Acquisitive Tortuga Resorts hires CEO

MEXICO CITY – Tortuga Resorts, owned by KSL Capital Partners and Mexican family office Rodina, has named Leo Schlesinger as chief executive officer. The real estate and asset management platform recently announced the acquisition of 15 all-inclusive resorts from Hyatt Hotels Corp. across Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica and is expected to invest capex into select assets in the new portfolio.

Schlesinger brings more than three decades of experience, including serving as Group CEO of Norte 19, one of Latin America’s largest publicly traded hotel owners and operators, overseeing a portfolio of 154 hotels across diverse markets and working closely with global hotel brands, including Marriott and City Express. He previously led the transformation of Aliat Universidades into one of Mexico’s largest higher-education institutions.

“Tortuga’s strength has always come from its people – our dedicated teams, trusted partners and the incredible communities we serve across Mexico and the Caribbean,” Schlesinger said. “I’m thrilled to work alongside our brand partners and property teams to continue innovating and providing the resources to help deliver exceptional guest experiences and drive long-term value across our platform. Together, I am confident that we’ll set new benchmarks for excellence and create meaningful experiences for our guests and communities.”

In addition to the new Hyatt deal, Tortuga has continued to invest in its operational capabilities, talent and leadership, including appointing Hans Schroeder as chief financial officer in December 2024.

At the time of the Hyatt deal, Tortuga listed eight properties in its portfolio, including two under the Hyatt flag: the Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Adult Resort and the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun All-Inclusive Resort.