Portugal 
Italy 
Greece 31 March 2019 – El País
Marriott, the largest hotel conglomerate in the world with 7,300 establishments in its portfolio, has today acquired the remaining 40% of the share capital in AC Hoteles for €140 million. The two brands first joined forces back in 2011 when the US group entered a joint venture with the Spanish firm at height of the economic crisis.
The new operation will involve the dissolution of the joint companies and the creation of a new one, which will allow Antonio Catalán (Navarra, 1948), in his capacity as President of AC by Marriott, to use any of the hotel giant’s brands, not only AC and Autograph. In this way, he is thinking of entering the tourist segment on the Costa del Sol and the tourist apartment business in Sevilla.
The businessman manages 76 hotels (65 in Spain, 10 in Italy and 1 in Portugal) through the company Belagua 2013. In 2017, the latest year for which accounts are available, that company recorded revenues of €188 million and generated a net profit of €71 million, which is expected to grow by 8% in 2018. Catalán also owns other companies with individual hotels, bringing his total revenues to €260 million.
In Spain, AC Hoteles is working on several hotel openings in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Madrid, Cartagena and Andorra, assets that will operate under the AC by Marriott brand. It is also working on openings in Sevilla, Valencia and Bilbao, which will operate under the Autograph Collection brand.
Original story: El País (by Carmen Sánchez-Silva)
Translation/Summary: Carmel Drake