With 74 rooms and an opening scheduled for the first half of 2027, the new project will strengthen Ecuador’s hospitality offering in a city recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site
Accor, a world leader in hospitality, announces the signing of a franchise agreement to open the first Novotel in Ecuador, in the city of Cuenca. Featuring 74 rooms and a strategic location on Av. Gran Colombia and Eduardo Crespo Malo, within the AURUM Urban District complex, the hotel is set to open its doors in the first half of 2027.
Cuenca, known for its rich colonial heritage, UNESCO World Heritage status, and growing cultural dynamism, stands out as one of Ecuador’s most attractive destinations.
“The opening of the first Novotel in Ecuador reinforces our commitment to Accor’s sustainable growth in the country and throughout the Andean region. This project represents a strategic opportunity to expand our presence in a market with great tourism and cultural potential. We are proud to contribute to the development of such an emblematic city as Cuenca, adding a modern, accessible hospitality offering aligned with the expectations of today’s traveler,” commented Abel Castro, Chief Development Officer Accor Americas.
A Hotel Designed for the Contemporary Traveler
The new Novotel Cuenca represents a strategic milestone for the city, located at the heart of an innovative urban district. The mixed-use project is designed to integrate and revitalize a key area of the city, offering a modern and welcoming environment that combines contemporary comfort with local charm.
The hotel will feature a restaurant, a swimming pool, a pool bar, and meeting rooms. Guests will enjoy spacious and functional accommodations, event spaces, and a culinary experience that celebrates the diversity of Ecuadorian and international cuisine.
Just minutes from Cuenca’s most iconic attractions, Novotel enhances the city’s hospitality landscape with easy access to the UNESCO-listed historic center, colorful colonial churches and plazas, and the vibrant cultural and artisan scene that defines the city. Its proximity to universities, business centers, and museums also makes it an ideal choice for both cultural tourism and business travel.
Regional Impact
The presence of Novotel Cuenca brings strategic advantages to the region: expanding the high-quality hospitality offer, creating local jobs, and strengthening tourism connectivity that boosts the regional economy. This new property not only enhances the visitor experience but also reinforces Cuenca’s international profile as a gateway to Ecuadorian culture, history, and craftsmanship.
The project is being developed by Plaza GYE and Fundamento Soluciones Urbanas, with construction led by Ejeproy, a company with over 20 years of experience in Ecuador. The franchise agreement has a term of 15 years.
“For us, FUNDAMENTO and NEXGEN, it is a great honor to belong to Accor with the Group’s first hotel in Cuenca and the first Novotel in Ecuador. Having a Novotel within our concept of an urban complex with a hospitality focus greatly enhances it. It brings together six spaces: the Novotel, Banco Guayaquil, a tower with 80 residences, a public plaza with restaurants and shops, a pool as a club for the complex’s residents, and a rooftop terrace. We hope this is the first step towards an Accor hotel chain in Ecuador with us,” says Jorge Roca, one of the project’s owners and CEO of the development company.