Within the framework of ANATO's Tourism Showcase, Travel2latam spoke with Danae Zamora, Commercial Director of Norte 19.
What does it mean for Norte 19 to participate in ANATO's Tourism Showcase?
For us, ANATO is a great opportunity to present our latest developments. As a hotel operator, we want to consolidate ourselves as a company that covers the entire hotel development cycle, from investment and construction to operation through advanced technological solutions. In addition, we are strengthening our presence in the four countries where we operate: Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica.
In Colombia, we have hotels strategically located in Bogotá, Cali and Medellín, especially close to airports, making them an ideal option for business and leisure travelers. In Mexico, we operate more than 150 hotels with different brands and categories, providing options for various traveler profiles.
Norte 19 operates hotels under different brands. What are some of them?
We recently obtained certifications that allow us to operate not only Marriott hotels, but also Hilton, IHG, Choice, Accor and independent hotels. This gives us the flexibility to offer a variety of options in multiple destinations. In addition, we have tourist circuits set up in regions such as Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo, as well as in Mexico City, Oaxaca and Puebla, adapting to the needs of each traveler.
Tell us about the company's beginnings and its evolution.
Norte 19 was born in Saltillo, Mexico, with the creation of the City Express brand. Initially, we focused on business travelers and industrial, oil and automotive corridors. Over time, we expanded our brands, including City Express Junior, Suites, Plus and City Centro, the latter with a boutique focus for the leisure segment.
The success of our proposal attracted the attention of Marriott, which acquired the City Express brand, making it its 35th brand globally. However, we continue to operate the hotels, consolidating ourselves as a multi-brand operator with the capacity to manage different international franchises and independent properties.
What are your expansion and promotion plans for this year?
We have participated in Fitur and will continue to strengthen our presence in key events such as Tianguis Turístico, Fiexpo Costa Rica and IBTM. Our goal is to continue growing in Latin America with new developments and projects, mainly under international franchises. Currently, in addition to the City Express hotels, we operate the Mexican brand Hoteles HOTSSONE, with five properties in the Bajío, focused on full service.
We are in a phase of consolidation and expansion, with plans to sign new agreements in the coming months, strengthening our presence in the region and offering more options to travelers.