Marriott International, Inc. announced today the signing of an agreement with Mullen Real Estate Capital (MREC) to bring the JW Marriott brand to the shores of Costa Elena, an exclusive resort-residential community located in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Scheduled to begin conversion in July 2025, the property is expected to join the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio in Spring 2026 as a JW Marriott All-Inclusive resort. It is expected to be one of the first JW Marriott all-inclusive resorts to open globally.

“We are thrilled to expand our presence in Costa Rica with the introduction of one of the first JW Marriott All-Inclusive Resorts,” said Uriel Burak, Marriott International vice-president, Development, Caribbean and Latin America (CALA). “This project marks the beginning of a strategic collaboration with Mullen Real Estate Capital, a pioneer in the all-inclusive sector, within the CALA region.”

Located approximately 80 kilometers from Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, the resort will offer:

• 415 guestrooms;
• 11 diverse food and beverage outlets;
• 44,000 square feet of water amenities, including 17 swimming pools;
• 10,000 square feet of indoor meeting space;
• a state-of-the-art fitness center:
• and a 16,000 square foot spa designed to reflect the brand’s wellness philosophy.

Positioned within the exclusive Costa Elena resort-residential community, the property will have 885 feet of beach frontage. Additionally, future development plans include the potential introduction of JW Marriott branded residences on an adjacent site.

“MREC is thrilled to embark on this exciting collaboration with Marriott International and JW Marriott, a brand synonymous with excellence and world-class service. Together, we look forward to unlocking new opportunities, setting new benchmarks, and creating a future filled with limitless potential,” commented Jeff Mullen, president at Mullen Real Estate Capital.

In recent years, Costa Rica has attracted significant interest from luxury customers and investors. In February 2025, Marriott announced the opening of its 50th luxury hotel in the region, Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica. The country’s development growth continues to rise, with the company signing 10 deals in 2024, representing 1,086 rooms. This brings the development pipeline in Costa Rica to 15 properties, totaling 1,776 rooms. As of year-end, Marriott has 22 open properties across 15 brands in Costa Rica, with more expected to open in 2025.

About Costa Elena

Costa Elena is an oceanfront eco-resort community in northern Guanacaste. Spread across 3,000 untouched acres of tropical dry forest and 16 kilometers of coastline, it lies adjacent to the Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest environmentally protected area in northern Guanacaste. The master-planned community currently comprises Founders Estates, a collection of luxury villas for ownership or rental; Costa Elena Beach Club, which features an infinity pool, several intimate lounge spaces, thatched roof palapas and a beach restaurant; the planned JW Marriott at Costa Elena; and additional sites for future development. Future amenities will include an array of convenience shops, restaurants, a café, fitness and wellness facilities, hiking and biking trails, additional beach clubs and a nature preserve. The developers prioritize low impact development, sustainable eco-tourism and economic opportunities for local residents.