Mexico City-based Grupo Habita, which recently unveiled its long-awaited Hotel Sevilla property in Mérida, is Hospitality Design Magazine’s 2026 Hotelier of the Year. The honor recognizes the company’s 25-year journey as a pioneer in boutique hospitality across Mexico and the United States.

Today, the portfolio includes 17 hotels stretching from coastal Mexico to Chicago. Hotel Sevilla was designed by Zeller & Moye and features 21 rooms and suites in which restored colonial architecture meets bold concrete interventions, including a sculptural spiral staircase and a courtyard pool.

La Sevilla is the latest in a long line of Grupo Habita’s boutique hotels consistently designed as “canvases for local artisans, visionary architects, and emerging designers,” according to Hospitality Design Magazine. Rather than imposing a uniform brand aesthetic, Grupo Habita properties reflect their specific locations and communities.

The Mérida property, for example, preserved the bones of a colonial-era villa, which was converted into a hotel of the same name sometime in the 20th century. When Grupo Habita first encountered the property seven years ago, it stood abandoned and in ruins. Rather than erase that chapter, the new hotel honors it—preserving not only the stately corner property, but its original logo and two marble lions that guarded the entrance.

The aesthetic blends into Mérida’s historic center through a palimpsest approach, as architects call it, allowing layers of time to remain faintly visible on walls, arches and ceilings. Weathered colonial walls and arches stand alongside clean concrete insertions. Black ceramic floors reference traditional Yucatecan homes, while henequen textiles and locally crafted furniture ground the design in regional tradition. Four almond trees shade the cantina courtyard, and the property sits just one block from Plaza Grande, where its preserved facade fits seamlessly among the neighborhood’s pastel colonial buildings.

Grupo Habita’s Great Beginnings

Founded in 2000 by Carlos Couturier along with brothers Jaime, Moises, and Rafael Micha, Grupo Habita opened its first property—Habita Hotel in Mexico City’s Polanco neighborhood—at a time when boutique hospitality was still finding its footing. The frosted-glass-wrapped building raised eyebrows at the time and set the tone for what would become the company’s signature approach: partnering with cutting-edge architects and designers to create properties rooted in local culture and craftsmanship.

Properties range from Condesa DF, a converted 1928 apartment block in Mexico City, to coastal destinations like Hotel Humano in Oaxaca, designed by Plantea Estudio. The Oaxaca property exemplifies Grupo Habita’s commitment to showcasing local artisans and emerging designers.

The company expanded beyond Mexico in 2011 with Hôtel Americano in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. That property, the group’s largest at 56 rooms, marked the beginning of Grupo Habita’s U.S. presence. More recently, The Robey opened in Chicago, bringing the company’s design-forward approach to the Midwest.

A Pioneering Force

The recognition comes at a moment when boutique hospitality has evolved from a niche concept to an industry standard. What Grupo Habita pioneered in 2000—properties with strong personalities that attract locals as much as tourists—is now widely accepted as viable in competitive markets.

Managing partner Rafael Micha leads the company alongside his co-founders. Under their direction, Grupo Habita has maintained its focus on authenticity and design excellence while expanding its portfolio across two countries.

Grupo Habita’s properties, including Hotel Sevilla, are part of Design Hotels, a curated collection of independent hotels that prioritize distinctive design and cultural authenticity. The affiliation connects boutique properties with a global network of travelers seeking accommodations that reflect local character rather than standardized brand aesthetics. Design Hotels, now partnered with Marriott Bonvoy, provides marketing reach and booking infrastructure while allowing member hotels to maintain their individual identities and creative direction.

Also in the spotlight is Chicago and Mérida-based design firm Curioso, which received the 2026 Design Firm of the Year award. Curioso has its own connection to the Yucatán Peninsula.

Founded by Nina Grondin and Daniel Pierce in 2013, the firm operates offices in Chicago and Mérida. The 45-person team creates hospitality experiences across a range of scales, from intimate cocktail lounges to luxury resorts. Recent projects include Cleveland’s Fidelity Hotel and Populus Seattle.

The HD Awards ceremony will celebrate both honorees alongside other winners in hospitality design categories. The program will take place on May 5 at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas during HD Expo + Conference.

About the HD Awards

• Annual program honoring excellence in hospitality design
• Includes Design Firm of the Year and Hotelier of the Year categories
• Ceremony held during HD Expo + Conference in Las Vegas
• Recognizes innovation in hotels, restaurants, and related spaces

Lee Steele is the founding director of Mérida-based Roof Cat Media S de RL de CV and has published Yucatán Magazine and other titles since 2012. He was Hearst Connecticut’s Sunday Magazine creative director and worked in New York City for various magazine publishers, including Condé Nast and Primedia, for over 20 years.