Looking to bolster its international growth distribution with a concentrated focus on Latin America, Sonesta International Hotels has executed a strategic alliance with AKEN Hotels & Resorts.
As part of the deal, six AKEN hotels are initially slated to ally with Sonesta effective this fall, followed by more AKEN properties following soon after. This transition will integrate the properties into Sonesta’s global distribution and loyalty ecosystem, offering a seamless way for members to explore culturally rich destinations, according to the company. Newton, Mass.-based Sonesta’s portfolio include approximately 1,100 properties totaling 100,000 guestrooms across 13 brands in eight countries.
"Latin America offers both cultural richness and untapped growth opportunities and AKEN Hotels is an ideal collaborator with local insight and operational excellence,” Keith Pierce, Sonesta’s EVP and president of franchise & development, said in a statement. “As travelers continue to look for authentic experiences, this agreement represents a distinctive opportunity for Sonesta to create a strategic alignment with AKEN, a brand recognized for its experience in ecotourism and conscious luxury.”
The Miami-based AKEN Hotels & Resorts brand currently operates hotels in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Mexico with 10 more projects in development and plans to further expand in more unique destinations in Latin America, the Caribbean and the U.S.
"We’re thrilled to formally begin a relationship with Sonesta to bring the spirit of South American hospitality to a broader global audience," said Lisandro León Liguori, co-founder and co-CEO of AKEN Hotels & Resorts. "Partnering with Sonesta allows us to share our philosophy of mindful hospitality with an even wider global community, redefining what it means to travel well.”
A key benefit of this alliance for travelers will be the expansion of opportunities for Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program members to earn and redeem points across an array of new destinations, according to the company.