Expanding Caribbean and Latin America Footprint

Juan Corvinos serves as the President of Hotel Equities’ Caribbean & Latin America division where he is responsible for overseeing operations, business development, commercial and establishing key partnerships and infrastructure to position Hotel Equities for success in the Caribbean and Latin America hospitality markets. With a proven track record in corporate development, development of Hotels and owners relations, Juan brings invaluable expertise in market conditions, strategic advice, commercial negotiations, and project management. His leadership will play a critical role in growing Hotel Equities' portfolio and strengthening its presence in these International dynamic regions.

Juan was most recently with Hilton where he served as Senior Vice President–Development, AD&C Latin America and Caribbean, where he was responsible for the full circle corporate development for all Hilton brands in Latin America & Caribbean inclusive of Development, Architecture, Design, Project Management, Owner Relations, and retention functions. Juan's focus was to inspire an award-winning team to drive the growth of Hilton's portfolio of brands in the region. During his CALA tenure the team signed 350+ cumulative franchise and management agreements & 5 strategic development agreements under all brands and launched strategic initiatives like All Inclusive by Hilton, as well as launched Brands like Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, LXR, Curio, Tapestry, Tru,Home2 and Spark in the region. The CALA region spearheaded growth of Hilton’s Luxury portfolio of brands in the Americas with the launch of LXR Hotels and Resorts . During Juan’s tenure with Hilton, the team more than tripled its presence from 63 open hotels in 2013 to 280+ hotels open in 2024. Juan also served as the Hilton Senior Leadership Sponsor for the Hispanic LatinX TRMG/ERG. His career has taken him to: Malaysia, Barcelona, London and lastly Washington DC based in the company’s Global Headquarters.

Juan is a graduate from Escuela de Hosteleria de Sevilla where he specialized in business and international compared law, he holds a Master Certificate from Cornell University in Hotel Management. A keen self-taught chef and a voracious reader, Juan particularly enjoys travelling within the Americas and Asia. Most of his leisure time is devoted to voluntary teaching and fundraising activities as well as spending time with his family.

Marilia Pergola serves as Vice President of Operations for Hotel Equities’ Caribbean & Latin America (CALA) region, bringing more than two decades of hospitality leadership to the role. Based in Miami, she oversees the firm’s growing portfolio of properties throughout the region, with a focus on operational excellence, brand stewardship, and owner relations.

Prior to joining Hotel Equities, Marilia spent over 20 years with Marriott International. Most recently, she served as Senior Director of Operations – Owner & Franchise Relations for CALA, where she led a portfolio of 100+ full-service and select-service hotels. In this role, she spearheaded franchisee engagement strategies and drove owner satisfaction to an impressive 86% in 2023. Her leadership was also instrumental in high-impact projects, including the integration of City Express hotels and the merger of Starwood Preferred Guest with Marriott Rewards.

Marilia's early career includes key roles at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where she served as Director of Franchise Operations and General Manager of Aloft Bogota. She made history by launching the first Aloft in Latin America in just 60 days, positioning it competitively within a full-service market.

Known for her strategic mindset and results-driven approach, Marilia brings deep expertise in revenue analysis, brand management, financial performance, pre-opening support, and team development. She is passionate about process improvement, mentorship, and creating exceptional guest experiences across the portfolio.

Michael Register serves as the leader of Business Development for Hotel Equities in the Caribbean and Latin America region. With deep expertise in hospitality operations, development, and strategic partnerships, Michael brings a global perspective and a results-driven approach to the company’s international growth efforts.

Before joining Hotel Equities, Michael was a Partner at Trust Hospitality, a Miami-based hotel management and consulting firm specializing in lifestyle and boutique properties. He also held the role of Managing Director at Highgate Hotels, where he oversaw strategic initiatives across a diverse portfolio. Earlier in his career, Michael led worldwide business development and legal operations for Nikki Beach, playing a pivotal role in the brand’s global expansion.

With decades of experience across multiple facets of the hospitality industry, Michael combines legal acumen, development insight, and operational leadership to drive long-term value and forge lasting partnerships throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.

Prior to working in the hospitality industry, Michael was the co-founder of a successful software company, AAT, which was acquired by a publicly-traded Swiss company. Previously he practiced international corporate and business law, including three years at the Pinheiro Neto Law Firm in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Michael received his J.D. from Cornell Law School, where he was a Senior Editor of the Cornell Law Review, and his B.A., magna cum laude, in Latin American Studies from Vanderbilt University.