The Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa enjoyed a smooth transition today, Monday, November 15th, 2021, as its acquisition was formally concluded and signed, welcoming the Molo Hotel Group to Aruba.
Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa, one of Aruba’s most iconic properties has been family-held since 1970, when legendary hotelier Ike Cohen bought the 72-room oceanfront hotel on famed Eagle Beach from its original developers, a pair of KLM pilots who opened the resort in 1966. Over the past five decades the resort evolved in Ike’s vision, into a boutique retreat, an oasis of wellness and tranquility offering luxurious accommodations, casual dining, personalized service, spa treatments, and yoga classes, becoming a Trip Advisor favorite and a Green Globe certified, sustainable resort. The Cohen family, and family representative Bill Crona, continued to cultivate and support the Manchebo vacation product, in the years after Ike’s passing, contributing greatly to Aruba’s prime tourist destination reputation.
In early 2020, just before the pandemic, the Slominski family vacationed in Aruba. Originally from Poland, the family formed a dynamic owner-operator hotel company in 2017. It was on the lookout for opportunities in Aruba, to help build its portfolio of high-quality resorts in great locations, around the globe. According to son Lukasz Slominski, the Chairman of Molo Holding, he took a stroll down the beach with his parents, starting at the hotel where they were staying, and casually stopped at the Manchebo Beach Resort for a drink. The three Slominskis fell in love with the beach, and the location, shared their findings with other family members, and together decided to make an offer, adding Aruba to their list of Molo Hotels great locations. They contacted Bill Crona, and while the resort was not for immediate sale, in consultation with the Cohen siblings Tommy, Ree and Yvonne, who have been involved with the property from the start, for 50 years, the idea to place the Manchebo in the hands of a family-held company, became very attractive. The Slominski’s expressed the desire to take the resort over, including all staffers and members of management, to continue doing what it does, maintaining the spirit of the original concept for the coming years, until an eventual expansion.
The Slominski’s core business, was once furniture, as Eugeniusz Slominski, the patriarch, was a carpenter by profession, building furniture in his garage. The business developed into an environmentally friendly, modular, prefab construction operation, and from there being passionate about hotels and hotel development, the family gained experience in hotel design, construction, operations, and finance, becoming well placed to deliver growth, among other places in Aruba. The company is now located in the United Kingdom and headquartered in Switzerland. “Our multi-talented team,” explains Slominski, “has the unique ability to assess and maximize development potential and improve operational efficiency. And, as we’re privately owned with access to significant funds, we can make quick decisions allowing us to take advantage of the opportunities that come our way.” While we are all emotional about the sale of the Manchebo,” states Ree Case, “the Slominski family shares many of the Cohen family qualities. They have a vision for the future, and the resort will greatly benefit from new energy, while maintaining its warm, personal, and peaceful vibe.” “There is never a right time to sell,” adds Bill Crona, “especially when we talk about a property that has been a huge sentimental part of our lives, but we are confident that the Slominski family is a great steward to our people, our island, and our guests, couples, honeymooners, wellness-conscious travelers and beach lovers.”
Molo Hotels has fourteen hotels trading or under construction including a new upscale Marriott hotel in central Manchester; Courtyard by Marriott London Luton Airport; Hotel Indigo Liverpool Ropewalks; Holiday Inn Express Cambridge West; Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh West; Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Ropewalk; Courtyard by Marriott Inverness Airport, Tapestry Collection by Hilton in Rome; and several hotels in Poland – Sopot and Warsaw. On hand for the signing: Grete ‘Ree’ Case, William ‘Bill’ Crona, Lukasz & Kate Slominski – he is Chairman of Molo Holding, brother Marcin & wife Justyna Slominski, Eugeniusz & Gabriela Slominski – parents of the four Slominski siblings, and Edgar Roelofs, resort general manager.
