Cancún/Riviera Maya
Villa del Palmar Cancún,
which debuted its first phase last December, is on schedule to open its
third and final phase on Dec. 20. When complete, the luxury resort will
offer 415 guest rooms and several restaurants, in addition to a spa
that opened Dec. 1.
The 365-room Ritz-Carlton, Cancún,
is marking the end of the ancient Mayan calendar with the Awakening
Group package, good for events booked by Dec. 21, 2012 (when the Mayan
calendar ends) and held in 2012, 2013 or 2014. Perks include a 12
percent discount at the full-service spa and 12 percent off in-house
audiovisual equipment rentals. Details are available at ritzcarlton.com/cancun. The resort offers a total of 27,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space.
The 739-room Gran Meliá Cancún,
in the city's hotel zone, rolled out a luxury boutique area within the
resort this past summer. All 137 rooms of the Red Level, in a private
tower of the complex, offer private balconies and complimentary Internet
use, as well as personalized butler service. A private Red Level
outdoor area has two swimming pools, a Jacuzzi and 35 Bali beds for
lounging.
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts acquired the Hilton
Cancún in June and closed the resort in August to complete a major
renovation project. The all-inclusive, 426-room Iberostar Cancún
reopened this month. A nearly 49,000-square-foot convention center is
on-site, as well as more than 60,000 square feet of outdoor event space.
The complex also offers seven infinity pools, a professional soccer
field, tennis courts, a spa and an 18-hole golf course.
The 132-room new-build La Quinta Inn & Suites
debuted in downtown Cancún this summer. The property offers free
wireless Internet access in all rooms and public areas, a 24-hour
business center, a fitness center, a pool, a lobby lounge and meeting
space for up to 150 attendees.
The Excellence Group Luxury Hotels & Resorts announced in November it will rebrand its La Amada Hotel as the Beloved Hotel Playa Mujeres
sometime this winter. The 109-room property will become a
boutique-style all-inclusive hotel, the first to fly the Beloved Hotels
flag. The Playa Mujeres development, just north of Cancún, also has a
35,000-square-foot spa, a seaside golf course, a fitness center, a
marina and 17,000 square feet of meeting space.
International air service to and from Cancún increased this summer. Aeromexico launched twice-daily nonstop service between Miami International Airport and Cancún, while Virgin Atlantic began twice-weekly service between London and Cancún.
In the Riviera Maya, Azul Beach Hotel by Karisma,
on Bahía Petempich, wrapped up a $21 million renovation in October. The
90-room boutique-style property unveiled the 1,400-square-foot Grand
Salon, accommodating up to 288 people theater-style; a private rooftop
terrace with room for 60 guests; two new restaurants, Roma and Latino;
and expanded suites. Additionally, a new theater seats 150 and offers
nightly entertainment.
The 596-room Sandos Caracol Eco-Resort and Spa,
in the Riviera Maya 15 minutes from downtown Playa del Carmen, is
launching its Xcalacoco Experience on Dec. 21. The program is a four-day
reenactment of historical events pertaining to the resort's on-site
Mayan ruins, set to occur on select days every week throughout 2012.
Guests and groups can become acquainted with Mayan cuisine, rituals and
lore by way of the experience, developed to coincide with this year's
end of the Mayan calendar.
The Tides Riviera Maya luxury
resort, just north of Playa del Carmen, will wrap up major property
renovations this month. The work will result in the addition of new
guest villas, for a total of 41; a new entrance, motor court and
reception area; a new grill restaurant and gym; a remodeled restaurant,
lounge and gift shop; and cosmetic improvements to the existing guest
villas.