JLL Names Rui Diogo Head of Spain and Portugal Hotels Transactions in Hospitality Real Estate Push

JLL has appointed Rui Diogo as Head of Spain and Portugal Hotels Transactions, Capital Markets, the firm announced June 1, 2026. Diogo, who has been based in Madrid since January 2024, will lead JLL's hotel capital markets business across Spain and the Iberian Peninsula, reporting directly to William Duffey, Head of Hotels & Hospitality, EMEA.

The appointment comes as JLL positions its hospitality real estate platform for expanded activity across Spain, Portugal, and broader Southern Europe.

A Track Record Built on Major Hospitality Real Estate Transactions

Diogo joined JLL in 2017 in the firm's London office before relocating to Madrid. Over nearly a decade, he has advised on hotel transactions totaling more than €3.9 billion across Europe, with a focus on complex portfolios, luxury assets, and cross-border mergers and acquisitions spanning Iberia and Greece.

His transaction history includes several high-profile hospitality real estate deals. Among them is Mare Nostrum Tenerife, which JLL describes as the largest single-asset hotel deal ever completed in Spain, executed on behalf of Brookfield Properties to Spring Hotels. He also advised on the Hoxton Barcelona, a 240-room hotel in Barcelona transacted on behalf of Norlake Hospitality to Trinity Investors and Partners Group Real Estate.

Additional transactions include Project Empire, a 17-hotel portfolio spanning Madrid, Costa del Sol, San Sebastián, the Canaries, and Granada, executed on behalf of a club of investors to ADIA/Petra. Diogo also advised on the Grand Hyatt Athens, a 548-room hotel in the centre of Athens on behalf of Henderson Park and Hines to Blackstone.

Further transactions include the Corinthia Lisbon, described by JLL as the largest five-star hotel in Portugal, sold on behalf of IHI PLC to Orion RE Capital, and the Intercontinental Palacio das Cardosas & Infante Sagres Porto, two landmark hotels transacted on behalf of GCP Hospitality (Gaw Capital).

Leadership Transition and Strategic Context

Diogo succeeds Ana Ivanovic in the role. William Duffey acknowledged Ivanovic's contributions in the firm's announcement. "We are immensely grateful to Ana for her contributions and dedication throughout her tenure. Her efforts have been instrumental in positioning the Iberia hotel capital markets business for this next phase of growth, and we wish her well in her future endeavors," Duffey said.

Duffey also addressed the rationale behind the appointment: "Spain and Portugal continues to be one of the most dynamic and sought-after hotel investment markets in Europe. Rui's appointment reflects both the strength of our platform and our conviction in the opportunities ahead. His relationships, market insight, and transaction expertise make him ideally placed to lead our business in Spain and Portugal and drive further growth across the Iberian market."

Diogo commented on the new role: "I am delighted to take on this role at such an exciting moment for Spanish and Portuguese hospitality. The fundamentals are compelling — strong tourism performance, growing investor appetite, and an increasingly diverse asset base. I look forward to building on the strong foundation created and continuing to deliver outstanding outcomes for our clients across the region."

Operator Selection Mandate Signals Broader Platform Activity

JLL's announcement also highlighted activity beyond direct hotel transactions. The firm said it is currently advising on operator selection mandates across Spain, Portugal, and other Southern European markets, encompassing more than 1,300 hotel keys and more than 270 branded residence units. That work is led by Anina Pira, Executive Vice President and Head of Operator Selection Southern Europe within Capital Markets.

Iberian Hospitality Real Estate Draws Cross-Border Capital

The transactions in Diogo's track record illustrate the range of institutional capital active in Iberian and Southern European hospitality real estate. Buyers and sellers in the deals he has advised on include Blackstone, ADIA/Petra, Trinity Investments, Partners Group, Brookfield, Henderson Park, Hines, Orion Capital, and Gaw Capital Group, among others.

JLL, which reported annual revenue of $26.1 billion and operations in more than 80 countries as of March 31, 2026, provides services across office, industrial, retail, hospitality, multi-family, and data center properties globally.

Diogo's appointment takes effect immediately, according to the firm.

Sources

JLL Newsroom — JLL Appoints Rui Diogo as Head of Spain and Portugal Hotels Transactions (June 1, 2026)