The Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach & Golf Resort in Rio Grande, on Puerto Rico's north coast, is getting a $50 million renovation that will amount to a near-complete transformation.
The overhaul of the resort will see a complete renovation of all 400 rooms, with new flooring and trim as well as added use of wood and rattan; bathrooms with high-end tiles and brass fixtures; and a color palette that merges the ocean blues with rainforest earth tones. Room renovations are underway, with some 200 rooms slated for a December completion and the remainder by the middle of 2025. The resort will also debut a redesigned lobby and porte cochere along with two new zero-entry and adults-only pools in December. Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo is serving as the project's design firm.
The Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach & Golf Resort sits on the coastline on Puerto Rico's northeast coast, not far from El Yunque National Forest. Photo Credit: Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach & Golf Resort
The resort also plans to renovate its 10 dining options, one at a time. Marbella, currently a breakfast-only option, will convert to a high-end Spanish eatery. The Wyndham will add a shared outdoor dining area that, by the evening, will emphasize regional cuisine and entertainment, and also will also convert its existing Roots Coastal Kitchen to a "grab-and-go" option that highlights healthy eating. The casino will receive a makeover to reflect a retro, 1950s-'60s Boricuan/Cuban era, and a new lounge adjacent to the casino will feature cabaret-style live entertainment and double as the resort's nightlife spot.
A place for stargazing
Another addition will be an observation deck with telescopes that face nearby El Yunque National Forest. The resort will also introduce the Xplorers Club, a program that will offer educational experiences for guests of all ages and activities ranging from kayaking on the Mameyes River to exploring the region's diverse ecosystems and stargazing.
Andro Nodarse-Leon, CEO of LionGrove, said the midscale resort's conversion to a more luxurious stay will be competitively priced.
"We see a tremendous growth in the upper-scale and luxury segments in the market," he said. "When we look at this asset in particular, we see it has everything that it needs to compete for an upper-scale and luxury clientele."
The resort last underwent an extensive renovation following Hurricane Maria in 2017.