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The time has come to say goodbye to 2024: a year that has brought us many unforgettable stories and lots of good news. Just like every year-end, we couldn’t say goodbye to 2024 without remembering the best moments of the year: twelve highlights for twelve months. Are you ready? Hop back in time with us to discover our favourite parts of 2024. Let’s get started!
1. Proudly Committed: sustainability at the heart of all our decisions
2024 started with some very special news: the launch of a new sustainability strategy that will dictate how the chain’s operations are carried out, always in the most respectful way in terms of the community and the ecosystem and with the least possible impact. Of course, we are referring to Proudly Committed. If you want to know more details about how this exciting project came about, just keep reading!
2. Playa de Palma hotels receive the Zero Food Waste certification
RIU has five hotels in Playa de Palma. OK, nothing unusual there… Well, this has been a year of very positive change at these hotels. In fact, starting this year all our establishments in the Balearic Islands have been certified by the prestigious AENOR body. These hotels now follow circular processes that allow them to be considered to have Zero Food Waste. Congratulations go out to all our colleagues who made this possible!
3. Launch of the Elite Club by RIU concept
At the end of 2022, the Riu Palace Kukulkan in Mexico became the first hotel to launch this luxury service. Since then, many other destinations have progressively opted to offer this premium experience. From the Dominican Republic, Los Cabos, and Mauritius, to Jamaica and, more recently, Aruba. And we are sure that it will not end there! If you are still not sure which exclusive benefits it includes, don’t worry. Ask any questions you may have here so you can keep enjoying your holiday in the best possible way.
4. Opening of the Riu Palace Aquarelle: a very innovative hotel
In 2024, we were very good. And we’re not just saying it, Santa Claus brought us lots and lots of gifts! But one of the most exciting of all was the opening of our seventh hotel in in Falmouth, Jamaica, in the heart of the Caribbean: the Riu Palace Aquarelle. This new establishment is a pioneer in sustainability, becoming the first of our Caribbean hotels to have solar panels. On top of that, this hotel incorporates several new product features. It is the first to have swim-up suites on the upper floor and it includes the American Country themed restaurant in its gastronomic offering. It has been a really great year for Jamaica, which was brought to a close with the renovation of the Riu Negril. Either way, it’s an absolute must-see!
5. The Riu Plaza London Victoria celebrates its first birthday
The capital of the United Kingdom has had a new tenant since 2023: the Riu Plaza London Victoria. And in July, it celebrated its first riuthday! This new hotel is a perfect fit for the Westminster district, so much so that we have launched a new dinner service in the Tastes restaurant. As a picture is worth a thousand words, we are giving you a little taster of what you can expect when you decide to visit us… is your mouth watering?
6. Proudly Committed Presented during a Hybrid Event at Spatial
In case you still didn’t know, today we are sharing an exclusive with you: there are several different ways to enjoy a stay at a RIU hotel. And we are not just talking about being able to visit one of our hotels in person – you can also do so via the spatial web. Can you believe it? The best way we can demonstrate that at RIU we turn the unimaginable into the tangible is that we presented our new sustainability strategy, Proudly Committed, during a hybrid event with three simultaneous venues: the Riu Playa Park, the Riu Plaza España, and its virtual twin. How is that possible ? Here are some of the key points that made this very special milestone a reality for us.
7. Carmen Riu retires
After more than 25 years at the head of the hotel chain, Carmen Riu has decided to bring an end to her time as CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts. She will continue to remain closely linked to the company, as was to be expected, now as President of the Board of Directors, and from now on Luis Riu will be the sole CEO of the chain. We wish her the best in this new stage of life and thank her for her dedication and vision.
8. RIU returns to Mauritius
According to the saying, good things come to those who wait. And of course, the opening of our two new hotels in Mauritius was no exception. RIU first added two hotels to this paradise island in 2014 and now, after having demolished them and rebuilt them from scratch, we have launched two completely new hotels. Do you want to know more about this exotic destination? There is no-one better than our CEO, Luis Riu, to tell you the best kept secrets of these two new dream establishments.
9. RIU’s blog gets a new look
We’ve been together for many years now. You’ve always been there with us, which is why we want to stay by your side, but always offering you our best version. That’s why we’ve had an update. We’ve now got a fresher, revamped image. We couldn’t be happier with the result. We hope you like it too, and you’ll stay with us for many years to come!
10. Riu Plaza Chicago: the new must-visit in the Windy City
Our Riu Plaza line of urban hotels began its journey in Panama, in 2010. Since then it has continued to expand into the most important metropolises in the world. This year it’s Chicago‘s turn. The Windy City, which has been named the best city in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler readers for the eighth consecutive year, is where it’s at! And for good reason. Its skyline will take your breath away, and if you want to view it with refreshments in hand, our rooftop is always welcoming.
11. RIU Sports: where sport and solidarity go hand in hand
This year, team RIU has made an appearance in a number of places. From Jamaica in the Montego Bay run, to the Cancun Neon race, an initiative promoted by the Aitana Foundation, and ending in the IX Move Against Cancer event, in Palma de Mallorca. On this occasion, there were a staggering 165 riunners who came together to contribute to a great cause. Let’s go!
12. The Riu Palace Bavaro the hotel that marks a turning point
In the Dominican Republic you will find what can be considered our new flagship vacation hotel: the Riu Palace Bavaro. This is an establishment that introduced some great innovations, like its food court. In total you will be able to find 32 food and drink outlets. The difficult question in this case is: what shall we eat today? If you have a few days off and don’t know which destination to choose, this would definitely be one of our recommendations.
And so, with this we’ll take our leave and see you in 2025! We couldn’t bid farewell to the year without thanking you for always being there, following all our stories. We wish you all the best for the new year and, of course, we hope to see you soon at one of our hotels so we can keep writing exciting stories together. We’ll be waiting for you!
