Hilton Commits to Growing Its Portfolio of All-Inclusive Resorts

Hilton is the latest major hospitality player to enter into a niche, but growing sector of accommodations. Hilton announced Monday its partnership with all-inclusive specialist Playa Hotels & Resorts to grow Hilton's portfolio of all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Latin America. If Playa sounds familiar, it's because it is the same company that Hyatt worked with back in 2015 to launch Hyatt's two all-inclusive resort brands, Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara. Hilton's alliance with Playa includes the addition and renovations of two all-inclusive resort properties that will be owned and managed by Playa. Unlike Playa's partnership with Hyatt, Hilton has decided to use the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand for its all-inclusive properties, rather than launch new ones. The two initial resorts to be added under this partnership by the end of 2018 will be the Hilton La Romana, an All-Inclusive Resort (formerly known as the Dreams La Romana), and the Hilton Playa del Carmen, an All-Inclusive Resort (formerly The Royal Playa del Carmen). Hilton and Playa have plans to open eight more all-inclusive resorts together by 2025. For both Hilton and Playa, the alliance was one that had been in the works for some time, as well as one that both parties see as being mutually beneficial. Hilton has nearly 80 million loyalty members and a broad distribution reach, as well as specialized sales teams for selling group and incentive business, whereas Playa has experience operating all-inclusive resorts where the cost of a stay generally includes the cost of lodging, food, drink, and sometimes even airfare. Hilton currently operates about nearly a dozen all-inclusive resorts around the world today, including the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa in Jamaica which is owned and operated by Playa. However, Hilton vice president of development for Latin America, Juan Corvinos, said the new Hilton-Playa partnership demonstrates Hilton's commitment to accelerate