Hyatt Sells 14 Luxury Resorts For $2 Billion

This transaction represents one of the most significant moves in the hotel sector today, highlighting the rise of platforms specializing in premium assets and Hyatt's “asset-light” strategy. The latter aims to make its portfolio more agile and reduce its structural costs.

The sale was initiated on June 30, 2025, shortly after Hyatt acquired the resorts of the Playa Hotels & Resorts group a few days earlier for $2.6 billion, including debt. It mainly concerns luxury establishments located in prestigious tourist destinations in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica.

Javier Águila, president of Hyatt's Inclusive Collection, said in a statement released at the end of the year: “Through this transaction, we have secured long-term management agreements for a portfolio of exceptional resorts that reflect our commitment to excellence.”

Indeed, beyond the purely transactional aspect, the deal is notable for its structure. The Hyatt group has negotiated long-term management contracts (50 years) for 13 of the 14 resorts sold, thereby guaranteeing that the hotel group will retain its operational role, brand identity and, as a result, its loyal international clientele.

For its part, Tortuga Resorts is now positioned as a leading player in the high-end beach resort segment, with a large portfolio of iconic destinations such as Cancun and Los Cabos in Mexico, and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. According to Leo Schlesinger, CEO of Tortuga, this strategic acquisition will strengthen the group's ability to develop new customer experiences and increase its presence in high-growth luxury tourism markets.

By selling these real estate assets while retaining the management contracts, Hyatt will be able to improve its financial flexibility and free up cash, particularly to repay the loans taken out when it acquired Playa. Hyatt is thus following one of the main trends in the hotel industry at the moment: favoring management revenues over direct ownership of properties. This approach is considered necessary to respond to current economic challenges, especially in a changing geopolitical context, particularly since the Trump administration's changes to trade relations and economic geography in the Caribbean and Central America.