San Juan's Former Radisson Ambassador to Undergo Comprehensive Renovation and Conversion to AC Hotel by Marriott
SAN JUAN, P.R. July 4, 2016 - The groundbreaking ceremony for the first AC Hotel by Marriott in San Juan, took place today at 1369 Ashford Avenue, a privileged location within the active and progressive Condado Area. Ashford 1369 Hospitality, LLC, an affiliate of Interlink, acquired the former Radisson Ambassador Plaza & Casino. A comprehensive renovation of the property will take place to convert it into the sophisticated and contemporary Marriott International brand.
The site's upgrade will be lead and performed by Interlink Construction for an estimated total investment of $45 million including the acquisition, renewal and opening of the AC Hotel San Juan. Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and the Hotel Development Corporation provided the project's financing.
Presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony were the Honorable Alejandro Garcia Padilla, Governor of Puerto Rico; Ingrid Rivera, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company; Andrew Houghton, Area Vice President, Caribbean and Latin America for Marriott International Inc.; and Federico Sánchez-Ortiz, President & CEO of Interlink. The AC Hotel ceremonial groundbreaking included the brand's cornerstone ritual, inspired by its Spanish roots and European soul, which incorporates placing a handful of coins into the foundation plot with the hotel's name and its opening date, to be forever commemorated with the building.
Founded in 1998 by Antonio Catalán, AC Hotels has properties located throughout Europe, Mexico and the United States. AC Hotels and Marriott formed a joint venture in 2011, leveraging the unique style and design of these upscale urban-inspired hotels with the portfolio power and distribution of Marriott International.
AC Hotels by Marriott celebrates the beauty of classic modern design born of its Spanish roots and European soul. It was conceived to create a seamless and harmonious experience for creative, well-traveled, entrepreneurial spirits who appreciate their hotel as an oasis of style and connection. Currently, there are 87 AC Hotels across the world, with additional 91 openings in the pipeline. For more information please visit www.achotels.marriott.com.
The new hotel has established a long-term franchise agreement with Marriott International Inc. and a management operation agreement with Highgate Hotels; one of the leading operators in the industry. The hotel's opening is scheduled for the first quarter of 2017.
“We are very excited with this new venture which continues to grow our special relationship with Marriott,” emphasized Federico Sánchez-Ortiz, President & CEO of Interlink, the AC Hotel San Juan project developers. “We are confident that the AC Hotel San Juan in Condado will be a key addition to the continued emergence of San Juan as a world renowned tourism destination.”
“We are thrilled to announce the first AC Hotel for Puerto Rico, where there is a growing population of next-generation travelers who prioritize design and value when choosing a hotel,” said Andrew Houghton, Area Vice President for the Caribbean and Latin America for Marriott International. “This new hotel reaffirms the company's commitment to Puerto Rico.”
AC Hotel San Juan will offer guests a wide array of urban resort features including 233 new and modern guest rooms, all with balconies, and of which 48 will be Suites. The hotel will also feature a rooftop swimming pool and lounge, meeting rooms, a fitness center, a restaurant and the traditional AC Lounge, a creative hotspot by day and social hub by night. Based on the belief that purposeful design can enrich lives, it will embrace and convey the brand's philosophy, which celebrates meaningful design. Each space is built with a visionary spirit and a designer eye for an experience that feels stylish, yet efficient, alluring but purposeful.
About Interlink
Founded in 1977, Interlink is the leading developer of hotels, resorts and high-end residential real estate in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean; with in-house capabilities in construction, asset management and real estate marketing and sales, for its own portfolio, as well as for the firm's partners and clients. The Company also provides specialized advisory services to third party clients for the acquisition, development and repositioning of assets. In addition to the AC Hotel San Juan, Interlink currently holds an ownership interest in the following hotels San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel & Casino, The St. Regis® Bahia Beach Resort, Hotel El Convento and The Wave Hotel in Condado. For more information please visit www.interlinkpr.com
About AC Hotels
AC Hotels by Marriott®, a lifestyle brand that celebrates a new modern aesthetic complemented by a European soul and Spanish roots boasts nearly 90 design-led hotels in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Turkey, France and the United States. Design-driven AC Hotels edit away the unnecessary to remove friction, providing thoughtfully designed moments of beauty, allowing guests to focus on what's important to them. Property highlights include design-savvy guest rooms with sleek furnishings and intuitive technology features. For more information, visit ac-hotels.com.
Contact:
Laura Botelho
[email protected]
954-684-5321
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
