Mexico: What’s New—Renovations, Grand Openings & New Experiences

IBEROSTAR BIRDS EYE VIEWWhat’s New—Renovations, Grand Openings & New ExperiencesBy Lydia GregoryMexico is one of America’s favorite vacation playgrounds, and plenty of good news from South of the Border guarantees it will continue to top the list of vacation choices for years.Banyan Tree Veya, Valle de GuadalupeExpected to open its doors in the first quarter of 2024, Banyan Tree Veya, Valle de Guadalupe will be the first Banyan Tree Veya in the Americas and the second in the world, the first being the Banyan Tree Veya Phuket. This brand offers a unique proposal: “veya” means “to weave,” and these resorts seek to connect their guests with themselves, others and nature. Veya Valle is built across 16 hilly acres and will comprise 30 ample villas, each with a plunge pool. This is a haven for wellness, steeped in the brand’s proprietary “8 Pillars of Wellbeing”—expect embodiment therapies and somatic practices, a killer spa, a desert spring hydrotherapy area, cryotherapy tubs, labyrinth hikes, a traditional temazcal and much more. The wine served is from its own private label, Pictograma, and eateries include a fine dining option, a coffeehouse and bakery, a lobby cocktail lounge with a view of the valley, an elevated food truck concept and an all-day dining option—all focused on seasonal ingredients and local cuisine. The resort itself was entirely founded with an eye on sustainability and meaningful connection with the destination and the local community.Blue Diamond ResortsPickleball is all the rage, and Blue Diamond Resorts wants to make sure your clients don’t miss a serve. The brand is introducing the sport as a highlight in its fitness programs, Royalton FIT and PUMPED, available at Royalton Luxury Resorts and Planet Hollywood Beach Resorts, respectively. Already launched at its all-inclusive properties in Cancun, the company is preparing to extend this fun pastime to its Caribbean resorts by the end of this year. Your clients can expect to hit the pickleball courts at the company’s all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia and Grenada. The resorts will offer courts, paddles and balls, sessions and classes (by appointment).Grand Velas Boutique Los CabosYou can officially let it go if you’ve been holding your breath for the adults-only beachfront Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos opening. With only 79 suites with a Mexican contemporary design—all over 900 sq. ft. in size—this luxury property brings together Grand Velas’ signature white glove services and facilities in high style. Expect an SE Spa, an infinity pool with a view of the Sea of Cortez and elevated out-of-the-box culinary deliciousness in addition to its gourmet eateries and bars, such as a weekly pairing of Mexican wines with artisanal cheeses from around the country, a Mood Shot Bar serving wellness shots and juices to start the day off right, a Mexican Chocolate Tasting with 12 different types of Mexican chocolate and daily Tequila & Mezcal tastings. Wellness and entertainment are also offered with a twist—think oceanfront massages under the stars and an adults-only game room where guests can indulge in classic and modern games while sipping on premium spirits and snacking on small plates. Guests of Grand Velas Boutique will have access to sister property Grand Velas Los Cabos’ five gourmet restaurants and four bars at no additional charge. HILTON CANCUN BEACHSIDEHilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive ResortThe former Royal Uno All-Inclusive Resort & Spa has been reborn and renovated as the Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort, with 459 oceanview guestrooms and 81 suites, among them, an entire row of suites with unobstructed beachfront views thanks to an above-ground-level pool and deck area. Specialty suites are available at over 1,000 sq. ft. with indoor/outdoor space, a sundeck with direct beach access, and a private plunge pool or whirlpool. Right in the heart of the Hotel Zone, the new resort has five eateries, including a Mexican restaurant, Italian fare and an Asian show kitchen, and five bars, including a rooftop option and a beach bar. The family-friendly hotel will have several pools, including a kids’ pool with waterslides. Parents will love the onsite spa with a sundeck, a beauty salon and a fitness center. The hotel offers Hilton Hotels’ exclusive Enclave area, which rolled out last year across its all-inclusive properties. Expect a private lounge and check-in area, premium rooms with extra amenities, concierge services and more. Hotel Mousai Cancun TAFER has opened reservations in advance of the May 2024 opening of its Hotel Mousai Cancun, a chic 88-suite luxury adults-only resort created with the brand’s signature bold modern design. Expect a rooftop infinity pool and bar, a beachfront pool and bar, state-of-the-art everything, and elevated cuisine. VIP clients will want to book the Corner Suites for maximum vistas or the Ultra Mousai Suites for an ultra-experience. All are intelligent suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, ample terraces with private jacuzzis, private living areas, signature TAFER beds and cutting-edge mood lighting technology. Guests will have access to wellness, holistic treatments and a hydrotherapy circuit at Spa Imagine, located next door at Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Cancun. Guests on the optional Gourmet Culinary All-Inclusive plan will be able to enjoy dining at bordering sister properties, Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Cancun and Villa del Palmar, which considerably expands their choices.IberostarIberostar’s Rodrigo Silveyra, operations director, Americas, assures us that “Iberostar is always evolving to maintain the quality of its product and customer satisfaction under the umbrella of being a company with a responsible tourism business model focused on caring for people and the environment. The goal is that its clients continue to keep the experience in Iberostar in mind as the best option to spend their holidays with complete experiences and for the whole family.” “To maintain this success,” he adds, “the company is moving forward with innovations such as new entertainment offerings, with options such as Iluzio, a gastronomic experience that combines haute cuisine, with a musical show that integrates iconic songs and spectacular magic tricks, and Dolce, a haute cuisine tasting, in which spectators can please their palate with a variety of international flavors; as well as the Rocktails, a fun cocktail class to the rhythm of the best hits.” And there’s more. Half of the 147 guestrooms at Iberostar Paraiso Lindo have been renovated, with the other half to be completed in 2024, as have 100 percent of the guestrooms in Iberostar Selection Cancun and Iberostar Selection Paraiso Maya. At the latter’s complex, there’s a new Kangaroo Space for kiddos under 3, and the Pueblo Paraiso shopping area and cultural complex have also been renovated. Plus, there’s a new wine cellar at Iberostar Grand Paraiso with over 200 bottles imported from the world’s top wine regions. Iberostar has news on the Pacific Coast, too. The company has plans for a new Grand Hotel in Riviera Nayarit near the Iberostar Selection Playa Mita, but there is no official start or inauguration date. The company is known for its CSR programs, and it has recently partnered with the non-profit Planterra to support the economies of the communities where it has hotels via guest activities. Already in place in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, initial projects include cenote conservation on over 50 of these freshwater sinkholes in the Mexican Caribbean community of Chemuyil, benefitting not only the local flora and fauna but also local families. This project offers off-the-beaten-path itineraries to Iberostar guests, promoting conservation awareness among visitors.KEMPINSKI CANCUN EXPERIENCEKempinski Hotel CancunKempinski Hotel Cancun recently announced a partnership with Posadas, wherein the Mexican-owned company will make the luxury property available through its commercial platform. The alliance will give the luxury property access to Posadas’ extensive distribution platforms and marketing structure across the U.S. and Latin America. POSADAS QUOTE “We signed our first international alliance, and we are excited to partner with Kempinski Hotel Cancun, part of a renowned European luxury hospitality brand,” says Jose Lorenzo, commercial director of Posadas. “Combining Posadas’ established industry leadership with Kempinski’s strong value proposition, I am confident the partnership will offer travel advisors new reasons to recommend one of Mexico’s most popular beach destinations, again and again.” More tangible for your clients is the hotel’s Omakase Experience, a recent debut that pairs a meticulously crafted multi-course meal showcasing the finest Japanese cuisine and the freshest local catch with traditional Japanese beer and sake. This is an exclusive small-group experience—two to four people at a time, allowing for an intimate, leisurely experience. It's available every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the D-Lounge, which serves up gorgeous views of the Caribbean Sea.PARADISUS LOS CABOSMelia Hotels International All kinds of hot news are coming from this Spanish hotel brand. The five-star Paradisus Los Cabos is moving into the adults-only sphere as of January 2024, becoming the brand’s third adults-only property. (Reservations with children will be honored through Jan. 7, 2024.) Expect new and improved programming entirely focused on the 18-and-over crowd, plus a redo of The Reserve suites with private sections of the beach, private pools, lounges and included access to the brand’s unique Destination Inclusive experiences. In fact, “Looking ahead to 2024, Paradisus by Melia will continue to revolutionize the all-inclusive vacation,” says Susanna Mander, global director of brand marketing at Melia Hotels International. “We hope to expand our Destination Inclusive offerings to offer our guests more unique off-property experiences to immerse them in the beauty of each destination. We will continue to provide guests the chance to discover secret corners, enjoy authentic cuisine by top chefs, meet local artists and explore local destinations, providing a deeper understanding of their special culture.” The program is also included for families booked in the Nikte suites and is available at an extra charge for other guests. MELIA QUOTEIn Playa del Carmen, Paradisus La Perla recently debuted 49 recently renovated suites in The Reserve, plus newly designed South Avenue Bar, Twelvet, Nespresso Corner and Blue Agave Restaurant eateries. The new suites take cues from the local culture and have new amenities by Biology and local Mexican products. Palladium Hotel GroupThings are gearing up for the reopening of the all-inclusive Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa in December. The $40 million investment has touched every facet of the resort, including adding 169 new suites under the Family Selection concept, an exclusive accommodation just for families that were previously only available at Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa and Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa. The new Family Selection section will include a private check-in lobby with a game area, a restaurant exclusively for Family Selection guests, an exclusive swimming pool and new guestroom categories that include swim-up pools and beachside accommodations. Personalized experiences will also be part of the offer, as will be an entirely new gastronomy-meets-entertainment concept: BRAVO Dine & Dance. This dinner show will be a family-friendly version of the brand’s sultry Chic Cabaret in one of the resort’s restaurants. Rosewood Hotels & ResortsRosewood Hotels & Resorts has a fourth property in Mexico in the works: Rosewood Mandarina. Set to open in 2024, the resort is on the west coast, about an hour and a half from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport. With 140 guestrooms, suites and villas, Rosewood Mandarina will offer guests views of the mountains and the beach, three pools, a fitness center and a spa with 10 treatment rooms. Its location in the culturally rich region of Nayarit translates into design elements drawing from the local Huichol and Cora tribes, blended in with the luxury and comfort the brand is known for. A fifth Mexico property,the 133-room Rosewood Mexico City, is set to open in 2025 in the affluent district of Polanco, within walking distance of that district’s luxury shopping along Avenida Presidente Masaryk.SECRETS TULUM EATING AREASecrets Tulum Resort & Beach ClubFresh from its grand opening, the 300-suite all-inclusive Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club is already making a splash. “Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club, the highly anticipated first Secrets Resorts & Spas branded property in Tulum, builds on the success of the previously opened Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa and reaffirms our commitment to Mexico, one of our most desirable destinations,” says Gonzalo del Peon, group president, global commercial, Inclusive Collection. “We are proud of the Inclusive Collection, part of World of Hyatt’s continued and thoughtful growth in Mexico and expansion into the culturally vibrant city of Tulum. This resort seamlessly blends the local cultural opportunities with personalized experiences for guests to fully immerse themselves in the destination and pays homage to the city of Tulum’s surroundings, offering a lavish ambiance with a lush and mystic jungle atmosphere.”INCLUSIVE QUOTE Tucked away in the swanky Aldea Zama Complex in the heart of downtown Tulum, this unique resort is comprised of circular buildings with courtyards, design and décor that pay homage to nature and the elements. And lest you’re wondering, “Where’s the beach?” we can assure you there is a beautiful one that’s just minutes away: The Secrets Tulum Beach Club is all Bali beds and tropical drinks, with two eateries to choose from, plus private spa cabins and shower room. Accommodations at Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club are all of the suite variety, with bathrooms that will make it to your Instagram page, upgraded amenities, and furnished terraces or balconies. Book clients in Preferred Club suites for premium locations and even more upgrades. Have a VVIP? Consider the 5-bedroom private beachfront villa at Secrets Tulum Beach Club, which can house up to 10 guests and comes with a personal chef, 24-hour concierge services, a rooftop wet bar, a private plunge pool and more. Luxe pampering can be had at Secrets Spa by Pevonia, elevated eats are available at eight restaurants, there are four bars and lounges for toasting to vacay time, and you can book clients on dance lessons or cocktail classes for added fun. In 2024, look for the opening of Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres and Dreams Estrella Del Mar Mazatlan Golf & Spa Resort. By the way, flying into Tulum will soon be more accessible than ever once the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport is complete. It’s a little over six miles from town, and international flights are scheduled to open in March 2024. Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines have already announced routes from Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco and Atlanta. Contact InformationBanyan Tree Veya, Valle de Guadalupe: veya.banyantree.com/en/destinations/valle-de-guadalupeBlue Diamond Resorts: bluediamondresorts.comGrand Velas Boutique Los Cabos: experts.velasresorts.comHilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort: hilton.com/en/portal/travel-agentsHotel Mousai Cancun: cancun.hotelmousai.comIberostar Beachfront Resorts: iberostar.com/en/travel-agentsKempinski Hotel Cancun: kempinski.com/en/hotel-cancunMelia Hotels International: www2.melia.com/meliapro/en/agencies.htmlRosewood Hotels & Resorts: rosewoodhotels.com/en/eliteSecrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club: hyattinclusivecollection.com/en/travel-advisors

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