The construction work is tough. It involves the heat, the cold, or the rain; it means long hours, constantly facing unforeseen circumstances, managing enormous teams, and coordinating complex logistics with multiple suppliers across the different phases of the project.
That is why today I want to retrieve the team photos we have taken at all the major new hotel construction projects, or major refurbishments, to say goodbye to the year by congratulating everyone on their great effort and professionalism, but above all, on the success they have achieved in everything they set out to do.
I have often said thatI feel a great passion for architecture and that the construction of new hotels is what I like most about my job. I am passionate about the design phase because it is pure creation; I like the construction work for its dynamism, and I love the satisfaction of the moment of opening, as it is the culmination of a process that lasts several years. It is the success and gratification after the effort, something that is much less palpable in other jobs.
Furthermore, a very special feeling is created among all the team members. After those endless days, with the tension of deadlines and last-minute arrangements, declaring the hotel finished and ready to receive the first guests means being relieved of an enormous burden and replacing it with a deep sense of pride.
Hotel Riu Palace La Mola: A renovation with the hallmark of the new generation
The first opening of the year was in April, when we opened theRiu Palace La Molahotel in Formentera.
This property is very special for many reasons. To begin with, it has been the first project in which my sons Luis and Roberto have been in charge, making all the decisions. Additionally, the hotel is located in a privileged spot, in a highly coveted destination—I myself have been spending my summer holidays there for almost 30 years! —and its refurbishment has been the perfect opportunity to elevate its quality.
Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, with the team responsible for the renovation of the Hotel Riu Palace La Mola (Formentera) carried out in April of this year.
Hotel Riu Plaza Toronto: RIU’s first urban hotel in Canada
It is curious, but the rest of the openings have been concentrated in the last four months of the year. The next one was on 19 September, when the Riu Plaza Toronto finally became a reality after six years since its announcement, mainly due to pandemic-related delays.
Luis Riu together with the team of the new Riu Plaza Toronto (Canada).
But it is here now and it is a magnificent hotel. It occupies 23 of the building’s 49 floors and has an excellent location. Toronto captivated me from my first visit, and this project has been the ideal opportunity to offer our urban service to our Canadian customers, who know and appreciate us greatly, in their cultural and economic capital.
Hotel Riu Guanacaste: Larger and more sustainable in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, we started the month of October by socially presenting the new Riu Guanacaste hotel following a complete refurbishment. This hotel became our first property in the country in 2009. Located on Playa Matapalo and surrounded by nature, its management has been full of learning experiences, especially in the area of sustainability.
Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, together with the team responsible for the renovation of the Hotel Riu Guanacaste (Costa Rica) carried out in November of this year.
Not only do we have a Wildlife Refuge on the same plot, but it is also the ideal starting point for exploring the forests and the great surfing beaches in the area. The project was very ambitious and included an extension of 300 rooms. The result is a spectacular hotel that, thanks to its size, offers many alternatives for leisure, dining, and enjoyment.
Hotel Riu Palace Calypso: An Adults Only in Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is a very special island. A destination where time stands still and where the beaches possess enormous appeal due to their sandy shores and the overwhelming force of the Atlantic.
Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, posing with the team responsible for the renovation of the Hotel Riu Palace Calypso (Fuerteventura) completed in November of this year.
El Hotel Riu Calypso merecía una reforma integral que no solo modernizara sus servicios, sino que elevara su categoría a nuestra línea Riu Palace Adults Only. El hotel ha quedado impecable: elegante, atemporal, con vistas espectaculares al mar desde todas sus habitaciones y un servicio exquisito. Estamos muy satisfechos con el resultado.
Hotel Riu Ventura: Revitalizando Cancún
Just two weeks ago, we opened the Riu Ventura hotel in Cancún. It has been a large-scale project very well received by the destination, as it has given new life to the area where the old El Pueblito hotel was located, which was abandoned after Hurricane Wilma.
Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, at the entrance of the Hotel Riu Ventura (Cancun) together with the entire team responsible for the renovation.
The hotel is modern and impressive; it features family areas and adults-only zones, in addition to innovative services such as ‘swim-up’ rooms elevated to the first floor to ensure greater privacy and better views. This is RIU’s sixth hotel in Cancún and number 15 in Quintana Roo, counting Costa Mujeres and Playa del Carmen. It is yet another demonstration of our commitment to Mexico and the excellent health of its tourism industry.
Hotel Riu Jalisco: Renovation for the family favorite
We thus arrive at 20 December, the date on which we are inaugurating the Riu Jalisco after a major refurbishment. We had already renovated the Riu Vallarta in 2019 and the Riu Palace Pacífico in 2023, and now it was the turn of the great favourite of our Mexican customers, especially families.
Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, accompanied by the construction team responsible for the renovation of the Hotel Riu Jalisco.
With them in mind, we have included rooms with capacity for up to six people. But the novelties do not end there: its All-Inclusive offer now features new restaurants, an ice cream parlour, a taco stand, a new children’s area with water slides, and 120 additional rooms, reaching a total of 820. This investment is a sign of appreciation for the national guest, who has been at the centre of the decisions for this refurbishment, and for the Riviera Nayarit destination, where we have been present since 2002.
The value of the team behind the scenes
Of course, many people are missing from these photos. Above all, the RIU teams who work away from the construction site but are equally indispensable. Processing permits, drafting contracts, managing payments, hiring and managing personnel, negotiating with suppliers, securing the availability of funds, or structuring the commercialisation of the hotels are essential aspects of the business. Although we do not have a photo of them on-site, I want to send them my sincerest gratitude in these lines.
We are closing a great 2025 full of challenges and projects, and we face a 2026 that will bring us new challenges. Heartfelt thanks to the entire RIU team: in the destinations, in the offices, in the source markets, at the headquarters, and in the hotels. To everyone. I hope you enjoy this Christmas season with your family and that we start the new year with renewed strength.
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