U.S. franchise to invest $40 million in new Costa Rica hotel

Sonesta Collection Group this month began the main construction of its first hotel in Costa Rica (and their first in Central America), expected to open by the second half of 2013.

The company earmarked an investment of $40 million for the hotel, which will have 171 rooms and will be located near Multiplaza Escazú, southwest of the capital.

The new facilities will include three bars, two restaurants, and a Las Vegas-style casino, said Johnathan Raineau, president of the new Sonesta Hotel Casino Escazú. “The idea is to offer the visitor different entertainment alternatives: disco and lounge bars with DJ music, live latin music at the disco and a 24-hour casino,” he said.

The company has 15 hotels in the U.S., 15 in Latin America and 13 in Egypt.