STR Sees Hotel Growth in South America, Central America

STR Sees Hotel Growth in South America, Central America
By Kerry Medina

STR Global issued its 2011 Global Construction Pipeline Report update for July. The Central/South America hotel development pipeline comprises 170 hotels totaling 27,457 rooms, according to the July report. As of June 30, 12 projects have opened in the region with 1,711 rooms. There are 34 more projects expected to open in the remainder of 2011 with 6,338 rooms. In 2012, there are 42 projects scheduled to open with 6,741 rooms.

Among the Chain Scale segments, the upscale segment is expected to open the largest number of rooms for the remainder of 2011 with 2,226 rooms among 13 projects. The segment is also expecting to open the largest number of rooms in 2012 with 2,118 rooms among 12 projects. The Upper Upscale segment (1,744 rooms among two projects) and the Midscale segment (1,444 rooms among 10 projects) also are expected to open a significant number of rooms in 2011.

The Caribbean/Mexico hotel development pipeline comprises 125 hotels totaling 18,709 rooms. Among the countries in the region, Haiti reported the largest expected growth (29.4 percent) if all 492 rooms in the total active pipeline open. Five other countries reported expected growth of more than 5 percent: Anguilla (up 28.8 percent with 220 rooms); St. Kitts/Nevis (up 11.7 percent with 235 rooms); Turks & Caicos (up 10.6 percent with 327 rooms); the Bahamas (up 9.8 percent with 1,604 rooms); and St. Lucia (up 5.6 percent with 245 rooms).