CHRIS-HOLA recognizes leadership, dealmaking

MIAMI – The Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) and Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA) last week presented the winners of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award and CHRIS Deal of the Year Awards during the annual conferences in Miami.

This Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bruce Wardinski, chairman and CEO of Playa Hotels & Resorts, for his significant contributions to the hospitality industry over his lifetime through actions, deeds, and great accomplishments.

Wardinski is the first recipient of the awards for both conferences during the same year. CHRIS celebrated its 15th year in 2024, while HOLA is being held for the 14th time.

Playa is the owner of all-inclusive resorts located in Mexico and the Caribbean, and Wardinski has served in his current position since founding Playa in early 2006.

“Bruce has reached many peaks during his illustrious career in the hotel industry, but leading Playa Hotels & Resorts from its inception is an exclamation point,” said Jeff Higley, president, The BHN Group. “A focus on high-end all-inclusive resorts throughout Mexico, Jamaica and Dominican Republic has positioned Playa as a major player in the segment as well as in the Caribbean and Latin America regions. The company’s multi-brand approach provides an excellent foundation for consumers, and it’s a pleasure to honor Bruce for his many contributions to a vibrant hospitality segment in two unrivaled regions.”

Previously, Wardinski was CEO of Barceló Crestline Corporation; chairman of the board of Highland Hospitality Corp.; chairman, president and CEO of Crestline Capital Corp.; senior vice president and treasurer of Host Marriott Corp.; and he served in various other capacities with Host Marriott and Marriott Corp. He graduated with honors from the University of Virginia with a B.S. degree in Commerce and earned an MBA degree in Finance from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

(from left): The BHN Group's Jonathon Zink, Bojan Kumer, Marriott International, Gary Brough, Baker Tilly

Wardinski also currently serves as chairman of the ServiceSource Foundation and as a director of DiamondRock Hospitality Co. He previously served as director of international resort company Kerzner International.

Deal awards

Among the finalists for deals of the year are hotels and companies who are responsible for the most influential deals and developments. Nominees for the awards are evaluated based on outstanding business performance in various industry sectors.

Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef and the Morningstar Buoy Haus Beach Resort at Frenchman’s Reef, Autograph Collection in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands was named Development of the Year 2023. Finalists in this category included the Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba in Eagle Beach, Aruba and the Wyndham Garden Montecristi in Montecristi, Dominican Republic.

Alltra by Wyndham, Punta Cana in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic was named Single Asset Transaction of the Year 2023. The other finalist in this category was the Royal Isabela in Isabela, Puerto Rico.

(from left): Jonathon Zink, The BHN Group, Carlos Ruiz, Advanced Asset Management; Manuel Diez Cabral, Alyon Global; Paul Weimer, Berkadia

Thank you to those who served on the CHRIS Deal of the Year Awards Committees. For the Development of the Year Award, we thank Gary Brough (Chair), Liam Day, Marie Dexter, John Fareed, JP Ford, and Robert MacLellan. For the Transaction of the Year Award, we thank Paul Weimer (Chair), Andrew Dickey, Alexandra Lalos Church, Alam Pirani, and Daniel Stockhammer.