WILLEMSTAD – Corendon is increasingly focusing on attracting American visitors to Curaçao, citing stronger revenue potential and changing tourism trends on the island.
According to Corendon CEO Atilay Uslu, American tourists generally pay higher room rates than visitors from Europe, making the U.S. market an increasingly attractive target for the hospitality industry.
To better appeal to American travelers, Corendon has adopted a franchise arrangement with Hilton for one of its Curaçao properties. Uslu explained that many American travelers prefer staying with familiar U.S. hotel brands when vacationing abroad.
“Americans prefer to stay with American hotel chains,” Uslu said in comments published by De Telegraaf. “That is why we have an agreement with Hilton allowing us to use their brand.”
The strategy reflects a broader trend within Curaçao’s tourism sector, where the United States has become one of the island’s fastest-growing and most important visitor markets.
Corendon has continued to expand its presence on the island in response to that growth. In addition to its existing operations, the company is currently developing a sixth hotel in Curaçao and constructing a new headquarters in Willemstad.
The company says it now employs approximately 1,200 people on the island, making it one of the largest employers in Curaçao’s tourism and hospitality sector.
Globally, Corendon currently owns fourteen hotels in the Netherlands, Turkey, and Curaçao. The company plans to add five more hotels to its portfolio this year as part of its ongoing expansion strategy.
The focus on attracting higher-spending American visitors aligns with broader efforts by Curaçao’s tourism industry to increase visitor spending, diversify source markets, and strengthen the island’s position as a premium Caribbean destination.
As tourism continues to grow, investments by major hospitality companies such as Corendon are expected to play an important role in shaping the future development of Curaçao’s visitor economy.