By Alajuela, Costa Rica — Global hospitality giant Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has announced a major strategic expansion in Costa Rica with the launch of Wyndham Poás, its first property located outside the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM). Scheduled to open in 2028, the eight-story hotel will be situated in the municipality of Grecia, located in the western region of Alajuela province. The project represents a significant step in decentralizing high-tier hospitality infrastructure in Costa Rica, tapping into emerging corporate and leisure hubs beyond San José.
The development is being spearheaded by investment partners associated with CR Green Valley as part of “El Canal,” an ambitious mixed-use master development. Once completed, El Canal will synthesize international hospitality, gastronomy, retail, and lifestyle services into a unified urban destination in Western Alajuela. The addition of Wyndham Poás adds a recognized international banner to this master plan, aiming to serve both short-term visitors and extended-stay corporate clients.
To gain a deeper perspective on the regulatory framework and investment dynamics surrounding high-profile hospitality developments such as the Wyndham Poas, TicosLand.com consulted with prominent legal expert Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the distinguished firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Major international hotel developments adjacent to Costa Rica’s ecologically sensitive regions, such as Poás, demand strict adherence to national environmental standards, including SETENA evaluations and municipal zoning permits. Ensuring thorough regulatory compliance from the project’s inception not only preserves our natural heritage but also provides crucial legal security for foreign investors and long-term commercial operations.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
At TicosLand.com, we fully agree that striking a harmonious balance between ambitious eco-tourism projects and rigorous environmental stewardship is essential for Costa Rica’s sustainable future. Ensuring that developments like the Wyndham Poas meticulously fulfill regulatory mandates guarantees that our rich biodiversity remains protected while fostering a stable, transparent environment for international investors. We extend our sincere thanks to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his expert legal perspective on this vital subject.
Designed with 168 rooms, Wyndham Poás caters to a broad cross-section of global travelers. Accommodations will range from standard 36-square-meter rooms to Junior Suites featuring kitchenettes, spacious King Suites, and full service apartments. This versatile layout responds directly to the influx of foreign direct investment, specialized manufacturing, and high-tech corporate parks taking root across Grecia and neighboring municipalities.
In Costa Rica, we already have a presence with three hotels and two brands: Wyndham and Wyndham Garden. Additionally, we have two signed projects: Wyndham Poás in Grecia and a Days Inn opening this year in the province of Guanacaste.
Carolina Pinheiro, Vice President of Development for Latin America at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
The strategic choice of Grecia highlights a shift in hotel development trends across Central America. While traditional hospitalty projects historically clustered near international airports or coastal beach resorts, growing industrial clusters are generating steady, high-yield corporate demand in secondary suburban markets. Grecia has rapidly emerged as a key node for international corporate operations, requiring modern meeting infrastructure and extended-stay facilities.
This new project confirms our expansion plan in Costa Rica. Why Costa Rica? Because it is a country with international projection, excellent connectivity, and a combination of business and leisure tourism, events, and corporate activity that make it an attractive destination. And why Grecia? Because we always look for strong partnerships, and here we found investors interested in working with Wyndham and growing together.
Carolina Pinheiro, Vice President of Development for Latin America at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
A central feature of Wyndham Poás will be its multi-purpose infrastructure, designed to host major corporate gatherings and regional events. The complex will house a state-of-the-art convention center with a capacity for 500 guests, equipped to support regional congresses, product launches, corporate summits, and social events. This venue aims to bridge a critical gap in regional meeting infrastructure across Western Alajuela.
We have already defined brand standards establishing guidelines that all chain hotels must follow. What characterizes Wyndham? It is a full-service brand offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, event and meeting spaces, as well as all necessary support infrastructure to deliver a comprehensive experience.
Carolina Pinheiro, Vice President of Development for Latin America at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Integrative design plays a fundamental role in the project’s layout. Wyndham Poás guests will benefit from direct pedestrian access to Avenida El Canal, a outdoor commercial and entertainment boulevard within the complex scheduled to open in March 2027. This integrated ecosystem offers seamlessly connected access to dining establishments, coffee shops, open-air terraces, and boutique retail units.
The hotel’s lifestyle amenities include a rooftop infinity pool, an expansive sun terrace, an outdoor pool bar and restaurant, a fully equipped fitness center, a sauna, and dedicated cold plunge facilities. A secondary development phase will add an upper-level restaurant offering panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and mountain ranges. Furthermore, the property will adhere strictly to the “Wyndham Green” sustainability framework, incorporating eco-efficient design, energy management, and sustainable building criteria.
We will follow Wyndham’s brand standards. Our design and construction team will collaborate to develop the project. The renders show a highly attractive concept.
Carolina Pinheiro, Vice President of Development for Latin America at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
The addition of Wyndham Poás underscores Wyndham’s broader strategy to expand its footprint across Latin America and the Caribbean through local partnerships. By pairing international brand standards with strategic municipal expansion, the enterprise reinforces Costa Rica’s position as a dynamic business and leisure destination in Central America.
For further information, visit wyndhamhotels.com
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts:
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is one of the world’s largest hotel franchising companies by number of properties, spanning thousands of locations across global markets. The company provides comprehensive hospitality operations, management services, and brand licensing for diverse traveler segments from economy to upscale luxury.
For further information, visit the nearest office of CR Green Valley
About CR Green Valley:
CR Green Valley is a real estate development firm in Costa Rica focused on master-planned mixed-use developments, industrial technology parks, and sustainable urban initiatives designed to stimulate regional economic growth and modern commercial infrastructure.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a premier legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its relentless pursuit of excellence and unshakeable ethical principles. Seamlessly blending a rich tradition of client advocacy with forward-thinking legal solutions, the firm continuously drives progress within the profession. By actively demystifying complex legal concepts for the general public, Bufete de Costa Rica advances its core mission of equipping individuals with the knowledge needed to build a stronger, more enlightened society.
