Marriott Expands Luxury Footprint With St. Regis in Costa Rica

Marriott International MAR has taken a strategic step to deepen its luxury footprint in Latin America by announcing a signed agreement with Solana PA, S.R.L. to introduce its premier St. Regis Hotels & Resorts brand in Costa Rica. The high-end development will mark the brand’s debut in the country and is set to elevate the Gulf of Papagayo in Guanacaste as a luxury destination.Spanning 20 hectares, this premium resort and residential project is set to break ground in July 2025 and welcome guests by early 2027. Its location, just 25 minutes from Liberia International Airport, offers convenient access to one of Central America’s most stunning coastlines.The property's design draws from Costa Rica’s vibrant culture and oceanic backdrop. Guests and residents can expect six culinary concepts, ranging from the casual Casa Club to The Cliff, a fusion of Japanese and Costa Rican influences. A St. Regis Bar & Speakeasy, an exclusive beach club, an expansive spa and multiple pools are also part of the development.The resort will provide more than 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space, catering to the demand for high-end corporate and social gatherings. The project also reflects Marriott’s focus on integrating local craftsmanship and sustainability. Key collaborators include renowned architecture firm Sordo Madaleno, Gensler Mexico City for interiors and wellness consultant Ana Ramirez of Ancestral Handmade Hotels.Costa Rica’s growing appeal for affluent travelers makes it a natural choice for this milestone. Marriott currently operates six St. Regis properties across the Caribbean and Latin America. This addition is poised to boost its regional influence significantly.The expansion reinforces Marriott’s commitment to growth in upscale markets while leveraging its global brand power. With rising luxury travel demand in Central America, the St. Regis Papagayo positions Marriott to capture long-term value in an increasingly competitive landscape.MAR Stock’s Price PerformanceShares of this worldwide hospitality company focused on lodging management and franchising have gained 10.3% in the past month, outperforming the Zacks Hotels and Motels industry’s 10% growth.Moving through 2025 and beyond, the company’s strategic in-house initiatives, diversified global portfolio, Marriott Bonvoy travel platform and top-tier loyalty program are expected to support growth amid the ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchMAR’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksMarriott currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).Here are some better-ranked stocks from the Consumer Discretionary sector.Fox Corporation FOX currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 30.9%, on average. The stock has gained 10.4% in the year-to-date period. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Fox Corp.’s fiscal 2025 sales and earnings per share (EPS) implies growth of 13.9% and 32.1%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.Laureate Education, Inc. LAUR presently carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 56.1%, on average. The stock has moved up 19.1% in the year-to-date period.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Laureate’s 2025 sales and EPS indicates growth of 0.3% and 23.7%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s levels.Stride, Inc. LRN currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 94.7%, on average. The stock has gained 48.6% in the year-to-date period.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Stride’s fiscal 2025 sales and EPS indicates an increase of 16.7% and 51.2%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 DaysJust released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.0% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention. See them now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Marriott International, Inc. (MAR): Free Stock Analysis Report Stride, Inc. (LRN): Free Stock Analysis Report Fox Corporation (FOX): Free Stock Analysis Report Laureate Education (LAUR): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks