Riu Plaza celebrates 10 years

RIU Hotels & Resorts celebrates the first decade of its Riu Plaza line of urban hotels. The chain launched its brand of city hotels with the aim of reaching the main cities of the world, always in a premium location, and aimed at the business traveler, but also those who visit large cities for pleasure. Today it is already in New York, Miami, San Francisco, Guadalajara (Mexico), Panama, Berlin, Dublin and Madrid. In addition, it has three projects underway to continue its expansion in Toronto, London and a second hotel in New York, already under construction.

"When we finally decided to open our first city hotel, I dare say it was a surprise for many, including employees of the house. I remember the intense work of research, adaptation, travel and nerves. But today I look back and I think we did very well. 10 years have passed in which RIU has shown that making a good city hotel while remaining faithful to its tradition and service is possible. If we compare ourselves with brands that have a long urban tradition , we have an excellent position. Our clients have also let us know that, in the end they are the ones who determine your successes and mistakes ", explains Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts.

Riu Plaza Spain
"Riu Plaza has been a source of great satisfaction. Opening our hotel in Manhattan was for me a dream come true, the same as the most recent one in San Francisco; without forgetting, of course, the Riu Plaza España hotel, which was converted as soon as it opened. in the flagship of the brand. Riu Plaza is growing slowly but surely. It is very difficult to find the perfect location in the most sought-after cities in the world, but when you do, it is the main key to success ", says Luis Riu, who also highlights that "the projection of the RIU brand thanks to the presence in these large capitals has been very important."

Riu Plaza Panama
In 2010 and with more than 50 years of experience in sun and beach hotels, RIU Hotels opened its first urban hotel, the Riu Plaza Panama, with 644 rooms and magnificent conference rooms. A whole corporate challenge for RIU, since it represented a totally new product and a type of client unknown to the company; the urban tourist and a guest more focused on congresses and events. After a few months of adaptation, the great work of the team paid off and the Riu Plaza Panama positioned itself as one of the best hotels in the city. Since then, with more than 700,000 clients, it has organized 9,700 events and has hosted great stars such as Alejandro Sanz, Marc Anthony, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.

Riu Plaza Guadalajara
After the great challenge that Panama posed, in 2011 the Riu Plaza Guadalajara hotel arrived in Mexico, an imposing skyscraper with 550 rooms. Since its opening, it has become the most important hotel for the MICE segment in the region, with world-renowned clients such as IBM and Honda. Likewise, it is the favorite of the local client for parties and anniversaries, and the reference hotel for Mexican personalities such as the boxer Canelo or the journalist Loret de Mola, in addition to having received guests such as Ricky Martin, Romeo Santos or David Bisbal.

Riu Plaza Berlin
In 2015 the company decided to make the leap to Europe, more specifically to the capital of what has historically been its great market and ally: Germany. Since its opening, the Riu Plaza Berlin hotel has been the representative of RIU in the country, being also the hotel that has hosted since 2016 the benchmark party of the Berlin international tourism fair, the ITB, attended by more than 300 guests from the world tourism sector.

Riu Plaza Miami Beach
That same year, the company opened its first urban hotel in the United States, the Riu Plaza Miami Beach. This hotel, popular for its delicious and complete buffet breakfast included with the room, has a privileged location on Collins Avenue, with direct access to the famous Miami Beach promenade and beach, and is located just minutes from the restaurants and drinks area. from Ocean Drive. In addition, it is the perfect option for shopping lovers as it is close to the famous Lincoln Road and offers direct transportation to the most important malls in Miami.

Riu Plaza New York Times Square
In March 2016, RIU conquered the Big Apple with the construction of its first hotel in New York, the Riu Plaza New York Times Square hotel, a 29-story, 647-room skyscraper. Being the city in the world that receives the most tourists a year, the hotel is focused on the urban tourist and therefore offers the best services to make your stay as comfortable as possible to explore the city from its privileged location on 46th and 8th Avenue.

Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin
Months later, RIU expanded its urban division in Europe with the Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin, on Dublin's renowned O'Connell Street. The hotel, housed in an iconic building with over 200 years of history, has 323 rooms, 20 meeting rooms and one of the best breakfasts in Dublin. Your customers and visitors can enjoy lunch or a pint of beer at Toddy’s restaurant or tea and pastries at Writers Lounge cafe.

Riu Plaza Spain
It took 3 more years for the Riu Plaza line to arrive in Spain, but it did it in style. The chain acquired the emblematic Edificio España and turned it into the Riu Plaza España hotel, the flagship of the urban line. With no less than 130,000 guests in its first year, it has become a landmark in Madrid thanks to its 360 ° terrace-viewpoint located on the 27th floor. This unique space in all of Madrid, along with its glass walkway suspended over 100 meters high, they have received 680,000 people since its opening, with an average of 2,500 visits per day. Likewise, its 3,000 m² of multipurpose spaces hosted more than 400 events in its first year and served as a showcase for personalities from the world of music, fashion, film and television.

Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
Also in 2019, RIU announced its third urban hotel in the United States, this time in the western part of the country: the Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf. Close to the famous Pier 39 and with 531 fantastic rooms, it is the ideal hotel to visit the city of San Francisco for both business and pleasure as it has ample meeting spaces, as well as a pool area.
For the next few years, the Riu Plaza brand will also establish itself in Canada and the United Kingdom. In London it has acquired a building next to Victoria Station, on which construction work has already started to turn it into a 4-star hotel with 350 rooms. While Canada has chosen Toronto, the fifth largest city in North America, which will host the Riu Plaza Toronto, a newly built hotel with 350 rooms, meeting rooms, gym, bar and restaurant. To these new projects is added the construction of the second hotel in New York, the Hotel Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square, located a few meters from its older brother, will offer the same services, although it will have more rooms, no less than 656.