Hotel Equities strengthens its presence in the Caribbean and Latin America; appoints industry veteran Marilia Pergola as vice president of operations for the region.

ATLANTA, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hotel Equities  (HE) announced today the appointment of Marilia Pergola as Vice President of Operations for the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) region. Marilia will be based in the company's corporate offices in Miami.

"We are very pleased to welcome Marilia to

the Hotel Equities family," said Al Smith, president of operations for Hotel Equities. "Her understanding of the CALA landscape, coupled with her operational rigor and passion for people development, make her the ideal leader to inspire our associates and deliver exceptional service to our guests and partners throughout the beautiful and dynamic CALA region."

As Vice President of Operations – CALA, Marilia Pergola will lead operational strategy and execution across HE’s expanding portfolio in the region. With deep experience in revenue management, brand compliance, financial performance, and pre-opening excellence, Marilia is poised to drive operational success, build strong owner relationships, and elevate guest experiences throughout the CALA region. Marilia’s appointment marks an important step in HE’s commitment to building a market leadership team that delivers elevated support and customized solutions for owners and partners.

"Marilia's arrival underscores our dedication to the region and our long-term strategy to support growth with experienced leadership," said Michael Register, who oversees new development for the CALA region at HE. "As we continue to expand our portfolio and partnerships, her operational acumen and cultural fluency will be invaluable."

Marilia has over 20 years of experience in hotel operations with extensive market experience, including the last eight years at Marriott International, where she most recently served as Senior Director of Operations – Owner and Franchisee Relations for the Caribbean and Latin America. She managed a portfolio of over 100 full-service and select-service hotels, spearheaded franchisee engagement efforts, and spearheaded critical integration projects, including the loyalty merger of Starwood Preferred Guest with Marriott Rewards and the operational transition of City Express. During her tenure, she achieved an industry-leading 86% owner satisfaction rating, demonstrating her effectiveness in delivering value to ownership groups.

"I am honored to join Hotel Equities at such an exciting time of growth in the Caribbean and Latin America," said Marilia. "This region offers immense opportunity, and with our people-centric culture and commitment to market support, I am confident that we will continue to enhance the guest and owner experience at all of the hotels we operate."

HE's CALA portfolio currently consists of nine properties and nearly 1,000 hotel rooms under development in the region, including locations in Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Mexico, St. Thomas, and Trinidad and Tobago. As HE's presence in CALA continues to grow, the company is actively investing in infrastructure and corporate resources to ensure best-in-class support for its properties.

For more information about the partnership with Hotel Equities, please visit  hotelequities.com/cala .

About Hotel Equities
Hotel Equities (HE) is an award-winning hotel development and management company with a portfolio of approximately 300 hotels, resorts and outdoor hospitality destinations across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America. With a diverse portfolio of independent and premium branded properties, Hotel Equities delivers proven results and creates long-term value for its stakeholders through a comprehensive suite of services, a people-centric and performance-driven culture, and a commitment to excellence grounded in servant leadership. For more information, please visit www.hotelequities.com .