MANAGUA – Spanish hotel chain Barceló has opened a new, six-story, 147 room hotel here, the company's second property in Nicaragua.

The five-star Barceló Managua is located in the southern section of the capital, near the Masaya highway, according to Barceló's executive in charge of Central Ame rica and South Ame rica, Carlos Ruiz.

The Spanish hospitality and travel company's other hotel in this country is the Barceló Playa Montelimar Resort & Casino, located on the Pacific coast some 55 kilometers south of Managua.

Barceló will manage the hotel for Grupo Amano, which owns the property and has invested $10 million in developing it, Ruiz said.

The hotel offers a la carte and buffet restaurants, a bar, meeting facilities, a swimming pool, gym, gift shop and ample parking, Barceló Managua general manager Gerardo Caligari said.

The hotel, which opened for business on Friday, will be officially inaugurated in April.

Barceló Hotels & Resorts operates four- and five-star hotels in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Ecuador and Guatemala.