Riu Hotels & Resorts, the Spanish hotel group that is still family owned, has revealed plans for the next generation to take over the reins of the growing business.

The move was triggered by the retirement in summer 2024 of joint CEO Carmen Riu, who had successfully run the business for many years alongside her brother Luis. Writing in a blog, he reflected recently: “We made a great team. Together, we managed to consolidate the company’s international expansion and all areas of the business have grown under our watch. This will continue as the fourth generation takes on an increasingly important role in the business.”

Planning to bring in the next generation

The family has spent a long time nurturing and training the fourth generation, ensuring a good fit between skillsets and roles in the business. Now, the family board and Riu’s board of directors have agreed on some new roles for key family members.

Roberto Riu Rodriguez will, as managing director, be responsible for corporate sales and marketing, while overseeing hotel design and construction. Naomi Riu Rodriguez, already the group’s finance director, will lead procurement in EMEA, and corporate social responsibility. She will also lead operations for several key hotels in the Indian Ocean, and European city centres.

Luis Riu Rodríguez also takes on a managing director role, covering design and construction plus Atlantic region properties. And Joan Trian Riu will be managing director for hotels in the Americas, as well as key RIU Plaza properties.

Riu has just completed a refurbishment at its Riu Negril resort in Jamaica, a family-oriented property with an all-inclusive offering. With 600 rooms, the five star resorts has some unique amenities, and is only the second hotel in Jamaica to have swim-up suites – 28 exclusive rooms with their own private pools.

During 2025, Riu has five major refurbishments to complete, and will also open a new hotel in Cancun, Mexico, while also preparing further projects for opening in 2026. Those openings include the rebirth of the former Riu La Mola property in Formentera, which will reopen as a Riu Palace property during summer 2025.

In Costa Rica, the group’s first hotel in the country, the Riu Guanacaste originally opened in 2009, and is to undergo a complete refurbishment. And in Mexico, the Hotel Riu Jalisco will also enjoy a makeover. Elsewhere, in Morocco, there will be an upgrade for the Riu Palace Tikida Agadir resort.

Further growth in the Americas

One completely new addition to the Riu portfolio will be added late in 2025, with the opening of the group’s sixth hotel in Cancun, and its 23rd across Mexico. The Riu Ventura will have 700 rooms, on a site near Dolphin Bay, and provide guests with an all-inclusive stay.

For 2026, plans include the repositioning of the Riu Nautilus hotel in Torremolinos, which is due to be converted to the Riu Palace format. Another urban hotel will launch, with the opening of the Riu Plaza Toronto in Canada. And Riu’s first property in Thailand will open, with Riu Palace Phuket coming to a beachfront site in the internationally popular tourist destination.