Above: Cartagena
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Viceroy Hotels Group is expanding in the Caribbean region, the company announced in a release.
The company has announced a partnership with KIT Capital to develop the Obra Pia site in Cartagena into the Convento Obra Pia hotel.
Convento Obra Pia, Viceroy Cartagena, which will be the company’s first branded property in South America, is slated to open in early 2016.
It will include 102 guest rooms inside a restored 17th century convent. The property will also include 15 cabanas at an affiliated site in the Rosario Islands off the city’s coast.
“The Viceroy Cartagena represents an important milestone for both our city and for the country of Colombia,” said Admiral Jose Alfonso Diaz Gutierrez, chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Cartagena. “This is our country’s first true ‘6-star’ hotel development–bringing a level of amenities and service heretofore unseen in Colombia. The Convento Obra Pía, Viceroy Cartagena also reflects the ascendance of the Getsemaní neighborhood within the Old City and the transformation of Cartagena into a tourist destination that can truly compete for the world’s most selective travelers.”
KIT Capital is leading the $15 million project, which will be the third Viceroy-branded property in the Caribbean, following Viceroy Anguilla and Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort in St Lucia.
Architectural firm Barrera & Barrera will design the resort, which will see the complete restoration and preservation of the “structure and cultural heritage” of the convent.
The property will include a 275-square-metre Courtyard pool, a fitness centre and spa, a second-floor restaurant and nightclub and a rooftop pool and bar with 360-degree views of the city.
“Viceroy is thrilled to be partnered with KIT Capital on this iconic project,” said Bill Walshe, CEO of Viceroy Hotel Group.”Cartagena’s colonial charm and rich history is quickly making it a must-visit destination for discerning travelers worldwide.”
KIT Capital is a merchant bank founded by Kaleil Isaza Tuzman, a Colombian-American entrepreneur.