June 07–GHL Hotels announced this week the opening of the first Sheraton Hotel in Costa Rica, scheduled for June 13 in Escazu, southwest of the capital.

The new hotel is located next to the Mall MultiPlaza and is part of the international consortium Starwood Hotels.

GHL President Jonathan Raineau said earlier this year that the project is valued at $40 million and has 172 rooms, 3 bars, 2 restaurants and a 1,500-square-meter casino that began operating two weeks ago.

The hotel will directly employ 300 people and 900 people indirectly.

Sheraton has nearly 500 hotels around the world, and GHL operates franchises for hotels in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador.