Operator News
Uruguay – Controversial plans approved for US$450m Cipriani Ocean Resort & Club
By Phil - 7 January 2019
Investors have showcased plans for the remodelling of the emblematic San Rafael Hotel in Punta del Este. The new plans anticipate an investment of US$450m for the newly created complex which will be called the Cipriani Ocean Resort & Club Residences.
The construction of the first phase will include 70 rooms, 75 private luxury apartments and a casino. Plans for the new resort were approved in July and the launch of the resort is scheduled for the summer season of 2021.
“It’s a very big project, it’s 150,000 square meters. It’s huge. It’s going to be in phases. In the first phase we are going to rebuild the San Rafael hotel, the convention, spa and the casino part,” said Italian businessman Giuseppe Cipriani, who is heading up the project. Cipriani told local press that the license process for the casino is now underway as, “such a large investment needs a casino.”
The plan also includes putting up 90,000 square meters of additional residences for sale next year. However according to Cipriani the old hotel may have to be completely rebuilt as it does not meet with today’s standards of luxury accommodation.
“The structure is very old, it is not healthy. I think we have to demolish it.”
According to Cipriani, developers plan to replicate the old hotel but bring it up to today’s standards to the highest specifications.
The decoration of the hotel and the club residences has been put under the charge of the Italian architect Michele Bönan, who has designed all of the furniture, which in turn will be produced by Italian craftsmen.
The new complex itself has been designed by renowned Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly on behalf of Grupo Cipriani. The emblematic San Rafael hotel in Punta del Este, has been closed since 2011, but was acquired by the Cipriani Group for more than US$40m in February after an agreement was signed by Giuseppe Cipriani.
According to the new owners the new complex will “preserve the integrity of the structure and celebrate it with beautiful residences, restaurants, spa, pools, casino, theatre, boutiques and a serviced beach club. Historic heritage, modern sensitivity and taste for timeless luxury will deliver the most unique experience in Punta del Este.”
So far, site management facilities have been constructed along with a showroom. The project encompasses the construction of two horizontal towers perpendicular to each other with a maximum height of 100 meters in addition to the restoration of the Tudor style building, which was first inaugurated in 1948. The Cipriani Group has already invested significantly in Uruguay having built a US$40 million 5-star casino hotel in the city of La Barra, in December 2003.
