Marriott and Hilton, the two international hotel chains with the largest presence in Costa Rica, are planning a combined 22 hotel openings in our country between 2026 and 2028, in a pipeline that leans on brand conversions in the Central Valley and new builds tied to leisure and business travel.
Marriott currently operates 24 properties in Costa Rica totaling more than 3,600 rooms, while Hilton has 19 hotels in the country, giving the two groups a combined footprint that outpaces other major international brands in the local market.
Marriott’s next phase starts in 2026 with a mix of conversions and new flags in and around San José, plus additional projects tied to Guanacaste and Liberia’s airport corridor. Planned moves for 2026 include the conversion of D Sabana Hotel San José in Barrio Don Bosco into a Four Points, the opening of Residence Inn by Marriott San José Alajuela El Coyol in the first four months of the year, and two first-quarter entries: Esh Hotel & Spa, a member of Design Hotels, and Four Points by Sheraton San José Sabana.
Later this year, Marriott’s list includes the JW Marriott All-Inclusive Costa Elena, a Tribute Portfolio property in La Sabana, and an AC Hotels by Marriott property near Liberia Airport, all slated for the fourth quarter. The company’s longer pipeline points to eight additional properties in 2027 that would add more than 750 rooms, followed by four more hotels in 2028 with more than 420 rooms.
Marriott’s most recent Costa Rica opening is Santa Lucía Jungle Hacienda, part of the Autograph Collection, located near the Tárcoles River and the Carara area. One of the biggest projects in the Marriott lineup is the planned JW Marriott all-inclusive at Costa Elena in Guanacaste. Marriott has said the property’s conversion was scheduled to begin in July 2025, with the resort expected to join the Marriott portfolio in spring 2026.
Hilton’s near-term growth in Costa Rica is smaller in number, but it introduces new flags to the market. The company has positioned Tapestry Collection by Hilton and Tru by Hilton as upcoming additions to its Costa Rica brand mix. Hilton’s next confirmed opening is the Montara Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, listed at 97 rooms and accepting reservations for late 2026 dates. The property is in the San José metropolitan area, with Hilton placing it in Heredia province.
A second Tapestry property is tied to the redevelopment of Heredia’s stadium complex. Public reports have described the Heredia Stadium Hotel’s size differently, with room counts ranging from roughly 118 to about 190-plus, and an opening target around 2026–2027 depending on the source.
Hilton’s current Costa Rica portfolio includes recent openings at the top end and in extended-stay. Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique debuted on April 22, 2025, and Homewood Suites by Hilton Cariari San José opened in 2025 as an all-suites, longer-stay product near the capital’s convention and business areas.
