Luxury Reimagined: Maria Zarraluqui Takes the Helm at Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection
In a resplendent tapestry of innovation and growth, Hyatt Hotels Corporation proudly heralds the distinguished appointment of Maria Zarraluqui as the Senior Vice President of Global Hyatt Inclusive Collection Growth and Owner Relations, marking her official commencement on the first of March in the year twenty twenty-six. With a profound understanding of the hospitality industry and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Zarraluqui embarks on a venture that promises to transform the landscape of all-inclusive luxury.
In her newly envisioned role, Zarraluqui is set to pioneer asset-light growth strategies, fostering the development and rejuvenation of exquisite resorts, while meticulously cultivating strategic alliances that propel Hyatt’s illustrious all-inclusive portfolio into realms yet unexplored. Reporting directly to the venerable Javier Águila, President of Inclusive Collection, her guidance shall undoubtedly illuminate the firm’s trajectory toward opulent expansion.
With a remarkable history spanning over twenty-five years, Zarraluqui’s extensive experience encompasses the ebbs and flows of hospitality development across continents—Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, China, and the Americas. This globe-trotting virtuoso has orchestrated the execution of over three hundred and fifty hotel deals, navigating complex joint ventures and forging alliances with esteemed international partners, thus culminating in an enviable repertoire. Beyond her corporate accomplishments, she shines as a board advisor, a dynamic committee leader, and an influential global speaker, all while imparting her knowledge as a professor of real estate at IE Business School in Madrid. She holds an esteemed master’s degree in legal consultancy for enterprises from Deusto University, taking pride in her distinction as the apex graduate of the Executive Tourist MBA at IE Business School, alongside a law degree from the University of Navarra.
In the luminous realm of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, a mosaic of more than one hundred and fifty resorts and fifty-five thousand rooms gracefully sprawls across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. This progressive portfolio witnessed a significant transformation with recent strategic maneuvers, including the acquisition of Playa Hotels & Resorts, coupled with the planned sale of its real estate holdings to Tortuga Resorts—signifying a monumental stride toward a fully asset-light future.
As if scripted in a narrative of elegance and allure, the Inclusive Collection flourishes with the unveiling of recent luxurious openings: the Secrets Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa and Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa, alongside Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa and Secrets Baby Beach Aruba. The canvas of success continues to expand, with anticipated openings such as Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana and Secrets Macao Beach Punta Cana on the horizon for the year twenty twenty-six, enveloped in the promise of unparalleled guest experiences.
As Javier Águila assumed his pivotal role as President of the Inclusive Collection in March twenty twenty-five, the stage is impeccably set for Maria Zarraluqui to lead with distinguished vision and unyielding passion, reinforcing Hyatt’s legacy as a beacon of luxury and an emblem of refined hospitality in the modern arena.
This is not merely an appointment; it is a celebration of artistry, ambition, and the indomitable spirit of hospitality in the United Arab Emirates and beyond.