The new Hilton Mahogany Bay Curio-branded property is coming to Belize in December.

The first Hilton in the country, Mahogany Bay will have 205 cottages and villa-style units set on Ambergris Caye.

The property has already tapped Niklaus Leuenberger as its new general manager, with Edward Donaldson serving as director of sales and marketing.

It’s the latest new development for Belize, which has been on a tourism boom this year, with 7.8 percent growth in stayover arrivals in the first half of 2017.

“Building a new property on an island as striking as Ambergris Caye has been a real labor of love. Every detail has been meticulously thought out – from the interior design to the selection of amenities, from the guestrooms to the public spaces,” Leuenberger said. “I know I speak for the entire team, when I say we are eager for guests to experience Mahogany Bay when we officially open our doors at the end of this year.”

The property, which is set on a marina, will also include a beach club a short boat ride away.

It will all be centered around a 22,000-square-foot “Great House” including a restaurant and bar, 8,000 square feet of meeting space and a covered veranda.

Mahogany also has a real estate component, with residences ranging from townhomes to larger three-to-five-bedroom family homes.

A townhome at Mahogany Bay.

Curio is a collection of properties that focus on “distinct,” more experiential hospitality identities.

Curio already has two properties in Jamaica, along with, more recently, the El San Juan in Puerto Rico.

— CJ Staff