Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and ESJ Resort LLC announced the signing of an agreement for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to assume the management of El San Juan Hotel, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The property will join the globally renowned Fairmont portfolio of luxury hotels, as Fairmont El San Juan Hotel.
“El San Juan Hotel is proud to welcome the global hospitality group Accor and its luxury Fairmont brand to Puerto Rico. Both El San Juan and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts share a distinguished international reputation and unparalleled history of service excellence. In joining together these iconic brands, we look forward to preserving and furthering the hotel’s extraordinary legacy, as Fairmont El San Juan Hotel,” said Andro Nodarse-León, CEO, LionGrove Capital and Co-Owner, ESJ Resort LLC.
Where lively urban vibes and peaceful ocean views collide, El San Juan is located on the award-winning Isla Verde Beach, minutes away from Old San Juan, the downtown San Juan area and Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport. The hotel features 388 guestrooms, suites, and poolside and oceanfront villas; full service, state-of-the-art Well & Being spa and fitness center; 4 pools with swim-up bar and luxury cabanas; pro-level tennis court; watersport rentals including jet skis, banana boats and parasailing; and 13 celebrated food and beverage venues.
Designed by legendary Miami Beach architect Morris Lapidus, El San Juan Hotel officially opened its doors on February 1, 1958. By the 1960s, El San Juan Hotel became one of the island’s most visited destinations due to its superb oceanfront location and premium nightlife, featuring performances from top entertainers including Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole, Milton Berle, Paul Anka, Liza Minelli, Marco Antonio Muñiz and Julio Iglesias.
El San Juan Hotel reopened in December 2018 following a $65 million restoration led by world renowned designer Jeffrey Beers, which married the hotel’s legendary past and old-world elegance with a reimagined approach to wellness and lavishness. From its storied décor and inspired cuisine to its renowned gathering spaces and lush poolscape, the hotel is an authentic celebration of Puerto Rico’s traditions, old and new, for locals and travelers alike.
“As the newest member of the Fairmont family, El San Juan joins a legacy which extends back more than 100 years, with landmark hotels, unrivalled presence, authentic experiences and unforgettable moments which have attracted visitors to Fairmont and its destinations since 1907. With its own incredible history as a timeless Puerto Rican icon and beacon of island hospitality since opening its doors in 1958, El San Juan is a perfect addition to the Fairmont family,” said Heather McCrory, CEO, North & Central America, Accor. “This milestone marks the beginning of our exciting journey together, and another step in a period of tremendous growth for Accor in North & Central America.”
Fairmont El San Juan Hotel will be the first property in Puerto Rico for the luxury brand known for its landmark properties around the world, including The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Mayakoba in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, Hamilton Princess & Beach Club in Bermuda, Fairmont Banff Springs, and Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai. It also marks the first hotel on the island for Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique experiences in 4,900 hotels and residences across 110 countries. In addition to Fairmont, the Accor portfolio includes internationally acclaimed brands such as Raffles, Sofitel, SO/, MGallery, Pullman, Swissôtel, Novotel and ibis.
Upon joining the Fairmont brand on Jan. 2, 2020, El San Juan Hotel will also become a part of ALL – Accor Live Limitless, Accor’s new lifestyle loyalty program making its global debut at the end of 2019. Integrating rewards, services and experiences throughout Accor, ALL promises to deliver unprecedented value in how members live, work and play, as one of the most attractive loyalty programs in the world.
The current ownership group, through ESJ Resort LLC, will continue to own El San Juan Hotel. From now through Jan. 2, 2020, the hotel will operate under the current brand and management team. Hotel ownership and Hilton will end the franchise agreement for El San Juan Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton effective at 11:59 PM on Jan. 2, 2020. As of this date, the hotel will cease operating as a Hilton branded property, and Fairmont will assume management as Fairmont El San Juan Hotel.
“We are pleased to have worked together with the property’s current management and brand companies to restore the hotel for the benefit of the community, its guests and employees. As an exciting next step, we are truly thrilled for El San Juan Hotel to be a part of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts!” said Andro Nodarse-León, CEO, LionGrove Capital and Co-Owner, ESJ Resort LLC.
