PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain and McLEAN, Va., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Playa Hotels & Resorts, S.L., the company formed earlier this year by Grupo Barcelo in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, announced its takeover of the 795 guestroom Breezes Punta Cana Resort, Spa and Casino. The addition of this upscale resort marks Playa's first venture into the Dominican Republic, and brings to seven the number of hotels that Playa now owns in Mexico and the Caribbean. The resort will be re-branded as the Barcelo Premium Punta Cana Resort and will be upgraded with significant capital investments to meet the criteria of Barcelo's Premium brand all-inclusive resorts.

"This property exemplifies the quality of asset we are focused on for the Playa portfolio," said Bruce Wardinski, Chairman & CEO of Playa Hotels & Resorts, S.L. "The resort's expansive beach and high quality facilities, combined with the popularity of the destination, allows us to add a significant jewel to our growing portfolio. We are confident that with Barcelo's upgrade to services and amenities this will become a first class resort facility," added Wardinski.

The Barcelo Premium Punta Cana Resort

The resort occupies a 400 meter stretch of Arena Gorda Beach, one of the Dominican Republic's most pristine beaches. All of the Barcelo Punta Cana Resort's guestrooms include spacious balconies and views of the beach, pool or lagoon. Included in the 795 guestrooms is a selection of 51 luxury suites. The resort's all-inclusive program includes dining in a collection of seven international restaurants offering a range from contemporary cuisine to traditional Dominican-style food, to French and Italian. In addition, there is a selection of lounges, an onsite casino, an amphitheater for entertainment, and a full-service spa. For relaxation, guests can swim in the large free-form pool with a cooling water feature, enjoy a complimentary scuba diving lesson, poolside activities, and special kid's programs. For golfers, the resort has arranged special greens fees and preferred tee times at nearby courses.

The Barcelo Premium Punta Cana Resort has meeting facilities that can accommodate groups of up to 300 people. For weddings and honeymoons, The Barcelo Premium Punta Cana Resort provides special event planning and packages. For more information about the Barcelo Punta Cana Resort, visit: http://www.barcelo.com/.

The Barcelo Premium Punta Cana Resort is the tenth Barcelo branded hotel in the Dominican Republic joining the five hotels at The Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort: The Premium Barcelo Bavaro Palace Hotel; The Barcelo Bavaro Beach Hotel; The Barcelo Bavaro Caribe Hotel; The Barcelo Bavaro Golf Hotel; and The Barcelo Bavaro Casino Hotel. In addition, Barcelo Hotels & Resorts offers the Barcelo Lina Hotel in Santo Domingo, and three hotels in the location of the Villas del Mar beach area: The Barcelo Capella Hotel; The Barcelo Colonia Tropical Hotel; and The Barcelo Talanquera Hotel.

About the Companies Playa Hotels & Resorts, S.L.

Playa Hotels & Resorts, S.L., a Spanish company, is a private equity fund that focuses on the acquisition and development of all-inclusive beachfront resorts in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean. Playa is currently in active negotiations to acquire several additional hotels as well as land for the development of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Panama. Additional closings are anticipated by year's end. Playa has $1 billion in available capital and has raised more than $580 million in equity funding commitments from a small group of international institutional investors. The company currently owns seven properties in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Additional information can be found on the Company's website at http://www.playahr.com/.

Barcelo Hotels & Resorts

Barcelo is one of the world's largest hospitality and travel management companies and is based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The company, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is 100% owned by the Barcelo family and has been run by three generations of family members. Barcelo and its affiliates own, manage and lease more than 120 hotels in 16 countries across 4 continents. Additional information about Barcelo is available at the company's website: http://www.barcelo.com/.

Note: Certain matters discussed herein are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain, but not necessarily all, of such statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "estimates" or "anticipates" or the negative thereof or comparable terminology. All forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual transactions, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future transactions, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These may include: (i) national and local economic and business conditions or governmental regulations that will affect demand, prices, wages or other costs for hotels; (ii) the level of rates and occupancy that can be achieved by such properties; (iii) the Company's ability to compete.

CONTACT: James Carroll of Playa Hotels & Resorts, S.L., +1-571-382-1700,
jac@playahr.com

Web site: http://www.barcelocrestline.com/
http://www.barcelo.com/
http://www.playahr.com/