Hyatt Hotels and Grupo Piñero Announce Strategic Joint Venture

Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced plans for affiliates of Hyatt and Grupo Piñero to enter into a long-term asset-light strategic joint venture, headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, which will manage Bahia Principe-branded hotels and resorts and own the Bahia Principe brand.

The 50/50 joint venture is expected to expand Hyatt’s all-inclusive room portfolio by approximately 30% and enhance Hyatt’s position as one of the leading providers of all-inclusive offerings across the world. Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts is expected to join the World of Hyatt loyalty program at a later date.

For Grupo Piñero, this strategic venture will build on the company’s longstanding success in all-inclusive hospitality with a robust European customer base and is expected to provide expanded opportunities with travellers in the Americas and other important markets.

The transaction is anticipated to close in the coming months subject to customary closing conditions. Hyatt plans to continue Bahia Principe’s current CEO Julio Pérez in the same position to lead the management company following close, with Grupo Piñero’s current Global CEO Encarna Piñero serving as Chairman of the Board and additional officers to be named at a later time.

Upon closing, 23 resorts, totalling over 12,000 rooms, including 22 resorts under the Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts brand located across the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, and Spain, as well as the exclusive Cayo Levantado Resort in the Dominican Republic will be added to Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection. A majority of the proceeds from this transaction will be leveraged by Grupo Piñero to enhance existing Bahia Principe resorts.  

Strengthening Hyatt’s Leadership

Hyatt’s President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian said that the addition of Bahia Principe’s resorts to Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection will enhance Hyatt’s all-inclusive offering and strengthen their leadership position with one of the largest collections of all-inclusive resorts in the world.

According to him, Grupo Piñero’s family business culture, shared values, and expertise in the four- to five-star all-inclusive category coupled with Hyatt’s leadership in luxury all-inclusive creates powerful opportunities across Hyatt’s business – for guests and World of Hyatt members seeking quality all-inclusive experiences across stay occasions, and for hotel owners who can benefit from the network effect of more travelers within the portfolio.

Encarno Piñero said that the asset-light long-term strategic joint venture with Hyatt will strengthen Bahia Principe’s legacy and represents a clear path to build on its success and growth strategy for the future.

Bahia Principe has experienced rapid growth since the opening of its first property in the Dominican Republic nearly 30 years ago. Throughout its journey, Bahia Precipe has maintained its core beliefs as a family-owned business, always being faithful to their purpose of seeking to generate a positive social and economic impact for the local communities of the destinations in which we operate, he said.

With a history of almost 50 years, Grupo Piñero has established itself as a benchmark in the tourism industry internationally. Grupo Piñero’s company culture aligns closely with Hyatt’s values, purpose, and a shared commitment to responsible business.