Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will manage a new luxurious beach resort and branded Residences at Playa Manzanillo, in Guanacaste province, on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast. The 130-room resort will open in 2009. Mandarin Oriental, Costa Rica will be the cornerstone of an exclusive 538-acre gated golf and residential development, Rancho Manzanillo, which will feature branded Mandarin Oriental residences, beach and golf villas, and exclusive private homes.

The stunning retreat will offer an array of leisure activities, from the 18-hole Fred Couples Signature Championship golf course, to exotic wildlife viewing from the property’s 200 acres of protected tropical dry forest, home to some of world’s most diverse flora and fauna. The resort’s natural beach, lined with coconut palms, will also provide the perfect backdrop for active watersports or total relaxation.

Mandarin Oriental, Costa Rica will be built on a spectacular coastal ridge, nearly 60 meters above sea level, with inland views of the tropical forest jungle and stunning bay views across the azure waters of the bay at Papagayo and the Pacific Ocean. The guestrooms and suites will be amongst the largest in the region, each designed with exquisite interiors, using native exotic woods and stone, and incorporating seamless technology and superior entertainment systems. Among the hotel’s speciality suites are “Tree House Suites,” designed apart from the hotel main building, and set below selected trees, affording a one-of-a-kind accommodation experience amidst the gentle canopy of the region’s famous Guanacaste trees.

Guests will be presented with a wide choice of contemporary dining experiences, from three exceptional restaurants, a lounge and three bars. The bay side beach club restaurant, pool bar and grill will command spectacular views over the water. Banquet and conference facilities will also be ideally suited for intimate meetings and private functions.

The comprehensive 20,000-square-foot spa will feature 14 state-of-the-art treatment rooms offering holistic rejuvenation and relaxation in a pristine natural setting. Incorporating the most comprehensive range of holistic wellness treatments in Costa Rica, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental will feature life-enhancing signature programmes that are exclusive to the Group as well as traditional water and heat therapies. A sophisticated fitness centre, tennis courts and a series of multi-level outdoor swimming pools will also be available. The golf pro-shop on property will provide all the equipment required for play on the Championship golf course.

The overall Rancho Manzanillo project is owned by by Corporacion Domaro, S.A. and Inversiones Costa Azul del Pacifico, S.A. and is being developed by T.F. Stone Companies of Dallas. The Dallas-based firm HKS, Inc. has been appointed as architects for the resort, and SWA Architects of Dallas will create the landscape design. The international firm Wilson & Associates is developing the hotel’s interior design. Hotel development services will be provided by Global Resort Development, Inc. also of Dallas.

“We are delighted to be bringing Mandarin Oriental’s legendary hospitality to one of the world’s most naturally beautiful destinations. We look forward to creating Costa Rica’s most luxurious retreat that will fit harmoniously into the environment and offer guests an unparalleled leisure experience,” said Edouard Ettedgui, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental.

“We are very pleased to be working with Mandarin Oriental on the development of this prestigious project,” said Tommy F. Stone, a principal of Corporacion Domaro, S.A. and its development partner. “When Mandarin Oriental opens its doors at Rancho Manzanillo in late 2009, this exclusive resort will become the premier leisure destination in Latin America,” Stone concluded.

Mandarin Oriental, Costa Rica is a 25 minute drive from the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) near Liberia in the Guanacaste province. The airport receives flights from around the world, from key gateway cities such as London, Toronto, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas and Houston. The property is also accessible by yacht.

Well recognised as a premier destination for eco-tourism, Costa Rica is a vast storehouse of the world’s biodiversity. Over 25% of this stable Latin American nation is composed of protected forests and reserves. Costa Rica has unmatched flora that includes over 3,000 species of wild orchids alone, as well as world class whitewater, unparalleled sport fishing on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, and a world famous national park system.

A region steeped in culture, Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province draws visitors for its stunning shoreline, incredible bird watching, snorkeling and wonderful windsurfing. Forming the eastern borders of Guanacaste are a chain of volcanoes that stretch out to join the Cordillera de Guanacaste and Cordillera de Tilaran mountain ranges. The region offers terrific hiking, including treks to a number of volcanoes, such as the Rincon de la Vieja, where visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. The lush dense forests of the area are also home to a fabulous array of exotic wildlife, including howler monkeys, parrots, white-tailed deer, long-tongued bats, and capuchin monkeys.
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