New Hotel Construction in Costa Rica Improves in 2014

The interest in building hotels in Costa Rica accelerated its pace in 2014. The number of square meter (m2) building permits processed in this type of work increased by 21%

This was revealed by the figures released by the Federal College of Engineers and Architects (CFIA), which takes into account the square footage accumulated from October 2013 to September 2014 compared to the same period in previous years.

While between October 2012 and September 2013 44,354 m? were processed, from October 2013 to September 2014 efforts increased to 53,827 m?.

Five of the 28 counties for which permits were handled accounted for 56% of the square meters to build of the last two years. It is the case of Garabito, Escazu, Puntarenas, Sarapiqui y Santa Cruz, where the amount of meters built would exceed 40,000.

Only in Garabito were permits requested for 13,455 m2, which corresponds to 18% of the total.

The data from the CFIA is reliable, because all building permits in Costa Rica must be passed by them. But, the meters for which a permit is handled are not always being built on.

Nor is it possible to average the time it take for companies to complete the paperwork, as many must demonstrate environmental viability before the National Environmental Technical Secretariat (Setena) and ask other municipal licenses.

Projects: The data managed by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) are also encouraging. As least 14 new hotel developments will open their doors between 2014 and 2015.

This corresponds to firms that already have secular tourism, so you cannot extrapolate it. However, it is part of an economy upturn in the sector, said Alberto Lopez, CEO of ICT.

2014 will be the best year since the crisis. The number of rooms to be added will soon exceed the growth from 2012 to 2013î, said Lopez.

For this year, at least 900 rooms are projected.

Garabito is also the county with the most recent hotel projects recently built or in development phase, according to the figures from the ICT.

The White Sands Beach hotel and Las Tortugas Beach Club hotel were inaugurated in 2013 and 2014 in this county, while Crocs Casino Resort will start functioning in January 2015.

Other hotels do not have the tourism declaration, but represent a significant increase in the number of rooms for next year. The Wyndham Papagayo Yu Resort hotel, property of the Association of Employees in the Costa Rican Department of Social Security (ASECCS), still does not have this declaration, but it offers 151 rooms.

Setena also reported two feasibility studies submitted in October, both hotels who both want to build luxury resorts in Puntarenas, Garabito.
Our thanks to our friends at La Nación – Costa Rica’s largest and most influential Spanish circulation newspaper for their permission to summarize their articles which originally appeared here.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.