Aimbridge Hospitality has appointed Alex Fiz as President of both its Latin America Division and All-Inclusive Division, effective 2nd March 2026. The appointment strengthens the world’s largest third-party hotel operator’s leadership in two strategic growth segments as the company expands its international footprint across high-demand leisure markets.
Fiz succeeds Leandro Castillo, who will retire on 28th February after consolidating Aimbridge’s regional platform and establishing the company’s dedicated All-Inclusive Division. Castillo will continue in an advisory capacity to support the leadership transition.
The dual appointment positions Fiz to oversee Aimbridge’s operations across approximately 50 hotels in Mexico and Latin America, whilst simultaneously leading the company’s expanding all-inclusive portfolio. Both divisions represent priority growth areas as Latin America’s hospitality sector experiences substantial development and the all-inclusive segment attracts increasing luxury brand investment.
Fiz brings 34 years of hospitality expertise from Marriott International, where he most recently served as Area Vice President Caribbean and Managing Director All-Inclusive. His career spanned Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, progressing through senior roles including Regional Vice President of Sales and Marketing and General Manager of Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe.
His most recent assignment involved leading a multimillion-dollar transformation programme for Marriott’s owned portfolio in Barbados. The initiative encompassed property rebranding, operational restructuring, and performance enhancement across multiple resorts, delivering measurable improvements in both financial results and guest satisfaction metrics.
At Marriott, Fiz developed and executed the company’s all-inclusive strategy across the Caribbean and Latin America region, overseeing operational standards, commercial performance, and brand positioning. His leadership supported recent property openings including W Punta Cana and St Regis Cap Cana Resort.
Aimbridge Hospitality operates over 1,500 properties across 50 states and 23 countries, managing 84 lodging brands alongside more than 90 independent boutique and lifestyle hotels. Craig S. Smith joined as Chief Executive Officer in March 2024, bringing 35 years of international hospitality experience from Marriott International, where he led the company’s entire international division encompassing 2,500 hotels worldwide.
The Latin America hospitality market demonstrates robust expansion, with 751 hotel projects totaling 116,480 rooms in development as of the third quarter of 2025, representing annual growth of 17% in project count. Industry forecasts project 138 new hotels opening in 2026, with significant activity concentrated in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica.
The all-inclusive segment continues attracting substantial investment, with major international brands including JW Marriott, W Hotels, St Regis, and Ritz-Carlton Reserve expanding their all-inclusive portfolios. Contemporary concepts increasingly emphasise authentic destination experiences, integrating local cultural elements, off-property excursions, and personalised service offerings.
Market performance varies by segment, with luxury and all-inclusive properties outperforming modest-priced hotels. Multi-generational family travel, corporate retreats, and small group bookings represent growing demand segments, supported by properties offering diverse activity programmes and flexible accommodation configurations.
Leandro Castillo led Aimbridge’s Latin America operations through regional consolidation and strategic development, establishing operational frameworks and launching the All-Inclusive Division. Before joining Aimbridge, he served as Managing Partner at KPMG, coordinating due diligence for multinational acquisitions across 35 countries.
Craig S. Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Aimbridge Hospitality, expressed optimism about Latin America’s continued growth potential and the expanding opportunities within the All-Inclusive division under Fiz’s leadership.
The appointment aligns with Aimbridge’s strategic priorities of strengthening international operations and capturing growth within high-performing leisure segments. Fiz’s operational expertise across multiple international markets, combined with his specialised knowledge of all-inclusive resort operations, positions him to advance both divisions as Aimbridge pursues expansion across Latin America and the Caribbean.
