In an interview with FM Gente de Maldonado, the hierarch affirmed that this private Project “seems disproportionate and crazy”, but he remarked that “the history of Punta del Este is the history of crazy projects”.

By way of example, he mentioned that the Conrad hotel opened in 1997 (Enjoy today) “at that moment it was nothing but a crazy project”.

“That one had created a break point in Punta del Este, where the best hotel, was three- or four-stars level hotel. It was necessary to rise the standard of accommodation” he said.

According to Chiacchio, the only way to do it was through a call in order to build a “very good level” hotel, and with the permission of a private casino as an incentive. He recalled, “Conrad´s call was successful and changed the public with that enterprise”.

On the other hand, the architect expressed that “for the administration is difficult to measure a private investment that comes with expectations and information of an unknown world” in the zone. In this sense, he recalled that the investor group pointed to a target public that today does not come to Punta del Este.

“Several people have expressed themselves and still there are some nostalgic talking about architectural values of that Punta del Este landmark, that it was San Rafael Hotel. (…) It was in an important state of damage and abandon where the smallest rat was bigger than a cat. Cats didn´t dare to enter. And it had a rainy roof due to the holes in it. Nor it was not a recyclable building. It had to be demolished to be rebuild it again,” said Chiacchio. The building was demolished between march and April 2019. 

The head of the administration added that if a service center that brings a “better level” public was developed, the touristic offer of Punta del Este will be expanded and “it would be good”. 

“Not so long ago, Cipriani appears with an Arab Investor - Naguib Sawiris- that kicked him with the two legs and had money to do so, and two more. Then there was silence.” And he pointed: “The best thing that can happen is something to be done there”.

After a meeting between representatives of the Cipriani group and the major of Maldonado, Enrique Antía, he affirmed that the project would carry on and that the condition of remodeling the former hotel San Rafael is the priority.

Next instance will be the attendance of the general director of Urban planning, Soledad Laguarda in the Comitte of works of the Departamental Boards. There it will be explained the modified project that the administration already sent the passed 29^th June.

By mid-August, the administration of Maldonado informed that the building will be raised again with it four standard floors, the attic, the lobby, and the mezzanine; it will have 80 rooms and 268 underground parking spaces. The towers will have 282 residential units and the modified project suggest building 186 yards.

It will also include spa, gym, indoor and open pool, as well as tennis court and medical facilities.

Last December, Cipriani group signed the license for the operation of a private casino for 20 years, with the Ministry of Economic and Finance (MEF in Spanish), conditional to the construction of a luxury hotel. The base investment managed today is for US$ 200 million. That is the bidding conditions of the first step of the hotel, casino and amenities.