The Dubrovnik Hotel in Villa Gesell, which recently collapsed causing the death of two people, was purchased in April by a person from the transport sector. The new owner, Antonio Juan Cortés, is also the owner of the Liniers bus terminal and the Ostende Hotel in Mar del Plata. After the purchase, Cortés carried out renovation work at the Villa Gesell hotel.
The incident occurred in February 2022 at the Ostende Hotel in Mar del Plata, owned by Cortés, where a fire forced the evacuation of guests without any injuries reported. In the past, Cortés has been involved in complaints for not paying the porters at the Retiro terminal and for demanding unregulated tasks from them.
It has been reported that Cortés has a habit of acquiring hotels and apartments to renovate them, as was the case with the Dubrovnik in Villa Gesell. He is currently under judicial and municipal investigation for carrying out unauthorized construction work at the establishment, which is suspected to have caused the collapse.
After the hotel purchase in April 2024, one of the collapse victims, Rosa Stefanic, requested Cortés to let her continue living there until the summer season, a request that the businessman accepted. In this context, searches have been conducted and relevant documentation has been seized to determine responsibilities in the tragic event.
