Mexico/Caribbean: Beach Blanket Bingo—Family Fun in the Sun

PLANET HOLLY FAMILYBeach Blanket Bingo—Family Fun in the SunBy Lydia GregoryMulti-gen family travel is showing no signs of slowing, and top hotel brands like Palladium Hotel Group and Melia Hotels International are zeroing in on this segment, offering not just specific activities for families, but “hotel-within-a-hotel” concepts and even multi-hotel complexes to truly cater to all in the family. Read on for what’s new and what’s coming.Blue Diamond ResortsRoyalton Luxury Resorts and Planet Hollywood Beach Resorts—two family-friendly resorts under the Blue Diamond Resorts umbrella—can be of particular interest when planning multi-generational vacations, thanks to their “resort-within-a-resort” offer. With the Hideaway at Royalton adults-only retreat within the Royalton Luxury Resorts in Cancun, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Saint Lucia, and the Planet Hollywood Cancun Adult Scene in Mexico, you can have the option of giving the adults, the option of enjoying time with the kids while having the ability to escape, regroup and maybe even enjoy a little reconnect with each other. Says Alejandro Rodriguez del Peon, director of marketing and public relations for Blue Diamond Resorts, “We’ve seen in the last few years how multi-generational families, multi-generational travelers are on the rise. So, with that model of Planet Hollywood with Adult Scene and more specifically Royalton with the Hideaways, we have seen how this evolves and how this caters to those needs.BLUE DIAMOND QUOTE “I like the example of Royalton and Hideaway, which is the same concept as Adult Scene and Planet Hollywood, because of the tagline behind Royalton Luxury Resorts, which is, ‘Everyone is family.’ And when we explain the concepts, we say it doesn’t matter if you come with your significant other, with your friends, with your kids, with your kids and your parents and the whole party, it doesn’t matter if you come as a group—even as a solo traveler—as long as you’re at the Royalton, you are with family, right? Everyone is family. And we started defining our brand because of multi-generational families. We saw how that was behaving. We saw how we were receiving this type of travelers, and we actually modified the core values of our brands.”Del Peon shares the brand is opening Hideaway at Royalton Blue Waters, An Autograph Collection All- Inclusive Resort, in Jamaica’s Royalton Blue Waters this November. The family, he explains, can be with the kids at the splash park with the waterslides, the teens will have their own thing going on at the beach, but at the same time there’s the Hideaway with its adults-only restaurants. “With the Hideaways you have the ability of staying at one, playing at two, creating multi-generational environments,” he says. Of note: Recently announced are major upgrades to their Diamond Club and Star Class room categories. Available for bookings on or after Oct. 1, 2023, this means your clients will experience significant improvements to the F&B service (i.e., the addition of top-tier liquors and beverages and enhanced culinary options), and an upgrade to in-room amenities and guest services, particularly the butler services. The latter will see an increase in the actual number of butlers at the resorts, a huge plus for families looking for true personalized assistance and a seamless vacation experience.CASA DE CAMPO HORSEBACKCasa de Campo Resort & VillasLa Romana is one of the Dominican Republic’s leading destinations thanks in no small part to its pristine coastline—including the prime beach area of Bayahibe—and its many natural attractions. It’s also home to Casa de Campo Resorts & Villas, a huge resort that was once the largest sugarcane in the Americas and today is the perfect playground for a family vacation. “There’s no place in the world that can offer as much as Casa de Campo,” says Jason Kycek, sr. v.p. of sales and marketing for the resort. “There’s something for everyone, which makes it ideal for families and multi-generational travel. Within the 7,000-acre private gated community, guests can explore the grounds with their own golf cart, complimentary with each room, suite and villa. “For activities, families can choose from playing one of our three Pete Dye-designed golf courses, including the legendary Teeth of the Dog, go horseback riding, ride ponies and see our petting zoo at the Dude Ranch, test their marksmanship at our shooting center, play tennis, paddle ball, pickleball or simply spend the day at the beach.”CASA DE CAMPO QUOTE Kycek points out a key component of family vacations—good food—and Casa de Campo delivers with an array of restaurants, bars and even food trucks. Some of these are located in the Marina, which also has a shopping center and supermarket—ideal for families staying in villas with kiddos—a movie theater and, of course, a slew of yachts to choose from. And then there’s Altos de Chavon, a replica of a 16th-century Mediterranean village, where clients can walk the cobblestone streets and visit a church, an art gallery, museum, shops, restaurants or see a concert in the 5,000-seat Greek roman amphitheater. “For accommodations, our luxury villa homes are ideal for families to enjoy time together,” shares Kycek. “They come complete with a maid and butler serving breakfast daily, a private pool and jacuzzi, and plenty of golf carts for everyone to get around in. Chefs are available for private dinners in the villa or to celebrate special occasions.” Opened in late 2022, the Premier Club is an elevated “hotel-within-a-hotel” with its own dedicated reception, bar and lounge areas, for families who require another level of service and privacy. Accommodations include Premier Jr. Suites, Premier Suites and the 3-bedroom Premier Presidential Suite. Also new at Casa de Campo is the 18,000-sq.-ft. The SPA at Casa de Campo, which opened this summer with 12 treatment rooms to whisk parents and grandparents away from the hustle and bustle of family life with state-of-the-art treatments and a hydrothermal circuit. IBEROSTAR BEACHIberostar Hotels & ResortsFully refurbished in 2022, the all-inclusive Iberostar Selection Hacienda Dominicus is ready to welcome your multi-gen clients with 528 renovated guestrooms with new high-tech installations like Chromecast, USB sockets, new reading lamps and a modern key system connected to your clients’ wristbands and phones via QR codes. The kiddos will love the new bubble pool and the completely renovated Star Camp, which got a new kitchen for Mini Chef fun, a Mini Cinema with a giant screen, new furniture and a video game installation. While there, kids will have a chance to learn more about Iberostar’s commitment to sustainability, including its coral project. IBEROSTAR QUOTE “With close proximity to the water, this property features its own coral nursery, where local scientists work to do research and restore coral reefs to protect our ecosystem,” points out Rodrigo Silveyra, director of operations for the Americas, Iberostar. “Families will especially love the pools with slides and water parks to enjoy a day of family fun. And when parents need a break to explore, kids can check out Star Camp, Iberostar’s educational and recreational program where they can participate in 140+ activities to learn about sustainability while on vacation.” In addition to all the fun public spaces, Silveyra shares there’s also a variety of food options that the whole family can enjoy, from responsibly sourced seafood to made-to-order tacos and other traditional Mexican cuisine. MELIA SUITEMelia Hotels InternationalThe success of Melia Hotels International’s The Reserve adults-only concept was followed by Nikté, a similarly upgraded experience catering to families, with superior rooms and suites and premium services. “At Paradisus by Melia, creating a special experience for families is very important to us,” says Sara Ranghi, marketing and brand management director for Melia Hotels International, Americas region. “That’s why we launched Nikté, to provide exclusive suites, perks and services, catered to families that do not want to sacrifice luxury and comfort. With Paradisus’ long-standing history and experience of curating family travel, Nikté will continue to offer families some of the most memorable vacations in Mexico and Punta Cana.”MELIA QUOTE At Paradisus Cancun, for example, Premium Service means superior rooms like the Suite Nikté Governor with a separate lounge, kitchen and large dining area, and complimentary dinner at the Sal Steak Cave and access to a YHI Spa water ritual (both 18+), plus special details for both adults and kids. The resort also offers your clients the brand’s unique Destination Exclusive experiences, which in Cancun means a visit to one of the area’s most spectacular cenotes complete with a Mayan ritual and a yoga class, a treat for parents and grandparents. At Paradisus Los Cabos, the Destination Inclusive experience takes them to a nearby canyon, where they can reconnect with their center during a yoga class in a spectacular natural setting. “At Paradisus by Melia, creating a special experience for families is very important to us,” says Ranghi.GRAND PALLADIUMPalladium Hotel GroupThere’s big news for family, multi-gen and skip-gen clients at the Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya complex: “In December 2023, Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa is set to elevate its offerings with the introduction of Family Selection rooms,” says Pilar Arizmendi-Stewart, v.p. of sales and marketing for the Americas. “This expansion will encompass 169 brand-new Family Selection suites, joining the existing 95 suites in the Vallarta property and 180 in the Costa Mujeres property. Together, these 471 suites embody the true essence of Family Selection—thoughtfully designed retreats tailored to the modern family, complete with exclusive amenities, private havens and meticulous personalized service. This new addition will allow multi-generational families to stay together in close proximity while enjoying distinct accommodations tailored to suit each group’s unique preferences and needs.” PALLADIUM QUOTE And it’s with multi-gen trips where the Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya complex truly shines—while parents and kids can stay in the Family Selection suites enjoying all the perks of the Grand Palladium Kantenah, the grandparents can choose to stay in TRS Yucatan, the complex’s adults-only resort with 13 room categories that include poolside and oceanview suites and offers a welcome respite from the grands. The resort has its own restaurants only open to TRS guests, though guests of TRS can—and do—enjoy eateries at Kantenah and the other two properties in the complex (Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa and Grand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa). TRS Yucatan has its own three pools with bars and a favorite of parents and grandparents, the Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness, a haven with a delicious hydrotherapy circuit that can work out all the kinks while the kids are with nannies or at the kids club. Afterwards, the entire family can enjoy the brand’s newest dinner-and-dance show concept, Bravo, which is the family version of TRS Yucatan’s adults-only Chic Cabaret and Restaurant evening entertainment. Of note: Family Selection accommodations have easy access to the beach, a private lobby with a games area to keep little ones entertained during check-in, a private pool, an exclusive restaurant and a VIP games area—plus free access to the facilities in the resort. And, of course, your clients will enjoy the brand’s signature Infinite Indulgence program, their version of all-inclusive luxury that includes 11 a la carte restaurants, three show-cooking restaurants, a whopping 18 bars (because who doesn’t need a little libation on vacation?) and six swimming pools located throughout the resort. Contact InformationBlue Diamond Resorts: bluediamondresorts.com/media-room/travel-professionalsCasa de Campo Resort & Villas: casadecampo.com.do/travel-agentsIberostar Hotels & Resorts: iberostar.com/en/travel-agentsMelia Hotels International: melia.comPalladium Hotel Group: pro.palladiumhotelgroup.com/en

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