Marriott International is highlighting Costa Rica’s Greater Metropolitan Area through a hotel portfolio aimed at travellers combining business commitments with cultural and leisure experiences.
Marriott International is promoting Costa Rica’s Greater Metropolitan Area as a destination for “bleisure” travel, presenting its Select Brands hotels as bases for combining business trips with local discovery. The announcement, issued on August 4, 2026, points to the region’s proximity to Juan Santamaría International Airport and its role as Costa Rica’s primary business hub. It also frames the area as a practical gateway to cultural, natural and gastronomic experiences beyond the workplace.
The Greater Metropolitan Area encompasses the provinces of San José, Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago, according to the release. Its attractions include the National Museum, Jade Museum, Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and National Theatre, while Poás and Irazú volcanoes and Braulio Carrillo National Park offer access to Costa Rica’s biodiversity within a short drive of the city. The release also identifies coffee experiences at Hacienda Alsacia, contemporary dining at Silvestre and San José’s Central Market as part of the region’s culinary offer.
The hotel portfolio is divided across several traveller needs. AC Hotel San José Escazú is presented around contemporary European design, with an emphasis on aesthetics, functionality, gastronomy and urban experiences. Residence Inn by Marriott San José Escazú and Residence Inn by Marriott San José Airport Alajuela El Coyol are positioned for extended stays, with spacious suites, fully equipped kitchens, dedicated workspaces and complimentary hot breakfast. Fairfield by Marriott San José Airport Alajuela adds complimentary breakfast and airport shuttle service near Juan Santamaría International Airport.
Courtyard by Marriott San José Escazú and Courtyard by Marriott San José Airport Alajuela complete the selection with flexible spaces intended to support both productivity and exploration. Taken together, the properties give Marriott a way to present the destination through distinct hotel formats rather than a single travel proposition. The release’s focus is therefore as much on trip structure as on accommodation, linking work, longer stays, airport access and leisure activity within one metropolitan setting.
Marriott’s announcement reflects a narrowly defined destination strategy: make the Greater Metropolitan Area relevant to travellers who want business infrastructure without giving up time for culture, nature or food. Its Select Brands portfolio provides the accommodation framework described in the release, while the surrounding region supplies the experiences that extend a work-related visit. The implication is restrained but clear: Costa Rica’s capital region is being presented as a place where professional itineraries and personal exploration can coexist.
