The university, advised by Ira Schuman of real-estate services firm Studley, marketed the building as a potential development site.

WSJ: Plots & Ploys: Hotel Handover

He figured the 36, 000 travel shops and corporate travel offices scattered across the country had the same kind of untapped potential for development as did Atlanta's real estate a decade earlier.

FORBES: The Accidental Travel Mogul

That is how the trio founded Tresalia ("tres aliadas" or three allies) and started investing in sectors with high growth potential such as technology infrastructure, telecommunications, real estate development and land reserves.

FORBES: Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala & family