FAIRFAX, Va., Nov. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Playa Hotels & Resorts, N.V. (NASDAQ: PLYA, “Playa”) today announced the appointment of Fernando Mulet as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer. Mr. Mulet will report to Playa’s Chairman and CEO Bruce Wardinski and will continue to serve as a member of the company’s executive team. Mr. Mulet is a founding member of the Playa management team, beginning with the company at its inception in 2006.
“Fernando has been instrumental in Playa’s growth from a pure asset owner to one of the most respected all-inclusive owners, managers and brand partners in the Caribbean and Latin America,” said Bruce Wardinski, Playa’s Chairman and CEO.
“His impact on the organization is clear and he has facilitated each of our key strategic alliances; most recently with Hilton in Playa del Carmen, Mexico and in La Romana, Dominican Republic and with Sagicor in Jamaica. Prior, Fernando helped established our partnership with global lifestyle brand Panama Jack and was instrumental in spearheading Playa’s alliance with Hyatt – the first of its kind in the all-inclusive hospitality sector. We now own or manage assets in many of Mexico’s and the Caribbean’s best beach front locations, and Fernando has championed or contributed to each of these accomplishments,” continued Bruce Wardinski.
Before joining Playa, Mr. Mulet was the Director of International Investments & Asset Management with Highland Hospitality Corporation (NYSE: HIH). A native of Spain, he began his career in the hospitality industry at Barceló Hotels & Resorts.
Mr. Mulet earned his BA at the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas (ICADE) in Madrid, Spain and earned a certification in Real Estate, Development and Hotels Investment from The School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University.
“Our goal is to create long-term stakeholder value through the ownership, management, development and repositioning of both adult-only and family-friendly all-inclusive resorts. Our business model of developing and operating global brands in the all-inclusive sector clearly resonates with consumers and hotel owners alike and we see tremendous growth opportunities through additional acquisitions, partnerships and management contracts,” commented Mr. Mulet.
As part of Mr. Mulet’s expanded role, he will oversee the company’s new development office in Cancun, Mexico as well as the growth of a development team including the appointment of Mr. Nicolas Valle who joins Playa as the Director of Development and Feasibility.
Mr. Valle will focus almost exclusively on the pursuit of additional management contracts and other asset-light transactions. He will be based in Playa’s Cancun office, which also serves as the company’s hub for sales, marketing and development in Mexico, as well as Central and South America. Mr. Valle graduated from Spain’s CSHG Hotel Business School with a degree in hotel management and is currently pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute where he is a 2019 Level III candidate.
About Playa Hotels & Resorts
Playa is a leading owner, operator and developer of all-inclusive resorts in prime beachfront locations in popular vacation destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. Playa owns and/or manages a total portfolio consisting of 20 resorts (7,769 rooms) located in Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. In Mexico, Playa owns and manages Hyatt Zilara Cancun, Hyatt Ziva Cancun, Panama Jack Resorts Cancun, Panama Jack Resorts Playa del Carmen, Hilton Playa del Carmen Resort, All-Inclusive Resort, Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta and Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos. In Jamaica, Playa owns and manages Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa, Jewel Dunn’s River Beach Resort, Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa, Jewel Runaway Bay Beach & Golf Resort and Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort & Spa. Playa also owns four resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic that are managed by a third party and Playa manages the Sanctuary Cap Cana, in the Dominican Republic.
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