Las Américas Hotels Group

What Las Américas Hotels Group does

Las Américas Hotels Group is a privately-held Colombian hospitality company founded in 1976 by Alberto Araúajo Merlano and Rafael Cepeda Torres with the opening of Hotel Capilla del Mar in Cartagena de Indias. The group operates six wholly-owned hotels and one convention and exhibition center across five destinations in Colombia and Panama, totaling 1,230 rooms and employing more than 1,200 people. Its portfolio includes Hotel Las Américas Cartagena (530 rooms), Hotel Capilla del Mar (206), Hotel Ciela Coveñas (99), Hotel Lagoon Llanogrande (109), La Herencia Hotel in the Coffee Region (37), and Hotel Las Américas Golden Tower Panama (285, LEED-certified), supplemented by the Las Américas Convention & Exhibition Center with more than 7,000 m² of flexible event space capable of hosting up to 6,200 attendees indoors.

The company generates revenue across multiple streams: hotel accommodation, food and beverage across 18 restaurants and bars (including the Michelin two-star chef-led Erre by Ramón Freixa), convention and exhibition services, spa and wellness operations (two spa facilities), and event planning and weddings. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with reservations handled through the Omnibees booking engine, dedicated direct sales teams, travel-agency partnerships, and WhatsApp/phone support. A 2018-launched third-party hotel advisory, management, and marketing services business line extends the model beyond owned assets.

The group serves seven primary customer segments spanning leisure families, couples, corporate and business travelers, MICE clients, weddings, group travelers, and premium/luxury travelers, with named anchor MICE clients including the World Bank's Climate Investment Funds, ACORL, ANDICOM, Banco de Occidente, The Macallan, and the World Summit on Political Communication. The company remains founder-owned with no disclosed external investors and operates under a proprietary "Smiles Culture" service philosophy.

Name

Las Américas Hotels Group

Legal name

Las Américas Hotels Group

Website

https://lasamericashotels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Las Américas Hotels Group is a privately-held Colombian hospitality company operating six hotels and a 7,000 m² convention center across Colombia and Panama, with 1,230 rooms, 18 F&B outlets, and 1,200+ employees serving leisure, corporate, MICE, and wedding customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hotel & Hospitality Services

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Traveler Accommodation (7211), Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (721110)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011)

akta.pro primary industry

Beachfront & Island Luxury Resorts (THAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Business & Corporate Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAE), Hotel & Resort Convention Venues (Convention Hotels) (THAHAAAC)

Keywords

• Hotel accommodation services
• Convention and exhibition venues
• Hospitality and event planning
• Spa and wellness services
• Caribbean resort properties

Headquarters

HQ city

Cartagena de Indias

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Hotel Accommodation: Room rentals across 6 hotels in Colombia and Panama with varying room counts (530 rooms at Hotel Las Américas Cartagena, 206 at Capilla del Mar, 285 at Golden Tower Panama, 109 at Hotel Lagoon, 99 at Hotel Ciela, 37 at La Herencia Hotel). Revenue generated from nightly stays, extended stays, and seasonal pricing.
2. Food and Beverage: 18 restaurants and bars across all properties including the Michelin-starred Erre by Ramón Freixa, offering diverse dining experiences from Caribbean cuisine to international fine dining. Revenue from restaurant covers, room service, bar sales, and catering.
3. Convention and Exhibition Services: Rental and services for the Las Américas Convention & Exhibition Center with over 7,000 m² of flexible space capable of hosting up to 6,200 attendees. Revenue from venue rental, AV equipment, catering, and associated event services for congresses, conferences, and exhibitions.
4. Spa and Wellness Services: Two spa facilities (Spa Las Américas and Sona Spa & Wellness at Golden Tower Panama) offering treatments, hydrotherapy circuits, and wellness packages. Revenue from treatment bookings and spa packages.
5. Event Planning and Weddings: Comprehensive event planning services including wedding packages, corporate events, social gatherings with dedicated coordinators, venue rental, and customized catering across all properties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Las Américas Hotels Group operates six hotels totaling 1,230 rooms across five destinations in Colombia and Panama, alongside an 7,000+ m² convention and exhibition center in Cartagena. Its offerings span hotel accommodation, 18 restaurants and bars (including the Michelin-starred Erre by Ramón Freixa), two spa and wellness facilities, and dedicated wedding and event planning services targeting leisure travelers, families, couples, and corporate/MICE clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smiles Culture: The company's service philosophy characterized by warm, joyful, authentic service focused on guest happiness.

Products and services

• Hotel Las Américas Cartagena de Indias Beachfront resort hotel in Cartagena with 530 rooms across Casa de Playa and Torre del Mar, featuring 400 meters of beachfront, multiple restaurants, spa, pool, and the Captain Estrella children's club for families.
• Hotel Capilla del Mar Beachfront hotel in Bocagrande, Cartagena with 206 rooms facing the Caribbean Sea. The founding property of the group, located in the heart of Cartagena's tourist district.
• Hotel Ciela Coveñas Beachfront resort hotel on the Colombian Caribbean coast in Coveñas, Sucre with 99 rooms, Bijao Restaurant, pool, jacuzzi, and direct beach access with exclusive tents near the San Bernardo Archipelago.
• Hotel Lagoon Llanogrande Lakeside nature-focused resort hotel near Medellín with 109 rooms in Llanogrande, Rionegro area, operated under the group's third-party hotel advisory and management model.
• La Herencia Hotel & Guest Houses (Armenia, Coffee Region) Boutique hotel and guest houses in La Tebaida, Quindío in Colombia's Coffee Region with 37 rooms surrounded by nature, El Jardín Restaurant, wellness services, and event spaces.
• Hotel Las Américas Golden Tower Panamá LEED-certified urban hotel in Panama City's financial district with 285 rooms, panoramic city views, Sona Spa & Wellness, 2 restaurants, 2 bars, 9 meeting rooms, heated indoor pool, and state-of-the-art gym. The only LEED-certified hotel in Panama.
• Las Américas Convention & Exhibition Center Convention and exhibition center in Cartagena with over 7,000 m² of flexible event space, capable of hosting up to 6,200 attendees indoors and 7,000+ outdoors, with simultaneous translation booths, AV control rooms, finishing kitchen, CCTV, STC53 acoustics, and dedicated event coordination.
• Erre Restaurant by Ramón Freixa Signature fine dining restaurant in Cartagena led by Michelin two-star chef Ramón Freixa from Madrid, offering haute cuisine experiences. The only Michelin-starred restaurant in Cartagena.
• Spa Las Américas Spa facility at Hotel Las Américas Cartagena offering hydrotherapy circuit, treatments, and massages for hotel guests and outside visitors.
• Sona Spa & Wellness (Golden Tower Panamá) Spa and wellness facility at Hotel Las Américas Golden Tower Panamá offering treatments and wellness packages.
• Wedding and Event Planning Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Convention center capacity to host up to 6,200 attendees indoor and 7,000+ outdoor
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cartagena de Indias Convention & Visitors BureaucoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2025Active participation in Meetings North America event organized by the Bureau to promote Cartagena and Colombia as strategic MICE destinations
• Climate Investment Funds (CIF) - World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2025Hosting the Clean Energy Learning Laboratory (CELL) 2025 international conference with delegates from more than 30 countries, organized in collaboration with Government of Colombia and IDB
• Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2025Collaborative partner in organizing CELL 2025 conference, bringing together governments, multilateral development banks, and private sector actors for climate finance discussions
• ACORL (Colombian Association of Otolaryngology)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2025Hosting the National Congress of Otolaryngology 2026 at Hotel and Convention Center Las Américas, bringing specialists and academics from across Colombia
• ANDICOMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Hosting ANDICOM 2025 Edition #40, a major ICT congress with over 5,000 attendees, positioning Cartagena as innovation hub in Latin America
• The Business YearminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Interview with General Manager Ana Judith Paniza for 2026 tourism chapter, highlighting Panama's hospitality sector and Golden Tower's strategic vision
• The MacallanminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 December 2024Exclusive experience partnership for The Macallan Gallery Bogotá event featuring Erre by Ramón Freixa cuisine, targeting premium Mastercard Black segment customers from Banco de Occidente
• Banco de OccidenteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 December 2024Partnership for exclusive luxury experiences targeting Mastercard Black segment customers, combining hotel services with premium dining experiences
• Ramón Freixa (Chef)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Michelin two-star chef partnership for Erre Restaurant by Ramón Freixa, the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Cartagena, offering signature haute cuisine experiences
• Geniales FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Foundation dedicated to fostering talent development and character formation for happier and more prosperous individuals, created with distinguished city leaders
• Proboquilla FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Social foundation promoting integral development for families in vulnerable situations in La Boquilla community, with geographic influence across rural communities

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves17 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hilton Worldwide: Global hotel major with growing presence in Cartagena, Panama City, and Latin America under Conrad, Hilton, DoubleTree; competes for upper-upscale business travelers and MICE accounts targeted by Las Américas.
• Barceló Hotels & Resorts: Spanish hotel group with a strong Caribbean and Latin American resort portfolio (Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica); broad incumbent competing for Caribbean leisure and resort-convention business.
• Grupo Posadas: Mexico's largest hotel operator with multiple brands spanning luxury resorts (Live Aqua, Fiesta Americana Grand) and MICE/business hotels; comparable platform model in Latin America covering leisure, business, and convention venues.
• Marriott International: Global hotel major with multiple brands (Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, Autograph, Westin) actively expanding in Caribbean Colombia and Panama City; competes for corporate RFPs, MICE, and luxury leisure guests in the same properties/segments.
• Playa Hotels & Resorts: U.S.-listed Caribbean-focused resort operator with all-inclusive and luxury properties across Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica; broad incumbent sharing Las Américas' beachfront, leisure-heavy, F&B-driven economics.
• NH Hotels (Minor Hotels): European-based chain with significant Latin American presence and Anantara/Oaks luxury-resort brands post-Minor Hotels acquisition; broad incumbent overlapping in MICE, business, and premium leisure segments.
• Meliá Hotels International: Spanish hotel group with deep Caribbean and Latin American presence (Dominican Republic, Mexico, Cuba, Panama); broad incumbent with overlapping luxury resort, convention, and leisure customer base competing for MICE and leisure demand.

Direct peers

• Decameron Hotels & Resorts: Colombian-founded hotel group operating resort properties across the Caribbean and Latin America; directly comparable to Las Américas on Colombian heritage, multi-property beachfront/resort model, and leisure + corporate mix.
• Hoteles Estelar: Colombian hotel chain with multiple city and resort properties across Colombia including Cartagena; comparable multi-property Colombian operator targeting business and leisure travelers with F&B and event venues.

Emerging players

• Sonder Holdings: Tech-forward short-stay and apartment-style hospitality operator expanding into Latin America; emerging player with partial overlap in multi-destination leisure/business stays via app-led booking.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/lasamericashotels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lasamericashotels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Las Américas Hotels Group