February 2010 - Palma de Mallorca, SPAIN – Despite the worldwide economic crisis, which has slowed down and even paralyzed many new projects, Barceló Hotels & Resorts has ended the year by adding six new hotels to its portfolio, including Barceló Cairo Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt; Barceló Mediterránea Saidïa in Morocco; Barceló Guatemala City in Guatemala; and Barceló Managua in Nicaragua.  These new additions allowed the company to be the first and only Spanish hotel chain to be represented in such a strategic destination as Cairo, one of the first worldwide hotel chains to establish roots in the newly created destination of Saidïa and the Spanish company with the most presence in the main capitals of Central America, including San Jose, Costa Rica; Guatemala City, Guatemala; and Managua, Nicaragua.  Then, just before the end of the year, Barceló unveiled two more noteworthy additions:  Barceló Los Cabos Palace Deluxe, considered to be one of the most spectacular hotels in Latin America, and Barceló Bávaro Family Deluxe, part of the four-in-one Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort complex in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, which is self-proclaimed as one of the most family-friendly resorts in the entire Caribbean.

Hotels opened in 2009:

• Barceló Cairo Pyramids, Egypt, 262 rooms
• Barceló Mediterránea Saidïa, Morocco, 614 rooms
• Barceló Guatemala City, Guatemala, 383 rooms
• Barceló Managua, Nicaragua, 293 rooms
• Barceló Los Cabos Palace Deluxe, Mexico, 650 rooms
• Barceló Bávaro Family Deluxe, Mexico, 180 rooms

TOTAL:  6 hotels and 2,382 rooms

Thanks to these notable accomplishments, Barceló Hotels & Resorts closed 2009 with a portfolio that encompasses 181 hotels and 45,939 guest rooms in 17 countries, securing the company’s positioning as the third largest Spanish hotel chain, the twenty-fourth largest hotelier in the world and the leading Spanish hotel chain in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Consolidation within the Medium-high Market
Also in 2009, Barceló Hotels & Resorts dedicated a good portion of its efforts to the consolidation of one its priority objectives, as established in its 2005 – 2010 strategic plan:  to ensure that all of its hotels would be four or five stars.  To work toward this objective, the company made significant investments into fully renovating Barceló Lina in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which was the first urban establishment opened by the chain in Latin America in 1988.

The Barceló Bavaro Beach Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, also underwent significant changes in the last year.  As the first Barceló complex to open outside of Spain in 1985, the resort holds much importance for the hotelier, and its renovation has become the most ambitious renewal project in the company’s history.  These efforts have begun to show their rewards, as two of the complex’s oldest hotels have been fully remodeled into two, entirely new establishments:  Barceló Bávaro Palace Deluxe and Barceló Bávaro Family Deluxe, which opened in December 2008 and December 2009, respectively.  The chain also recently completed the renovation of one of its most themed hotels in the Caribbean: Barceló Pueblo Menorca.

Barceló Hotels & Resorts has additionally reinforced its commitment to quality with the creation of a new luxury category, Palace Deluxe.  This category is associated with the hotelier’s leading high-end establishments, Barceló Premium.  Up until now, this category has been assigned to four hotels in Latin America and the Caribbean:  Barceló Bávaro Palace Deluxe in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Barceló Los Cabos Palace Deluxe in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico; Barceló Maya Palace Deluxe in Riviera Maya, Mexico; and, soon, Barceló Karmina Palace Deluxe in Manzanillo, Mexico.  Barceló Premium Palace Deluxe resorts are all five-star properties that are strategically located only a few steps from the ocean.  These resorts each feature mostly junior suites, at least three a la carte restaurants and a modern, world-class spa covering more than 35,000 cubic feet, along with many other elite services and facilities.

About Barceló Hotels & Resorts
Barceló Hotels & Resorts is among the world’s top 25 largest hospitality and travel companies.  Barceló was established in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, in 1931, first as a transportation provider and then as a hotel and travel company.  The family-owned, privately held company has been world-renowned for more than 75 years for its excellence in service and its innovation within the tourism industry.

The hotel company owns or manages more than 180 properties in 17 countries. Barceló’s hotels and resorts are found in key destinations and cities throughout Europe, North America, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. The company offers a large variety of hotels and resort types to accommodate all travelers, from budget-minded to upscale guests seeking luxurious accommodations.  Barceló specializes in all-inclusive resorts that make vacation planning both convenient and affordable, offering one upfront, all-encompassing price.  For more information or reservations, visit http://www.barcelo.com.