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.
