A first for Tapestry Collection in Central America
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) has announced the opening of Montara Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, in Heredia, Costa Rica. It marks the first time the group’s lifestyle brand has entered the country and, more broadly, Central America. The property has 97 rooms, including 38 suites.
The group presents the opening as a response to shifting traveller expectations. Guests are increasingly prioritising a connection with nature and local culture, wellbeing, and stays that allow them to slow down and disconnect.
Maxime Verstraete, Vice President, Brand Management, Caribbean and Latin America, at Hilton, set out the context. He said the continued growth of Tapestry Collection by Hilton across the Caribbean and Latin America reflected rising demand for hotels offering full immersion in their surroundings and a deeper connection with the destination. He added that travellers were seeking authentic experiences in contact with local communities, while enjoying the quality and reliability of an international hotel brand.
Converting a historic retreat
Set on the hills overlooking the Central Valley, Montara Hotel has been fully renovated to meet Hilton’s standards. The project preserves the character of this retreat, long popular with Costa Rican guests. This conversion model lies at the heart of Tapestry Collection, which recently made its debut in Vietnam with NHAAN Resort & Spa Hoi An.
The estate covers almost 5 hectares of green space. It includes more than 12,000 sq m of buildings, gardens and private lakes. Interiors are dominated by wood and natural textures, with large picture windows opening onto the valley and the mountains. Some rooms feature a private balcony and an outdoor fire pit.
Art is part of the property’s identity. A collection of original works was created for the hotel by Costa Rican artists, including Mario Maffioli, winner of the National Painting Prize, and Fabio Herrera, whose works feature in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Operations geared towards sobriety
Sustainability is built into both the design and the operation of the site. The hotel generates solar power for its own consumption and uses 100% LED lighting, as well as electric equipment for maintenance and landscaping.
An on-site treatment plant allows wastewater to be reused for irrigation, alongside rainwater harvesting. Water stations have been installed to eliminate single-use plastics.
Four dining concepts
The food and beverage offer is built around four concepts. The signature restaurant, Bosco, combines international influences with seasonal Costa Rican produce. It sources from farmers, artisans and producers in and around Heredia, as well as from an on-site organic kitchen garden.
Santoro is a fine-dining steakhouse led by chef Regis Molina, featuring wood-fire cooking and an open kitchen. The lobby bar, named 1998, serves signature cocktails, and a juice bar is located near the pool and fitness centre.
Wellness and events: two revenue pillars
The 1,230 sq m spa is run by specialists with more than 20 years’ experience. It is organised around regeneration, wellbeing and longevity. It offers relaxing treatments, hydrotherapy, facials and holistic practices, as well as outdoor terraces, meditation areas and private hiking trails.
The hotel also has approximately 1,180 sq m of event and reception space. It is designed for corporate meetings, private events and weddings. The grounds, the culinary offer and the wellness facilities round out a proposition aimed at both the MICE and celebrations segments.
A gateway to Costa Rica
The hotel is located approximately 20 km from Juan Santamaría International Airport and from central San José. It is positioned as a stopover at the start or end of a stay, before guests head on to La Fortuna de San Carlos or Tortuguero. Braulio Carrillo National Park, Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens are all nearby.
Costa Rica is increasingly attracting major hotel groups, as shown by the opening of Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve on the Papagayo Peninsula, and the signing of a JW Marriott all-inclusive resort in Costa Elena. By choosing the Central Valley, Hilton has opted for a location distinct from the beach resorts of Guanacaste.
Lifestyle as a growth driver for Hilton in the region
Montara Hotel is part of the Hilton Honors loyalty programme. Members who book direct can, among other benefits, pay with a combination of Points and cash, and receive an exclusive discount as well as free standard Wi-Fi. The programme is a distribution tool that Hilton is also using to develop its all-inclusive portfolio in the Americas.
Tapestry Collection is part of Hilton‘s Lifestyle portfolio, which also includes other collection brands such as Curio Collection by Hilton and Outset Collection by Hilton, launched in 2025. These brands allow independent properties to retain their identity while benefiting from the group’s commercial strength and loyalty network.
In the Caribbean and Latin America, Hilton operates 315 hotels and resorts across more than 35 countries and territories, with 150 properties in the pipeline. With Montara Hotel, the group is pursuing its regional expansion in the lifestyle segment, a format well suited to the conversion of independent assets.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Hilton opens Montara Hotel, first Tapestry Collection property in Central America
Location: Heredia mountains, Costa Rica – approx. 20 km from Juan Santamaría International Airport
Asset: fully renovated historic retreat, 97 rooms incl. 38 suites, 5 ha estate, 12,000+ sq m of buildings
Amenities: 4 F&B concepts, 1,230 sq m spa, approx. 1,180 sq m of event space
Sustainability: on-site solar, 100% LED, wastewater reuse, rainwater harvesting
Hilton in CALA: 315 hotels in 35+ countries and territories, 150 properties in the pipeline
