The opening marks the second Hyatt Place in Puerto Rico in collaboration with PRISA Group

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 5, 2014-- Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H), PRISA Group and McConnell Valdes Consulting today announced the opening of Hyatt Place Manatí in Manatí, Puerto Rico. The Governor of Puerto Rico, the Hon. Alejandro Garcia Padilla , attended the hotel’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. Hyatt Place Manatí represents the first international hotel brand in the north central region of Puerto Rico and the second Hyatt Place hotel to open in Puerto Rico within the last three months, marking for a strong return of Hyatt-branded hotels to the Island after a seven-year absence.

In December of 2013, Puerto Rico’s first Hyatt Place hotel opened in the municipality of Bayamon and has been warmly received by the region. The Hyatt Place brand expansion continues in Puerto Rico with Hyatt Place Manatí and will be followed by a Hyatt House hotel in San Juan, which is expected to open later this year. Hyatt House San Juan will mark the first hotel in the extended stay segment to open in Puerto Rico.

“Hyatt Place was built from the insight of our guests' appreciation for approachable style, where design and quality is delivered in a very simple and affordable fashion, offering a seamless travel experience for guests, and we are delighted with this new choice for travelers visiting the north central region of Puerto Rico,” said Chris Walker , vice president of brands, Hyatt Place. “This second opening furthers the meaningful growth of our brand in Puerto Rico, and throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America over the next few years.”

Hyatt Place hotels are opening throughout the world and the brand is nearing its 200th hotel opening. Its strength and reputation among guests and the hospitality industry is also continuing to grow. Last year, the Hyatt Place brand was recognized for its distinctive amenities and service as highest in guest satisfaction among upscale hotel chains in the U.S. by J.D. Power; one of the top 10 brands offering the best customer satisfaction in both the Americas and around the globe by the Market Metrix Hospitality Index; and best in its category for the second consecutive year in Business Travel News’ annual Hotel Chain Survey.

“With Puerto Rico seeing double-digit growth in visitors and RevPAR during the last three years, it’s the perfect time to introduce our second Hyatt Place hotel on the Island and to expand our relationship with Hyatt,” said Federico Stubbe, Jr. , president of PRISA Group, the developer and owner. “The Hyatt Place brand offers an innovative service concept and a modern design that we believe will be very successful in Puerto Rico. The introduction of a second of three planned Hyatt select service hotels in Puerto Rico is a testament to the growth of the Island as a national and international destination for both leisure and business travelers.”

About Hyatt Place Manatí

Hyatt Place Manatí is an upscale, select service hotel designed for multi-tasking travelers. The hotel is located in Puerto Rico’s northern coast, within the San Juan metropolitan area, 38 minutes from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. The hotel is conveniently and quickly accessible to/from the José de Diego Expressway/PR-22, and is part of unsigned Interstate PR-2, allowing travel to the East or West direction. Hyatt Place Manatí is conveniently located near Manati’s business and medical districts. The hotel is in close proximity to highly recognized companies such as DuPont, Janssen Ortho LLC, Ortho Pharmaceutical Div., Bristol Myers Squibb, Patheon, and BASF-the Chemical Company. Accessible to healthcare facilities, the hotel is a convenient option for visitors to Healthsouth Medical Rehabilitation Center, Manatí Medical Center and the Doctors’ Center Hospital.

Additionally, Hyatt Place Manatí guests can find popular name retailers such as Marshall’s, Burlington Coat Factory, and Wal-Mart nearby, and just a short drive away is the Puerto Rico Premium Outlets. Hotel guests can also enjoy dining and entertainment options within the hotel’s complex at the adjacent Longhorn Steakhouse restaurant and Casino Atlántico Manatí.

Hyatt Place Manatí offers guests:

• 104 roomy rooms, each featuring a swiveling 42-inch flat screen HDTV, the plush Hyatt Grand Bed, a Cozy Corner with sectional sofa-sleeper
• Free Wi-Fi everywhere
• Free a.m. Kitchen Skillet ^TM for guests, featuring freshly prepared breakfast sandwiches, a variety of fresh fruits, hot and cold cereal, yogurt, breads, premium coffee and an assortment of juices
• More than 1,900 square feet of flexible meeting space with unique food & beverage options, audiovisual equipment and more
• A Coffee to Cocktails Bar featuring specialty coffees and premium beers, as well as wines and cocktails
• 24/7 Gallery Menu serving made-to-order greens, sandwiches, flatbreads, apps and more around the clock
• 24-hour StayFit Gym
• Free public computers with internet access and printing in the Gallery
• Free parking for hotel guests

“Manatí is a charming and culturally rich city that provides a unique business and leisure environment for its visitors,” said Angel Sierra , general manager, Hyatt Place Manatí. “We are proud to be opening Hyatt Place Manatí and offering visitors to our city an equally unique hotel experience that has been designed with the needs of today’s travelers in mind. Whether our guests come to enjoy the activities of Puerto Rico’s northern shores or to take care of their business needs, Hyatt Place Manatí is a different kind of place to retreat to while in Manatí.”

Hyatt Place Manatí Leadership

Hyatt Place Manatí is under the leadership of General Manager Angel Sierra and Director of Sales Yajaira Torres . In his role, Mr. Sierra is directly responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the hotel, including overseeing the hotel’s 30 associates and ensuring guests encounter the purposeful service for which Hyatt Place is known. Sierra is joined by Ms. Torres, Director of Sales, who is responsible for providing sales service and support to travelers and meeting planners frequenting the Manatí area.

For Hyatt Place Manatí information in English and Spanish, or to make a reservation, visit manati.place.hyatt.com, or by phone at (787) 854-1000.

About Hyatt Place

Launched in 2006, Hyatt Place hotels bring to the upscale select service hotel category the authentic hospitality for which Hyatt is known. Inspired by multitasking travelers’ 24/7 lifestyle, Hyatt Place hotels combine stylish design and practical amenities with a forward-thinking guest experience and purposeful service. Roomy rooms feature multiple areas to work and relax, and include the in-room Cozy Corner; plush Hyatt Grand Bed^®; and separate workspace. Guests can also enjoy free Wi-Fi and remote printing everywhere, 24-hour StayFit Gym, Coffee to Cocktails Bar offering specialty coffees and a variety of premium beers, wine and cocktails, and a 24/7 Gallery Market including freshly made grab n’ go sandwiches and salads and a Bakery Case filled with items sure to satisfy the sweet tooth. The 24/7 Gallery Menu offers freshly prepared meals any time day or night, in addition to the free a.m. Kitchen Skillet^TM served daily for guests, featuring hot breakfast items, fresh fruit and more. The Odds & Ends program also has guests covered with items they may have forgot and can buy, borrow or enjoy for free. Specially trained Gallery Hosts are on hand to offer assistance with everything from directions to check-in to a freshly made meal.

Hyatt Place, a brand of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, offers more than 180 locations in the United States, Costa Rica and India. For Hyatt Place information or to make a reservation, call 1-888-HYATT-HP (888-492-8847) or visit www.hyattplace.com.

About Island Hospitality Partners

Island Hospitality Partners is a joint venture of PRISA Group and McConnell Valdes Consulting (McVC). PRISA and McVC have combined their expertise and resources in the planning, development, construction and operation of hospitality, residential and mixed used projects to form Island Hospitality Partners, LLC, creating a strong team capable of executing all necessary tasks for the successful development projects from conception to operation.

About PRISA Group

PRISA Group (PRISA) is a family-owned developer and builder of green residential communities and resort hospitality projects in Puerto Rico and Florida with over 6,000 units in planning and construction, representing a value of over $3 billion. The firm has delivered over 3,000 units in the last 20 years and is currently developing projects in Dorado, Vega Alta, Gurabo, San Lorenzo, and Humacao, Puerto Rico, as well as in Tampa, Florida. PRISA Group has received numerous awards, including Builder Member of the Decade and three Master Planned Community of the Year Awards by the National Association of Home Builders’ Puerto Rico Chapter, as well as the highest honor bestowed upon Puerto Rico developer, the Frank Ramirez de Arellano Award.

PRISA Group is currently developing the Dorado Beach Resort, a $1.4 billion development, including the Dorado Beach, A Ritz Carlton Reserve, the first in the Americas, which opened to the public in December 2012, and the J.W. Marriott Dorado Beach, currently in development. For more information, please visit www.prisagroup.com.

About McConnell Valdes Consulting

McConnell Valdes Consulting, Inc. (McVC) is a Puerto Rico corporation specializing in the planning, financing, development and marketing of hospitality and mixed-use real estate projects in Puerto Rico. McVC personnel have over 30 years of experience in the hospitality and real estate industries and have advised local and international clients in designing and executing complex hospitality and real estate projects in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Spain.

McVC is an affiliate of McConnell Valdés LLC. This affiliation provides the continuity and support of one of the nation’s most respected Hispanic-owned law firms combined with the hospitality and real estate expertise and transactional track record of the professionals at McVC.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality. The Company's subsidiaries manage, franchise, own and develop hotels and resorts under the Hyatt®, Park Hyatt®, Andaz®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Zilara™ and Hyatt Ziva ™ brand names and have locations on six continents. Hyatt Residential Group, Inc., a Hyatt Hotels Corporation subsidiary, develops, operates, markets or licenses Hyatt Residences® and Hyatt Residence Club®. As of December 31, 2013, the Company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 548 properties in 48 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “likely,” “will,” “would” and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us and our management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the rate and pace of economic recovery following economic downturns; levels of spending in business and leisure segments as well as consumer confidence; declines in occupancy and average daily rate; if our third-party owners, franchisees or development partners are unable to access the capital necessary to fund current operations or implement our plans for growth; changes in the competitive environment in our industry and the markets where we operate; our ability to access the capital markets; and other risks discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which filings are available from the SEC. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Source: Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Aurelia Vasquez
305-510-2140
aurelia.vasquez@hyatt.com