Palladium Hotel Group is planning a major expansion that includes the Caribbean, the company announced this week.

The company has established a new expansion department for that purpose, with a view toward implementing a hotel management model in addition to its existing ownership model.

“We want to continue to grow in the Caribbean and enter new markets,” said Jose Matheu, who is leading the expansion department. “In 2017, after internally implementing our model of moving from being owners to being managers, our priority is to grow through contracts for hotel management.”

The company said a “large part” of the expansion efforts would be focused on the Caribbean, Mexico and South America, with active searches in Aruba, Cartagena and Los Cabos for management projects.

Palladium Hotel Group is already planning two new resorts in the Costa Mujeres region of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, with one under the Grand Palladium brand and another under the Royal Suites by Palladium marque.

Another Cancun property is also being planned, called “Ushuaia.”