Uruguay: Carrasco Hotel Casino to be put out to tender in March

Next Wednesday, the Red Hall of the Council will receive private offers for the coastal zone. It includes Hotel Casino Carrasco, Punta Carretas and adjacencies. Before the beginning of the tender process, civil servants of the council received delegations of international hotel chains that assured its participation in the tender process to obtain the license.

“Most of the offers will be for the casino sector, but there will also be expressions to transform the hotel in a great regional touristic center”, Rodríguez added. “It is a building located in a residencial zone, which has a high security and has an excellent beach in front of it”, he added.

Other investors will present proposals to create a residence for the elderly in the historical building, for those who wish to mantain their residence in Carrasco. A third group commented their intention to build a shopping center.

The council thinks that all the proposals should respect the characteristics of the building, because it is considered a symbol of Montevideo. “The city needs to refurbish the Carrasco Casino Hotel. We wish the building to be a high-level touristic center for the region”, Rodríguez affirmed.

In case the license includes casinos, Ehrlich administration intends the business to turn into a clue to revert the loss-making situation of this local business. In the installations situated in Punta Carretas and Buceo neighbourhoods, proposals of the businessmen will be multiple and it will determine the tender process calls to be held from the following June.

The intention of the council, said Rodríguez, is to listen, next Wednesday, to the private sector so then the documents have a balance between their aspirations and the interest of Montevideo council. After the opening of offers, the Local Commission of Investors will decide which projects will be declared of local interest. This initiatives will count with 5% more points than its competitors. It means that they will have more chances to win the tender process.