Revitalization to Restore Iconic Property as World-Class Destination
Investor Group to Significantly Upgrade Facilities through Planned Restoration
Fundamental Advisors LP (“Fundamental”), a leading alternative asset manager, today announced that along with partners León, Mayer & Co., (“León Mayer”) and Aimbridge Hospitality (“Aimbridge”), it has acquired the iconic El San Juan Resort & Casino, a Hilton Hotel from an affiliate of Blackstone. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
El San Juan, established in 1957, is a landmark 387-room hotel overlooking two miles of pristine beach in the Isla Verde district of San Juan, and a valued member of the Hilton Worldwide system. It boasts an 11,000 square foot grand ballroom (second largest in San Juan), three pools, nine award-winning restaurants, 15 active bars, lounges and nightclubs, a 7,500 square-foot casino and 12 beachfront acres. Just two miles from Puerto Rico’s international airport, the property is located in a neighborhood known for upscale boutiques, beautiful beaches and eclectic restaurants, bars, and live music venues.
Together with partners León Mayer and Aimbridge, Fundamental plans to significantly enhance the property’s offerings and revitalize the storied resort to its original splendor by capitalizing on the investor group’s expertise in the hospitality sector and experience in the region. As part of a planned revitalization of the property, the investor group is committed to significantly upgrading the resort’s facilities through a substantial capital expenditure investment to create a true luxury lifestyle property.
“This project represents an exciting development for both future guests of El San Juan as well as the vibrant community that surrounds this historic property,” said Laurence Gottlieb, Chief Executive Officer of Fundamental. “Fundamental has a long history of investing in Puerto Rico and we look forward to working with our partners as we return this iconic resort to its place as a world-class destination. With a portfolio of unique or underutilized municipal and hospitality real estate assets, we intend to leverage our expertise to ensure that El San Juan delivers an unparalleled and unforgettable experience for guests of this truly exceptional property.”
“El San Juan is truly a one-of-a-kind property. We are excited to partner with Fundamental and Aimbridge and look forward to leveraging our team’s strong connection to the Puerto Rican market and experience in hospitality, entertainment and real estate to elevate the physical condition and guest experience at El San Juan to a level that befits its historical status as an iconic luxury lifestyle resort and entertainment property,” said Andro Nodarse-León of León Mayer.
“With our principals having formerly served as the property’s operators, Aimbridge has long appreciated the remarkable vitality of El San Juan,” said Dave Johnson, President and CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality. “Working with Fundamental and León Mayer, we are excited to use our deep expertise in hotel management to revitalize El San Juan, a property with a truly unique character and history.”
