TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, July 19, 2017 — Honduras' growing popularity as a tourism and investment destination have led to recent expansions from multi-nationals such as Hilton, which is the latest hotel group to announce a future development in this Central American country.
Last month, Hilton announced the signing of a management agreement with Desarrolladores Asociados de Honduras (DAH) to operate a new build 173-room Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Tegucigalpa. Scheduled to open in 2021, the hotel will introduce Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton's upscale yet affordable global brand of hotels, to the country's capital and largest city.
Hilton Garden Inn Tegucigalpa will form part of a mixed-use complex that will be home to the Real De Minas Mall, office space and entertainment options. Located approximately 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) from the ToncontÃn International Airport, the hotel will be strategically located on Boulevard Juan Pablo II in the heart of the city, near major businesses and tourist attractions, such as the historic city center and Presidential Palace. Hilton Garden Inn Tegucigalpa will be the third Hilton property in Honduras after the Hilton Princess in San Pedro Sula, which opened in 2006, and the Indura Beach & Golf Resort Curio Collection by Hilton, located on the northern coast of Tela Bay, which joined Hilton's portfolio in 2016.
Hilton is not the only major hotel chain to announce the launch or expansion of its presence in Honduras. G6 Hospitality signed a development agreement in late January with the InterAmerican Development Group, Inc. (IADG) to bring a Motel 6 or Studio 6 property to Honduras within the next five years, with an investment of approximately US$4.5 million.
Marriott International announced it will open its first Courtyard by Marriott property in San Pedro Sula, Honduras in 2018. This will be the portfolio's second hotel in the country after the Tegucigalpa Marriott Hotel, just a few blocks from the Presidential Palace. Located in the central Rio de Piedrasneighborhood, the Courtyard by Marriott San Pedro Sula will allow easy access to the Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport and major tourist attractions such as the Museum of Anthropology.
In addition to Hilton and Marriott, hotel groups such as InterContinental Hotels Group, Hyatt Corporation, La Quinta Inns & Suites and Choice Hotels (CHH) have long been present in the main metropolitan and resort areas of Honduras, making the country an increasingly attractive option for families looking for a new vacation destination, entrepreneurs seeking new investment opportunities or adventurers wishing to enjoy the natural wonders of Honduras.
- InterContinental Hotels Group: The Holiday Inn Express Tegucigalpa is located in the heart of the new financial and commercial district and less than a mile from the Metropolis Business Tower, while the Holiday Inn Express San Pedro Sula is just minutes away from companies such as Unilever and Imvesa, Global Agency and Banco de Occidente. Both the Real InterContinental Tegucigalpa and the Real InterContinental San Pedro Sula are located within walking distance of their respective cities' most exclusive leisure and financial districts. The high-rise Crowne Plaza San Pedro Sula offers visitors some of the most spectacular panoramic views of the city.
- Hyatt Corporation: Hyatt Place Tegucigalpa provides business travelers a luxurious but eco-friendly option. Located in Los Próceres Commercial Park, among the most attractive and popular areas of the city, the hotel also boasts panoramic views.
- La Quinta Inns & Suites: LQ Hotel Tegucigalpa, a modern hotel 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) from ToncontÃn International Airport and next to the city's new Cascadas shopping center, is a central and affordable option for visitors traveling to Honduras' capital. La Quinta Inns & Suites also manages properties in San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Choluteca and Comayagua.
- Choice Hotels: Located throughout Honduras, Choice Hotels operates Clarion hotels in Copán, Roatán, San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, providing great lodging options for business and leisure travelers alike.
TOURISM IN HONDURAS
Honduras offers pristine beaches, virgin rainforests, colonial cities and pre-Hispanic archeological sites, allowing travelers of all types to find something to enjoy.
Nestled in the Caribbean and bordering the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest reef system in the world, the Bay Islands are among Honduras' most important tourism draws, garnering awards for harboring some of the world's best beaches, dive sites, ports and places to retire. The islands number among the few places in the world where travelers can swim with the largest fish on the planet, the whale shark.
With 91 protected areas and national parks collectively accounting for 27 percent of the country's territory, Honduras brings visitors close to nature. The Pico Bonito and Celaque National Parks provide seasonal or permanent refuge to more than 750 different species of birds. The country is home to the RÃo Plátano Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Lancetilla Botanical Gardens, the second largest botanical garden in the world; the widest expanse of virgin rainforest north of the equator; and the highest mountain peak in Central America, soaring to 9350 feet (2,849 meters). Honduras is also a world-class rafting destination, with the Rio Cangrejal, one of Central America'smost accessible and beautiful rivers, offering Class II to IV rapids on its 20-mile course from the Pico Bonito National Park to the Caribbean.
Honduras harbors diverse archeological and historic tourism offerings such as the Mayan archaeological site of Copán, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Spanish colonial cities of Gracias and Comayagua are among the most charming in Latin America, with carefully preserved churches and other historic buildings. The Garifuna, descendants of African slaves who populate Honduras'Caribbean coast, proudly preserve their traditional customs.
To learn more about Honduras and its hidden treasures, visit www.honduras.travel/en/.
