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Strategic infrastructure projects: Positioning Barú as a tourist destination within Cartagena

by David Gaviria - Gerente Proyecto Barú - Negocio de Desarrollo Urbano - Grupo Argos

With the opening in December 2021 of the Sofitel Barú CalaBlanca Hotel, Grupo Argos, in alliance with Arquitectura y Concreto, PEI and Accor, managed to position the Island of Barú on the map of luxury tourism in the Caribbean both in Colombia and in the region. The hotel proved to be one of the most representative assets of the luxury hotel industry, receiving multiple awards in the industry, among them the Best New Luxury Resort in South America 2022 by Luxury Lifestyle Awards and the Sixth Best Resort in America recognized by Condé Nast Traveler. In addition to the accolades, the hotel achieved operational and financial results higher than budgeted, something unprecedented for a first year of operation. The opening of the hotel allowed us, as Master Developers, to activate the aqueduct infrastructure and consolidate its relationship with the communities of the Island of Barú, generating about 25% of its more than 350 jobs directly from local communities, without counting on the different services, goods, and products that are purchased locally to enhance the guest experience. This project has the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) that endorses it as a sustainable construction.

We understand that the supply of luxury hotels in Colombia and the district of Cartagena/Barú has a lot of room to grow and that the city, the Punta Nativa Master Plan, and the new hotel projects in it can provide a perfect solution to the currently unattended demand. For this reason, we decided to advance in the promotion of the structuring of different projects (conceptualization, architectural space, financial model) that allow attracting the required investment with more information and confidence.

During SAHIC 2023, from Grupo Argos and its Urban Development business, we will present an investment opportunity in a wonderful hotel project with 350 rooms. Zolé, as we have called it, will be located in the middle of nature and beautiful white beaches accompanied by the chirping of birds, local culture, and the sound of the sea.