Buy, upgrade, expand. That’s the approach of LionGrove, a hospitality investment firm that recently expanded from its base in Puerto Rico to add its first mainland U.S. property in Scottsdale, Arizona — the Adero Scottsdale Resort, Autograph Collection.
LionGrove owns all of its properties and manages all but one. In the future, the company plans to both own and manage its hotels, said Chief Operating Officer Chris Sariego. LionGrove’s goal is to acquire 1,000 hotel rooms a year — all in the U.S. Sun Belt. Every acquisition must come with land that can be developed for residential uses, he said.
Sariego has recently inspected potential hotel acquisitions in Savannah, Georgia; Orlando, Florida; and Houston. He said LionGove was one of the last two investors in a bidding war for a major Orlando resort and only lost to a large private equity firm.
Previously a small tennis resort with 32 rooms called CopperWynd, the Scottsdale property was rebranded in 2020 as Adero Scottsdale Resort and affiliated with Marriott International's Autograph Collection soft brand. The rebrand also included the addition of a tower with 143 guestrooms and and a ballroom.
The resort will soon undergo a significant renovation “to elevate and enhance the physical spaces, enrich guest services, and deepen its commitment to wellness, social connections, and the outdoors,” Sariego said.
He added the resort's transformation “reflects the property's vision to further position itself as a premier desert sanctuary for discovery, renewal and meaningful experiences.”
Back in Puerto Rico, LionGrove is investing $55 million in repositioning Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach and Golf Resort, which sits on 607 acres along a two-mile beach nearby El Yunque National Rainforest. That includes:
- Casino at Rio Mar — A newly expanded gaming experience with what operators call “sleek interiors and an energetic atmosphere that captures the spirit of the tropics.”
- Cabaret at Rio Mar — An intimate entertainment lounge located within the casino designed to spotlight live music and cultural performances.
- Aura — A “serene,” adults-only swim lounge that, according to managers “introduces a new level of sophistication to the pool experience, complete with private cabanas and elevated food and beverage offerings.”
With its nature-centric location, Wyndham Grand Rio Mar offers sustainability initiatives led by an in-house environmental scientist. There is a Turtle Trackers program, guided biking tours and a nature-inspired Xplorer’s Club for children, Sariego said.
Both Adero and Wyndham Grand Rio Mar have private clubs. Adero currently has about 300 club members while the Puerto Rico property has about 600.
Beyond the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar, LionGrove continues to invest in its Wyndham Palmas Beach and Golf Boutique Resort and Fairmont El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico.
LionGrove is bullish on Puerto Rico, Sariego said. Asked about periodic blackouts on the island, he said LionGrove's resorts have generators and backup generators and that guests would not even notice if there was a power issue.
Plus, “no passport trips” are a top-trending Google search recently because of geopolitical tensions, making Puerto Rico particularly attractive, Sariego said.