Hotel Equities appoints industry veteran Juan Corvinos as president of the Caribbean & Latin America division. Corvinos will lead teams of hospitality experts based in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Miami.
Corvinos joins Hotel Equities following more than 15 years with Hilton, where he most recently served as senior vice president of development, architecture, Ddesign & construction for Latin America and the Caribbean. He was instrumental in tripling Hilton’s footprint in the region and launching major brand platforms such as All-Inclusive by Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, LXR, Curio, Canopy and Tapestry.
“This is a transformational moment for Hotel Equities,” Ben Rafter, CEO of Hotel Equities, said in a statement. “With HE CALA, we’re investing in a team designed specifically for the future of hospitality in this region. Juan’s leadership and firsthand experience in the region, combined with HE’s commitment to local talent and operations, makes us uniquely positioned to serve hotel owners.”
HE CALA is structured to operate within the Hotel Equities organization, while fully leveraging the firm’s commercial engine, technology, and 30-year operating track record. Unlike traditional firms operating from U.S.-based hubs, HE CALA puts leadership on the ground, delivering high-touch, in-market support for owners, asset managers, and brand partners alike. As the only dedicated U.S. third-party operator in the region, HE CALA aims to redefine hospitality management across the Caribbean and Latin America, combining global best practices with regional knowledge to deliver smarter growth, stronger performance, and more aligned partnerships.
“We’re building a management infrastructure specifically for the region, as an owner-centric company with the talent, tools, and infrastructure to deliver long-term value,” Corvinos said. “With local contracts, local experts, and local solutions, HE CALA is the only dedicated, U.S.-born CALA third-party operator serving the region with a fully embedded model. A key priority is developing our presence in the all-inclusive space by aligning with partners and properties that share our vision.”
The news of Corvinos’ new role follows the recent appointment of Marilia Pergola as vice president of operations for HE CALA. Pergola brings her in-market expertise and now leads operational strategy and execution across HE’s expanding CALA portfolio, with deep expertise in revenue management, brand compliance, financial performance, and pre-opening excellence.
HE’s CALA portfolio is currently comprised of nine properties and nearly 1,000 hotel rooms under development in the region, including locations in Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Mexico, St. Thomas and Trinidad & Tobago. As HE’s CALA footprint continues to grow, the company is actively investing in infrastructure and corporate resources to ensure best-in-class support for its properties.