the United States in the first place and has just recently offered to cover expenses for a visit to Disney Land for the twins and their mother. The Packard Children’s Hospital paid for all of their medical coverage, which is estimated at $2 million.
Thanks to continued press coverage in the states and Costa Rica, the two girls have become mini celebrities, which made for an exciting Christmas full of support from their community both at home and internationally. The parents continue to ask for support from the Costa Rican and Nicaraguan governments to help with medical expenses upon their return.
The Housing Minister, Fernando Zumbado, secured the construction of a second story to the family’s small, 2-bedroom house. The amplification, which has been contracted out to a private company, will allow for the family of 13 to be more comfortable when the twins and their mother return to Costa Rica.
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Friday, January 25th, 2008
The Jaco Beach Music Festival will take place on Feb. 2, 2008 at the Finca Proyecto Garabu in Jaco Beach, Costa Rica. The main event will be a performance by reggaeton king Daddy Yankee as a part of his The Big Boss world tour.
Daddy Yankee to play in Jaco
Guests can expect performances by a total of 30 national and international groups, 15 styles of music, 4 stages and 12 hours of non-stop music and activities. The organizers expect an attendance of up to 30,000 people, including about 2,000 tourists.
The theme of the concert is “A world without drugs,” with the goal of drawing children away from drugs and promoting other healthy activities. Some of the activities and features that will take place during the event include: a fashion show, breakdance competition between the best groups in Costa Rica, Oriental massage room, Arabic style tea room, Information center, Painting exhibit, Tattoo parlor, Beauty salon, Art Fair and a Climbing wall.
The first 6 hours will be open to all ages and dedicated to live performances by the main music groups, with the performance by Daddy Yankee scheduled for around 8pm. After midnight, only the 18 and over crowd is permitted to witness 6 more hours of performances by international DJs and laser light shows.
The presale tickets for the event cost $20 for general admission and $50 for VIP, and there is an extra $10 charge if purchase at the event. All of the proceeds will be dedicated to Jaco Lifeguards, Music School and the Garabito municipal band.
Tickets can be purchased at mundoticket.com or Servimas locations in Guadalupe, Alajuela, Curridabat, Heredia; Bansbach in San Jose or Escazu; Haagen Dazs in Escazu or Curridabat; or El Chunche office in Jaco. You can also purchase round trip bus tickets on Mundo Ticket from San José, Alajuela, Heredia, Limon, Quepos, Puntarenas, Santa Cruz y Liberia.
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Friday, January 25th, 2008
The Costa Rican government has promised the introduction of an electric train in Costa Rica in the next 2 to 3 years after a Brazilian company, Engevix, was hired to carry out a feasibility study into the project.
The feasibility contract signed with Engevix is worth a reported $1.2 million where they will determine if the conditions here are viable for such a massive construction project that would see the transportation of passengers between Heredia and San Jose.
Engevix will also be responsible for sorting out the contract bidding once the study has been completed which will open to both companies in Costa Rica and international businesses.
The actual construction project has already been estimated at a massive $90 million but will ultimately depend on whether the bank corporations are willing to finance the transport investment.
Some doubts have already been raised of the time scale as the construction of a road between Caldera and San Jose has already been 30 years in the making
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Thursday, January 24th, 2008
If you are thinking of coming to Costa Rica during the Easter period then you may wish to hurry. Easter or Semana Santa as it is called in Costa Rica, is one of the busiest times of the year. Typically the country stops work from Wednesday until Sunday and then is back to work on Monday. People find it a great time to travel as the country has festivals and is more local as locals are at the beaches as well.The majority of smaller exclusive hotels are already full - Latitude 10 in Mal Pais/Santa Tresa has been fully booked before Xmas and Sueño del Mar in Tamarindo has been booked for months. Owners say that apart from Xmas these are the busiest dates of the year.Easter in Costa Rica is also well known for great weather as well. Over the past 4 years these dates have recorded some of the hottest and driest days and some of the best for sunbathing and fishing. Normally the Easter weeks is the peak of the dry season as towards the end of April Costa Rica starts to see some afternoon showers.
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Thursday, January 24th, 2008
Costa Rica can put another notch in its belt of global recognition for being a green do-gooder, now that it has scored high on a new environmental performance list by researchers at Yale and Columbia universities.
While Switzerland and the wealthy Scandinavian countries dominate the top five, Costa Rica came first in Latin America and placed well among industrialized nations on the first official Environmental Performance Index released yesterday. After Switzerland came Sweden, Norway, Finland and Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is proud to be a global leader in environmental conservation, said President Oscar Arias.
In Latin America, Colombia came second after Costa Rica.
The United States, meanwhile, came 39th among the index’s 149 countries, with the United Kingdom scoring at 14.
Back in Costa Rica, a separate report also brought good news to the environment. The country has cut its imports of ozone depleting gases by 71.5%, the Environment Ministry said. In 2004 the country imported 105 tons of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), while in 2007, the amount was just 30 tons, according to newswire ACAN-EFE.
Industries have also reduced the purchase of harmful agricultural chemicals such as methyl bromide, typically used by melon growers to control a wide variety of pests. Imports of that chemical dropped from 1,070 tons in 1999 to 400 last year, thanks to a national phase-out program.
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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
The third event in the Costa Rican National Surf Circuit (CNS) will be held on Feb. 2 and 3 in Tamarindo. For the ladies, the competition isn’t limited to the water. The Miss Surf Organic and Natural competition, a type of beauty pageant which takes place at each CNS event, is making just as many headlines as the surf tournament.
The winners of the last two events were Kimberly Bondurant and Guadalupe Solis. They, along with the runner up at each event and eight more girls will compete in the final round of the competition at the Copa Reef in Jaco on April 26 and 27. The competition is looking for girls that enjoy the beach, have a friendly outgoing attitude, are athletic and know how to model their natural beauty.
At each competition, the winner gets $100, and she and the runner up are given a direct pass to the final which will take place during the 6-star Copa Reef on the 26 and 27 of April. The winner of the event will win $1,000 in cash and the possibility of being a representative of Chica Reef Costa Rica 2008.
Most importantly for the girls, the selection functions like a trampoline for those who want to enter into the modeling industry. Some of the competitors are already models that have appeared in television and print ads and want to gain greater recognition.
Last year’s event saw Ariel Weller, a Canadian with Costa Rican residency as the winner. The winner was crowned, along with surf tournament Open winner Diego Naranjo, at the Surf Party which is organized by the FSC and attracts a large crowd every year.
Any girls that are interested in competing in the upcoming event in Tamarindo, or any of the other three events, can call event organizer, Lorena Vera, at 869-2972. For event dates, please see this article.
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Saturday, January 19th, 2008
Costa Rica’s minister for environment and energy has said that state-owned China National Oil & Gas Exploration and Development Corp plans to explore oil in the country’s territorial waters.
‘The matter of petroleum exploration has always been one of the possibilities for us, even before the current government,’ Roberto Dobles told a press conference in San Jose. He said a bilateral panel was already at work drafting a formal proposal.
The document will also lay the basis for cooperation on improving the refining process, training oil workers and in developing new petroleum derivatives like solvents and lubricants, the minister said.
Dobles said the search for petroleum would be guided by a policy mandating that ‘any energy project must also be environment friendly’.
‘No one would be able to explore in protected areas or indigenous reserves. High environmental standards will be demanded,’ he said.
Dobles pointed out that ‘government’s policy would not put the country’s energy at risk.’ He pointed out that unless Costa Rica discovers oil at home, it will be forced to import heavy crude from Venezuela, which is expensive to refine and generates more pollution than lighter grades of oil.
In 2002, then-president Abel Pacheco declared a ‘moratorium on all petroleum exploration and production’, saying that Costa Rica would become an ‘environmental leader and not a petroleum or mining enclave’.
He said, ‘Costa Rica’s true petroleum and true gold are the water and oxygen produced’ by its rain forests.
The moratorium prompted the US-based Harken Energy Corp to file suit against the Costa Rican government over a 1998 contract that allowed it to explore for oil in the Caribbean, an agreement that was revoked by Pacheco in 2005.
The Caribbean province of Limon and its coastal waters, as well as the northern province of San Carlos, near the border with Nicaragua, are among the places that could contain oil, Costa Rican officials said.
Several companies drilled in these areas decades ago, but they did not find any crude.
In November, following the first reports that China might be interested in searching for crude oil in the Central American nation, environmental groups have been protesting against such projects.
Oilwatch, one of the groups, said in a statement that the possibility of oil exploration was ‘news that caused indignation among environmental organizations’.
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Friday, January 18th, 2008
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Friday, January 18th, 2008
Parking: 4,000 colons ($8). Bathrooms: 200 colons (40 cents). Entrance to the dance club: 2,000 colons ($4). Bringing your own beer: a good idea.
Or at least that’s what most of the spectators seemed to think at the horse parade in Palmares Thursday afternoon. The street was full with people laughing, dancing and — drinking beer. The crowd on the sidewalk was so thick it was hard for anyone to move, much less get a view of the parade. Some even started the celebration with drinks on the bus ride to the festival. Many parade spectators had set up their own tents complete with lawn chairs and coolers full of Imperial and Rock Ice.
The horse riders themselves were not to be left out. The men and women in cowboy hats sipped on cans and plastic cups. Many of them were mounted on their horses, but not moving an inch. Instead they joked with people in the crowd, toasted with beers, and laughed with their fellow riders. One intoxicated man in the crowd actually managed to boost himself onto the back of a woman’s horse against her many protests.
“The tope is the day with the most accidents,” said Nancy Cruz Ramírez, Cruz Roja chief of first aid at the Fiestas Cívicas de Palmares. In the first 24-hour period of the festival about 100 persons needed assistance from medics, said Ms. Ramírez. The majority of cases were mishaps, she said. The chief said so far this year is comparable to last year and that the bull fighting days would most likely be busy times as well. “But we are well prepared,” said Ms. Ramírez. There are about 65 Cruz Roja workers stationed at the festival, she said.
The drinking and yells from the Tope were away from the amusement area where most of the children congregated. Tickets are 500 colons each ($1) and the number required vary depending on the ride. Children were all laughs and smiles as they waited in fairly short lines for the carousel and bumper-cars Thursday.
Foods like chop suey, Salvadorian pupusas, and chicharrone can all be found at the festival. There is also fried chicken, candied apples and the franchised Taco Bell and Pizza Hut stands. Appetizers start at around 1,500 colons ($3), and one can buy two small slices of pizza or three cans of beer for the same price.
Aside from the rides and games, there are reggaeton dance clubs or “mega-bares,” bands playing outside, gambling games, and smaller
And the horse had dancing lessons
The obligatory midway rides.
bars, some complete with cumbia dancing. Many of the “mega-bares” feature their own concerts and entertainment. Descriptions are available on the festival’s website, fiestaspalmares.com. Big concerts, bull fighting and a ranchero festival will be held this week and next. The festival runs through Jan. 28.
If people wish to avoid the hassle and cost of parking, buses to Palmares, west of the metropolitan area, are available for 605 colons ($1.20), 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. near the Coca Cola station in San José. Police are stationed along the highway pulling over drunk drivers and speeders, so traffic can take much longer than usual. It’s best to estimate at least two hours to get to the festival from San José and perhaps longer to get back, depending on the time of day.
Traffic was a mess Thursday evening because the Policia de Tránsito were pulling over drivers randomly to check for alcohol near Juan Santamaría airport.
Story by AM Costa Rica
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
All-Inclusive Hilton Papagayo Resort Costa Rica Opens Today With Multi-Million Dollar Makeover & Special Introductory Rate of $499
All-Inclusive Hilton Papagayo Resort Costa Rica Opens Today With Multi-Million Dollar Makeover & Special Introductory Rate of $499BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.CA-HILTON-HOTELS-CORP
Aktuelle Nachrichten - veröffentlicht durch ad-hoc-news.de: Hilton Hotels Corporation celebrates the New Year with today?s opening of the Hilton Papagayo Resort Costa Rica ? the first Hilton in Costa Rica. To mark the occasion, the resort offers guests an amazing introductory rate of $499(a) per night all-inclusive based on double occupancy. This latest addition marks the company?s third full-service hotel opening in Costa Rica this month and reinforces the commitment to grow its family of brands throughout Central America.
Formerly the Premier Fiesta Resort & Spa, the 202-room all-inclusive resort has undergone a multi-million dollar renovation, covering almost every aspect of the property. Influenced by its natural surroundings, the resort welcomes guests with a brand new open air lobby, as well as upgrades to guest rooms, gardens and public areas, meeting facilities, restaurants, swimming pool area, and a brand new world-class spa.
?We are delighted to welcome the Hilton Papagayo Resort to our Costa Rica portfolio. The opening of this third full-service hotel is an important stepping stone in our expansion efforts throughout Central America,? commented Danny Hughes, area vice president, Caribbean and Central America, for Hilton Hotels Corporation. ?Now, we can offer both business and leisure guests an array of full-service hotel options across the country, in San Jose with the Doubletree Cariari by Hilton, in the central region with the all-inclusive Doubletree Resort by Hilton Puntarenas, and in the gulf of Papagayo with the luxurious Hilton Papagayo Resort.?
Located just 20 minutes from Liberia International Airport, the Hilton Papagayo Resort is nestled between the mountains on a secluded and government protected natural volcanic sand beach on the Bay of Papagayo in Guanacaste. Featuring 202 renovated rooms, including 71 bungalows, the resort delights guests with luxury accommodations in the midst of pristine natural surroundings. All guest rooms have been completely remodeled and outfitted with the new Hilton Serenity Collection? mattress and linens. Four brand new junior suites have been added to the resort, each with its own private plunge pool and amazing ocean views.
?Costa Rica is an exceptional destination and the perfect spot for Hilton with its wide array of offerings for the leisure and business traveler,? said Jeff Diskin, senior vice president ? brand management, Hilton Hotels & Resorts. ?The Hilton Papagayo Resort is a great addition to our Latin American Portfolio and is representative of our brand?s expected growth in 2008.?
For recreation and relaxation, the resort boasts two outdoor swimming pools with a new pool area and deck, non-motorized water sports, tennis courts, on-site tour desk to arrange eco-adventures, local arts and crafts store, and nightly entertainment. A new Kidz Paradise club features activities for children of all ages, including games, nature walks, and the club?s very own volcano. The pinnacle of the resort?s relaxation options is a brand new world-class spa with 13 treatment rooms featuring spectacular garden and ocean views, separate swimming pool, a fitness center with Precor® equipment, and an array of creative and unique treatments including everything from volcanic stones to local fruits.
The resort has spectacular options for destination weddings and honeymoons, offering the happy couple everything from sunset weddings on the beach to a romantic honeymoon hide-away. With over 75 weddings per year, the Hilton Papagayo Resort has the perfect combination to make any wedding an occasion to remember.
For the business-minded, Hilton Papagayo Resort offers over 1,300 sq. ft. of meetings space, including three new meeting rooms and an auditorium for up to 300 people. An outdoor terrace is the perfect place for coffee breaks surrounded by tropical gardens and ocean views. A business center equipped with computers, high speed Internet access, printers, and more is also available.
The resort features all-inclusive dining with three restaurants and two bars. The live show-case cooking buffet-style La Cosecha Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving international and local cuisine, with a specialty theme each night. Grill del Fuego provides Italian cuisine in a quaint atmosphere, while El Dorado specializes in creative Costa Rican cuisine in a formal setting. Plus, Hilton Papagayo Resort will delight guests with the Hilton Breakfast Program, featuring a color-coded system that allows guests more choice and control over the first meal of the day. The color labels denote whether the menu item is low-cholesterol, low-fat, high-fiber, low-calorie, high-energy or an indulgence.
The Hilton Papagayo Resort is a proud member of the Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program, where it has been recognized with a three-leaf Rating from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute. The scenic volcanic sand beach at the Hilton Papagayo Resort has also been designated a government protected beach where guests can enjoy untouched natural surroundings.
Hilton Papagayo Resort welcomes guests with a special introductory rate of $499(a) per night all-inclusive based on double occupancy(a) .
For information or reservations at the Hilton Papagayo Resort visit www.hilton.com.
(a) Special introductory rate is valid January 15 through March 31, 2008, based on availability and subject to change without notice. Rate is based on double occupancy, and does not include gratuities or other incidental charges. Services of alcoholic beverages is subject to local laws.
About The Hilton Family of Hotels In Central America
Hilton Hotels Corporation currently owns, manages, or franchises seven hotels in Central America, including Hilton full-service hotels in San Pedro Sula, Honduras; Managua, Nicaragua; San Salvador, El Salvador; a Hampton Inn & Suites hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica; the recently opened Doubletree Resort by Hilton Puntarenas and Doubletree Cariari by Hilton San Jose; and the newest addition, Hilton Papagayo Resort. An additional property is scheduled to join the Central American portfolio in late 2008 - a Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Liberia, Costa Rica.
About Hilton Hotels Corporation
Hilton Hotels Corporation is the leading global hospitality company, with more than 2,900 hotels and 480,000 rooms in 76 countries and territories, including 100,000 team members worldwide. The company owns, manages or franchises a hotel portfolio of some of the best known and highly regarded brands, including Hilton®, Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations?, Homewood Suites by Hilton® and The Waldorf=Astoria Collection®.The Hilton Family of Hotels adheres to founder Conrad Hilton?s philosophy that, ?It has been, and continues to be, our responsibility to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.? The company put a name to its unique brand of service that has made it the best known and most highly regarded hotel company: be hospitable®. The philosophy is shared by all brands in the Hilton Family of Hotels, and is the inspiration for its overarching message of kindness and generosity. For more information about our company, please visit www.hiltonworldwide.com, and to learn more about our be hospitable philosophy, please visit www.behospitable.com.
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
With the estimated arrival of nearly 2 million tourists to Costa Rica in 2008, and a projected income of nearly $3 billion for the tourism industry, it’s no wonder that luxury hotel and rental establishments are tripping over themselves to get in on the action.
Costa Rica Investment — Luxury Investments on the Rise
Last year saw an investment of $800 million in the tourism sector alone. The Doubletree by Hilton is one of the big newcomers this year, with two hotels recently opened under their name, and another on the way.
“Costa Rica is one of the top eco-tourism destinations in the world, with visitor arrivals growing more each year,” said Hilton Hotel Area Vice President Danny Hughes. “We want to support the country’s tourism growth and welcome guests to experience the biodiversity that makes Costa Rica such an amazing place to be.”
The Doubletree Cariari by Hilton San Jose and the Doubletree Resort by Hilton Puntarenas were Sol Melia and Fiesta hotel properties, respectively, that underwent extensive renovations and brand training to meet Hilton standards. The employees also received service training to offer the same upscale, full-service product that the Doubletree hotels are internationally known for. The Hilton Papagayo Resort will also open soon in place of the Premier Fiesta Resort, with its own private beach near the Four Seasons.
Multi-billion dollar corporations are not the only ones taking part in the fun. First time investors are flocking to the Costa Rican shorelines without batting an eye at the rising land and construction costs, drawn by stories of properties that pay themselves off after several years of rental. Luxury homes that far exceed the levels of what the country once knew are on the rise, and returns on investment are growing at nearly the same rate.
After years of marketing other people’s vacation properties to clients, Costa Rican Vacations’ co-owner Tony Silva and his partner Casey Halloran finally decided that building their own Costa Rica vacation rental was a no-brainer. They combined their favorite aspects of other homes into one, and ended up with a product that far exceeded their original expectations.
“We went all out with this property,” Silva said. “In the end, if you aren’t a superlative in the industry, you’re just another rental home. Vacationers aren’t concerned about the price if they can be assured they are getting the best product with the best service.”
Their product, Villa Buena Onda, located in Playa del Coco, Guanacaste, is one of the biggest homes in the region sleeping 23 people, and rents for a minimum of $9,000 per week, which includes all-inclusive meals, drinks and service. Their unique transparent policy lets guests and fractional owners know exactly how much was spent in the construction, and how much money they intend to make once the villa is sold in two years. If you do the math, you will understand why their plans include the construction of a second villa in 2009.
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Tuesday, January 15th, 2008
The preparations for Thursday’s grand opening of the Palmares Festival are in their final stages. More than 250 police officers, 150 Red Cross workers and 100 transit police have been designated to maintain order among the thousands of visitors at the 12-day event.
This is the epitome of Costa Rican Civic Parties, with 5 mega-bars, 25 food stands, a carnival celebration, horse parade, rides, concerts and daily bull fights. This year’s concerts will feature reggaeton stars Jowell and Randy as well as Tito El Bambino, Spanish bachata group Aventura, Argentinean rock band Enanitos Verdes, and Mexican rock group Moderatto. Mexican singer Alicia Villareal will be the featured performer at the Jan. 19th Ranchero Festival, which includes 11 other singers at an indoor arena.
The opening day, Jan. 17th, will include a concert by Colombian singer Fanny Lu in the Imperial Bar. Panamanian reggaeton trio Comando Tiburon will play the same night at the X-tragos Bar. And the stars will keep shining through the weekend with performances by Mexican rock group Molotov and reggaeton artist Heddy Love. Most mega-bars will charge between $10 and $14 to enter.
There will also be a series of sports competitions including an important 37 kilometer mountain bike race called the “Clasica Palmarin” and a minor league soccer tournament called the Copa Palmarin.
Overall, most people find these parties to be safer than the parties that just ended in Zapote, in the south east end of San Jose. The Palmares Civic Association (Asociación Cívica Palmareña), which organizes the event each year, said that the festival brings an important economic boost to the area.
While attending the parties are free, visitors must pay to enter the bull ring, mega-bars, rides, as well as the horse parade. Visitors are warned to be vigilant at the two parades and concerts when they could be the target of petty crime, however more police officers will be on hand those days to minimize any delinquency.
Last year, almost 2,000 people had to be attended by the Red Cross due to various medical problems. Thanks to an increased transit police presence, 60 drivers were detained for driving under the influence, and 1,900 traffic tickets were issued as well.
The transit police have been outspoken about their “zero tolerance” policy this year, and hope that there will be fewer problems. Officers will be positioned at all major exits to issue breathalyzer tests when necessary.
While Palmares is about one hour North West of San Jose, during these two weeks it could take about up to three hours to get to the parties by car or bus due to excessive traffic. With the strict traffic laws and high prices for parking ($6/day), many people opt to rent a bus from a private transportation agency, which will wait around until your party is ready for the return trip to the city. Alternatively, there are public buses (625 colones) departing every hour from 5am to 9pm from the Coca Cola bus station in the center of San Jose.
The official list of activities is as follows:
Thursday, Jan. 17
12:00pm TOPE : A Horse parade featuring the best show horses in Costa Rica and beyond. The event will be dedicated to star participant: the president of Honduras.
07:00 pm Rodeo
Friday, Jan.18
07:00 pm BULL FIGHTING a la Tico ($6 entrance)
Saturday, Jan. 19
09:00 am CLÁSICA PALMARIN, bike race begins.
07:00 pm FESTIVAL RANCHERO A special ranchero concert will feature Alicia Villarreal. (entrance $20 and up)
Sunday, Jan. 20
12:00pm INTERNATIONAL CONCERT. Featureing Zion and Joel
03:00 pm BULL FIGHTING a la Tico
07:00 pm Horseback riding championship in the bull ring.
Monday, Jan. 21
07:00 pm BULL FIGHTING a la Tico. Kids and Senior Citizens enter for free.
09:00 pm FIREWORKS.
Tuesday, Jan. 22
09:00 am CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL. Surprises for the chilren.
02:00 pm Children’s Bull Show.
07:00 pm Competition
09:00 pm FIREWORKS
Wednesday, Jan. 23
06:00 pm Female Soccer Tournament
07:00 pm BULL FIGHTING a la Tico
Thursday, Jan. 24
07:00 pm Horse Riding Exhibition.
Friday, Jan. 25
05:30 pm GRAND CARNAVAL. A carnaval parade complete with floats and carnaval costumes.
09:00 pm CONCERT featuring Costa Rican national music groups. Fireworks
Saturday, Jan. 26
03:00 pm 13,5 Km. Athletic Competition
07:00 pm BULL FIGHTING a la Tico.
Sunday, Jan. 27
12:00pm INTERNATIONAL CONCERT. Moderatto and Enanitos Verdes.
03:00 pm Horseback riding Championship.
07:00 pm BULL FIGHTING a la Tico.
Monday, Jan. 28
03:00 pm BULL FIGHTING a la Tico.
07:00 pm More bull fighting.
09:00 pm FIREWORKS. Lo más novedoso en Juegos Pirotécnicos
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