Mexico’s hotel landscape doesn’t know how to hit the pause button. This month we’ve put the focus on more than a dozen new or renovated hotels within this ever-expanding landscape, helping you generate more booking opportunities.
Caribbean Coast Glamour
On Mexico’s Caribbean Coast, a flurry of new properties have opened up or gotten a refresh in the latter part of 2018, with some set to take center stage in the coming year.
Last month saw the opening of the 600-room Hotel Riu Palace Costa Mujeres, located on the Bahia de Mujeres Beach, with five pools, two with swim-up bars, and a wide choice of amenities, including themed restaurants, as well as access to neighboring Hotel Riu Dunamar, home to the Pacha disco and the Riu Land Kids Club and Splash Water World. Also new to the scene is the Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa, with 673 suites, seven themed restaurants, two buffet restaurants, three bars, four pools and a children’s pool. Your family clients will want to know that the resort features a Family Selection hotel within a hotel that has 80 secluded suites, a private pool, a restaurant and a separate section on the beach, as well as personalized services such as concierge, priority reservations, free laundry service, and premium products including special surprises for the kids.
A couple of La Coleccion Resorts by Fiesta Americana properties in Cancun got a facelift: Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun All-Inclusive and Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun. The latter’s 371 premium rooms are fully renovated and now boast controlled surround music and lighting intensity from new bedside smart consoles, and the outdoor restaurants have been remodeled as well, with new menus, and a more modern look. The Condesa property, meanwhile, underwent a multi-million dollar renovation that touched on the resort’s premium rooms and suites, as well as its five dining venues. Guestrooms now feature new decor using local materials such as marine shell to maintain a room’s temperature cool, as well as wooden furniture that encompasses all-natural materials; and the restaurants offer a more contemporary vibe. A transformation has also taken place at Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya, with the debut of newly refreshed suites that feature enhanced decor, an in-room mini bar and safe, WiFi, new flat-screen TVs and a sliding partition next to the jacuzzi for extra privacy. Sirenis Hotels & Resorts’ marketing manager-USA Caroline Venditti, says that a brand like Sirenis differentiates itself by having a “staff that is committed to creating exceptional experiences customized for every guest, truly welcoming them into the Sirenis family. Sirenis has also long prided itself in incorporating authentic cultural experiences, such as our unique ritualistic spa treatments and the Mayan ruin at Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya, allowing guests to truly be immersed in the destination’s culture, which is another great addition to our stand-out offerings.”
Last month saw the rebranding of THE Royal Playa del Carmen into the Hilton Playa del Carmen, an All-inclusive Resort, part of the Playa Hotels & Resorts collection, located just steps from Playa del Carmen’s famed Fifth Avenue. Clients can opt for a swim-up suite or beachfront walkout accommodations, dine at seven restaurants, hang out at the tequileria, or get pampered at the SPAzul, featuring a hydrotherapy experience and Temazcal steam bath.
Come April, the oceanfront 498-room Paradisus Playa Mujeres will make its debut. “The property will debut Paradisus by Melia’s newest offering Nature Included,” says Jesus Cardoso, the resort’s managing director, “which transports guests into a paradise that reflects the natural beauty of the destination, as well as being environmentally conscious and encouraging guests to immerse themselves in local experiences. The program allows guests to respect the cultural heritage of the region, making a positive contribution to the lives and culture of the area.” He adds that “the hotel and the marina have the most spectacular views that a beach resort can offer, and the ideal guest is one who respects and loves nature.” The resort will offer Royal Service (adults-only) with private butlers and a family concierge that can offer a tailored family vacation experience. There’ll also be four pools, six bars and seven restaurants. 
In 2019, look, too, for the Royalton Cancun and Planet Hollywood Cancun, which we cover in detail at recmd.it/KidFriendlyMexico, as well as the 534-room Now Natura Rivera Cancun, opening in late 2019 and featuring the Now Spa by Pevonia that’s designed to look like the region’s cenotes. On the horizon, too, is Destino Xcaret’s adults-only, 63-suite La Casa de la Playa as well as the Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya, which travel advisor Kim Goldstein is excited about, because “Nickelodeon will be able to accommodate my multi-generational clients and will offer so many options for the whole family. The Gourmet Inclusive dining along with the many water activities will be the perfect blend for families.”
The Pacific Coast Beckons
On Mexico’s other coastal resort playground, three resorts are making their debut this month, including the adults-only Riu Palace Baja California, with views over El Medano Beach; Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Los Cabos, located in the hotel corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, and featuring three restaurants, four bars, and eight pools, including a rooftop pool, plus a family fun zone and spa; and the 54-suite Thompson Zihuatanejo. The latter is located oceanfront along the destination’s stunningly beautiful Playa La Ropa Beach. Two Roads Hospitality CEO Jamie Sabatier says that this opening “will bring a new urban resort experience to the area.” Features throughout the resort include handwoven rugs and traditional mosaic tiling, local stone finishes, Oaxacan clay light fixtures and artisanal accents. There are three pools—one for adults-only and another family-friendly—and one of the onsite restaurants, CENIZA, is perched seaside under open-air palapas, allowing for guests to dine under the stars.
Early 2019 brings the opening of the Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas, a community on the Sea of Cortez that will feature a marina, a golf course, a 2-mile stretch of beach, a village area, and the Amanvari Hotel when it opens its doors in 2020. Meanwhile, Four Seasons Punta Mita is in the midst of a $30 million renovation that is set for completion next year. 
Two AIC Hotel Group properties—the 639-room Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos and the 200-room Nobu Los Cabos—are gearing up for spring 2019 openings. The latter, which will offer a stylish decor inspired by Japanese aesthetics and the resort’s surroundings, will be home to Nobu Restaurant and Bar, as well as a spa, and unique lounging experiences. The Hard Rock resort, located in Cabo San Lucas, will have guests wining, dining and relaxing at eight restaurants, a bowling alley, and five pools. Travel advisor Goldstein notes that Hard Rock “will be a great option for my wedding and incentive groups. Their new limitless resort credit is also very enticing for clients. Clients like to have most costs included, so this will really assist in allowing them to experience the destination and resort without spending a lot of extra money.”
