is“ unique” for its focus on projects with smaller key counts and an ultra-luxury experience.“ We particularly take the asset management role to a deeper, moreinvolved level based on our unique niche,” he said.
Within that niche are several other operating assets. In the luxury tier, these include the 65-room Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado in Santa Fe, N. M., and the 25-suite Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Vanua Levu, Fiji. It recently completed a complete renovation of the rooms, outdoor and group spaces at the former and is expanding several of the hotel bures( Fijianstyle huts / cabins) at the Fiji resort, while also adding a fitness center and performing several other renovations, slated for completion in the first quarter of 2026.
Another luxury project, the Six Senses Villas at Papagayo, Costa Rica, is on pause, Hee said, though more details are forthcoming.
Also in abeyance are several land-bank opportunities, notably the 1,100-acre Hacienda La Gavia in Mexico and what Canyon Equity calls Ostara, 101 acres of undeveloped land in Malibu, Calif.“ We continue to explore the right development opportunities for both,” Hee said.
Canyon Equity’ s confidence in a particular hospitality project stems from its strong conviction in the ultra-luxury market and the historic resilience of that travel sector through economic cycles.“ When evaluating a new opportunity, we are looking for one that either has an established presence in the market or unmet demand at the ultra-luxury level, where we can create such [ an ] established presence,” Hee said.“ Numerous factors play into evaluation of the latter: It might be a spectacular location in a region with high visitation, but a dearth of luxury product.” Case in point: Amangiri.“ Back in 2005, the region was nowhere as popular as it has become,” Hee said.“ And while we have a trailblazing spirit, we are always looking to do it with a great brand, like Aman.”
That strategy can even be found with Canyon Equity’ s single anomalous property, a select-service Hyatt Place, in Page, Ariz., which Hee still calls unique because it was built, he said, to a higher
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