The Rebirth of an Icon: Curio – A Collection by Hilton Debuts El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico
Iconic Hotel Reopens as Curio Collection’s First Hotel on The Island
of Enchantment
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico & MCLEAN, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–El San Juan Hotel, a landmark luxury, lifestyle and entertainment
property in Puerto Rico, today joined Curio
– A Collection by Hilton. As Hilton’s
(NYSE: HLT) rapidly-expanding global collection of distinctive upper
upscale hotels, Curio caters to passionate travelers seeking local
discovery and authentic experiences. Asset managed by LEÓN, MAYER & Co.,
who is also a co-owner of the hotel, and co-managed by IMPRINT
Hospitality and Aimbridge Hospitality, the 388 guest room hotel marks
the first property in Puerto Rico for Curio – A Collection by Hilton.
“With the reopening today of El San Juan Hotel, we are proud to continue
our growth throughout the Caribbean by welcoming it as the first Curio
Collection property in this spectacular destination,” said Mark Nogal,
global head, Curio – A Collection by Hilton. “As a hotel that honors its
proud past while offering the modern features that today’s curious
traveler has come to expect, the fully remodeled and upgraded property
will provide guests visiting San Juan truly authentic and remarkable
experiences.”
Originally opened in 1958 to much fanfare and a favorite for celebrities
that included Tony Bennet and Sammy Davis Jr., the oceanfront El San
Juan Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton property is located in the Isla
Verde district of San Juan, situated on two miles of pristine beach,
recently voted the top Urban Beach in the U.S. by USA
Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. With average annual
temperatures of 79 degrees Fahrenheit and some of the finest beaches in
the world, Puerto Rico has become a favorite destination of travelers
searching for a warm weather destination with world class historical,
cultural and recreational amenities.
“In the 1960’s, Puerto Rico became one of the most visited destinations
in the United States, with El San Juan Hotel, Curio Collection by
Hilton, being at the center of its vibrant music and entertainment
scene. After a $60 million dollar restoration, we are thrilled to reopen
a property that pays tribute to the history of Puerto Rico and carries
on the hotel’s legendary entertainment and music programming.” said
Stefan Huber, managing director and general manager, El San Juan Hotel.
“By joining Curio – A Collection by Hilton, we are grateful to be a part
of this unique collection of remarkable hotels, and to deliver authentic
service and exceptional accommodations, dining and entertainment to our
guests and the community.”
Designed by Jeffery Beers International, one of the top hotel and
restaurant designers in the world, the modern look and lavish feel of
the property can be felt throughout. The front of the hotel has been
completely transformed and upgraded. It also features a custom sculpture
designed by acclaimed local artist, Luis Torruella. Torruella’s design
of the eight-foot sphere that floats in a pool of water is inspired by
the close relationship that Puerto Rico and the hotel share with music,
dance and nature. The expansive lobby features a hand-carved mahogany
ceiling and iconic chandelier while the rooms, suites and villas use
warm-toned stone, creating a relaxed – yet sophisticated – atmosphere.
Providing diverse and distinct dining experiences, El San Juan hotel
features five award-winning restaurants overseen by Executive Chef
Gonzalo Rivera who, prior to joining El San Juan Hotel, served as the
Executive Chef at Boca Beach Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. A new
restaurant will also open this spring, Caña by Juliana Gonzalez. Chef
Juliana Gonzalez, a local islander born and raised in Puerto Rico, has
worked in and led some of the finest restaurants in Spain and Miami for
the last fifteen years, and has now returned to San Juan to open her
first restaurant in the city. The restaurant represents a new wave of
socially and environmentally mindful ways of eating that includes
working with local farmers, fishermen and small businesses to craft an
original concept that bonds Puerto Ricans with their heritage to open up
an entirely new culinary scene for tourists.
In addition to its restaurants, El San Juan Hotel boasts an
11,000-square-foot grand ballroom – the second largest in San Juan –
four pools, six bars and the vibrant El San Juan Beach Club. Throughout
the coming year, the hotel will introduce, amongst other things, new
innovative programming, spacious state-of-the-art spa and fitness
facilities and curated restaurant concepts in newly-designed venues.
El San Juan Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton is part of Hilton
Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 14 distinct
hotel brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred
Hilton channels save time and money and gain instant access to the
benefits they care about most, such as an exclusive member discount,
free Wi-Fi and a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose
nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay. Members can
also redeem their Points for free nights, to gain access to unique
events through the Hilton Honors auction platform or to make purchases
with at Amazon.com with Amazon Shop with Points.
For more information, or to make a reservation, visit elsanjuanhotel.curiocollection.com
or call 1-800-445-8667. Media may access additional information and
high-resolution images for El San Juan Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
at news.curio.com/elsanjuan.
Hilton currently has a portfolio of nearly 20 hotels and resorts open
and welcoming travelers in the Caribbean, with a pipeline of nearly 10
hotels throughout the region.
About Curio – A Collection by Hilton
Curio – A Collection by Hilton™ (curio.com),
launched in 2014, is a global set of hand-picked upper upscale hotels
that meet independent-minded travelers’ desire for local
discovery and authentic experiences, all while providing the quiet
reassurance and support of the Hilton name and its award-winning Hilton
Honors program. Discover the collection’s latest stories at news.curio.com,
connect with the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or
inquire about development opportunities at hiltonworldwide.com/development.
About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, with a
portfolio of 14 world-class brands comprising more than 4,900 properties
with over 800,000 rooms in 104 countries and territories. Hilton
is dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world’s most hospitable
company by delivering exceptional experiences – every hotel, every
guest, every time. The company’s portfolio includes Hilton Hotels &
Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts,
Canopy by Hilton, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton,
Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden
Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2
Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an
award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton Honors. Hilton Honors
members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access
to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows
members to choose exactly how many Points to combine with cash, an
exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free
standard Wi-Fi. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for
more information and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
About IMPRINT Hospitality
IMPRINT Hospitality is a Hotel and Restaurant management company
specializing in the lifestyle and luxury segments. Launched in 2015, its
purpose is to leave an imprint on the hospitality industry through its
culture driven approach to service excellence and its key
differentiators. For more information, please visit www.imprinthospitality.com.
Contacts
Emily Montgomery
Hilton
+1 703 883 5257
emily.montgomery@hilton.com
or
Suzana
Cardozo
Hilton ? Latin America
+55 11 2845 0268
suzana.cardozo@hilton.com
or
Ariel
Cohen
Magrino
+1 646 710 4974
elsanjuan@smapr.com
