IHG has combined its Latin America and Caribbean regions under the leadership of Alvaro Diago, now Chief Operating Officer (COO), Latin America and Caribbean.  Diago was most recently Area President for Latin America.

In his new role Diago, whose Miami-based team has overseen all IHG-branded hotels in Central and South America, as well as select Caribbean destinations, will now have responsibility for all IHG hotels in the Caribbean, which are located in Jamaica, Aruba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Trinidad & Tobago.  The 11 properties in the Caribbean will bring to 75 (by year-end 2009) the total number of hotels in the region's portfolio. 

Additionally, Diago will now be looking to increase IHG's presence throughout the Caribbean, with a particular focus on resort properties, as well as continue to foster and oversee owning company relationships for all IHG brands, both managed and franchised.

"Alvaro has done an excellent job of furthering our portfolio throughout Central and South America," said Jim Abrahamson, President, Americas for IHG.  "He has a long track record of positive relationships with owning companies across all of our brands, and we look forward to him and his team maximizing opportunities for growth throughout the Caribbean as well." 

The expanded region's Sales, Marketing and Revenue Management team will be led by Regional Vice President Carlos Baruki, who will be driving performance and implementing new strategies to capitalize on IHG's enterprise system.

The new region's Director of Development is Salo Smaletz, who has been instrumental in furthering IHG's presence in Central and South America. IHG has representation in more countries in Latin America than any other international hotel organization. Smaletz will utilize those skills to capitalize on the many growth opportunities within the Caribbean. 

"Our team is pleased to expand its focus," adds Diago.  "We have been involved with the Caribbean since IHG was established more than 60 years ago, so I very much look forward to meeting our stakeholders in the area, and furthering best-practices that will continue to create an incomparable guest experience. I also look forward to growing our portfolio of hotels in this wonderful part of the world." 

IHG has more than 180 hotels in Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean, and has been serving Latin America for over 60 years. IHG is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, and has hotels situated in nearly every key market throughout Latin America.