Tender to sell Hotel Casino Carmelo in Uruguay postponed

The tender intended to sell the Hotel Casino Carmelo, has been cancelled according to the Deputy Secretary of Tourism, Remo Monzeglio.

“We worked continuously for two years, overcoming obstacles that seemed insurmountable. Despite this, nothing discouraged us, and we kept pushing forward, overcoming each difficulty,” he told local press.

Once the tender document was completed, the Ministry publicized it both nationally and internationally.

According to Monzeglio the response was impressive: “We received dozens of calls from parties interested in the tender. Carmelo, in a way, became a recognized name in the international tourism scene. This gave the project additional status and visibility,” he added.

However, the Ministry’s proposal coincided with the “exponential growth of online gaming” he said.

Of the nine companies interested in the project only one purchased the tender document, with the deadline set for January 10.

“If the group that purchased the tender document does not submit a proposal, in consultation with the Minister of Tourism [Eduardo Sanguinetti], a decision will be made on what to do with the tender. The most likely scenario is that it will be cancelled so that once the new authorities take office, they can fully evaluate the future of this historic site,” Monzeglio said.

According to the official one of the reasons why the tender failed was a lack of regulation over online gambling. A bill has been put forward that would allow land-based casino operators to offer online gambling but it has become stalled in the lower house. 

Another factor, according to the Minister, was the national elections, which caused “caution among potential investors.”

In April 2024 the Ministry of Tourism of Uruguay announced the call for the sale of two properties conditioned to the construction and operation of a luxury hotel with a casino concession in the city of Carmelo. The permit for the operation of gambling games would be granted for a period of 20 years. The specifications required that a project be submitted which included a hotel with a convention hall for 500 people, an events and entertainment hall, a restaurant offering international and local cuisine, a heated swimming pool, over 100 rooms, a 200-meter dock for small boats.  The tender also granted a license to operate a private casino.

​The tender intended to sell the Hotel Casino Carmelo, has been cancelled according to the Deputy Secretary of Tourism, Remo Monzeglio. “We worked continuously for two years, overcoming obstacles that seemed insurmountable. Despite this, nothing discouraged us, and we kept pushing forward, overcoming each difficulty,” he told local press. Once the tender document was completed,…