Cipriani Targets October 2027 Opening for San Rafael Hotel Casino
Uruguay.- 27 August 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Giuseppe Cipriani has confirmed that Punta del Este’s Hotel Casino San Rafael is scheduled to open in October 2027 following the restart of construction after contractual disagreements with builder CRIBA.
The businessman met Uruguay President Yamandú Orsi to discuss progress on the development and its revised construction timetable.
Meeting with Yamandú Orsi
Cipriani met the Uruguayan President to provide an update on the current state of construction.
He highlighted the President’s support for the continuation of the project and the return of workers following several weeks of uncertainty.
The meeting provided the national Government with an update on one of Punta del Este’s most significant tourism and gaming investments.
400 Workers Return to Site
Following resolution of the dispute with CRIBA, approximately 400 workers have returned to the construction site.
The restart represents an important step towards recovering momentum after work was suspended because of disagreements between the investor group and contractor.
Cipriani said the focus is now on moving the development forward and avoiding further disruption.
Construction Expected to Finish in April or May
The revised timetable envisages completion of the main construction phase between April and May 2027.
This would leave several months to complete preparations ahead of commercial opening.
The target is to launch the property in October 2027, before Uruguay’s 2027-2028 tourism season.
300 People Already in Training
Cipriani also said around 300 people are currently undergoing training ahead of the resort’s opening.
Early workforce preparation is intended to support the launch of the hotel, casino and associated services.
The process adds a significant employment component to the development beyond the jobs already generated through construction.
Investment Exceeds USD248 Million
Investment in the future property has already exceeded USD248 million.
The amount is above the investment originally contemplated during the tender process.
The scale of expenditure establishes the project as one of Uruguay’s most significant private developments linked to tourism and gaming.
Ocean Resort Residences & Casino
The development involves construction of the Ocean Resort Residences & Casino on the historic Hotel San Rafael site in Punta del Este.
The project combines:
- Hotel accommodation.
- Casino gaming.
- Residences.
- Luxury services.
- Tourism infrastructure.
- Entertainment and hospitality facilities.
The development is intended to revive one of the resort city’s historic sites through a new-generation integrated property.
CRIBA Dispute
Construction had been suspended for several weeks because of contractual disagreements between the investor group and CRIBA.
The dispute created uncertainty over the project’s timetable and continuity.
An agreement has now enabled workers to return and construction activity to resume.
Cipriani Looks Beyond Dispute
Cipriani said the priority is now to move forward.
Following resolution of the recent disagreement, he indicated that attention should be focused on improving execution during the next stage of the project.
Resolving the labour and contractual dispute has restored greater visibility over the expected opening timetable.
Maldonado Welcomes Restart
Maldonado Mayor Miguel Abella also held a separate meeting with President Orsi and welcomed the return of workers.
He acknowledged that the development has experienced some delays but said it is once again moving in the right direction.
Abella also stressed that the necessary national and departmental permitting processes had functioned correctly.
Government Not Responsible for Private Dispute
The mayor said the delays resulted from a disagreement between private parties.
He argued that neither the national Government nor departmental authorities were responsible for the dispute between investor and contractor.
Public bodies continued processing the permits required for the development.
Importance for Punta del Este
Opening the Hotel Casino San Rafael is expected to have a direct impact on Punta del Este’s tourism positioning.
The development combines luxury hospitality, casino gaming, residences and entertainment in one of Latin America’s best-known tourist destinations.
An opening ahead of the 2027-2028 season would add new tourism capacity and gaming supply during one of the destination’s busiest periods.
Industry Context
Uruguay has a long history of land-based casino gaming linked to international tourism.
Punta del Este remains one of the country’s principal gaming hubs, combining entertainment, premium hospitality and casino operations.
Reviving the historic San Rafael site through an investment exceeding USD248 million will add to competition and modernisation of the city’s tourism infrastructure.
Next Steps or Impact
The immediate priority will be maintaining construction momentum and completing the main works between April and May 2027.
The final preparation phase will then cover installations, staff training and commissioning across the property.
If Cipriani’s timetable is achieved, the Hotel Casino San Rafael will open in October 2027 in time to participate fully in the 2027-2028 tourism season.
Editó: @fonta
