a signature spa, swimming pools overlooking the sea, and two 18-hole golf courses. Also located at the Riviera Maya at Kanai will

be an Auberge Resorts property with 50 suites and six luxury oceanfront villas, each offering unobstructed ocean views, as well as a signature Auberge Spa, waterfront dining, swimming pool, and beach-club bar and grill. The resort will sport a dramatic contemporary design inspired by Kanai’s natural landscape of lush tropical foliage, long, white-sand beaches, and panoramic water views. Furthermore, the Grand Coral Group has announced plans to invest more than $3 billion in the construction of the Grand Coral Riviera Maya beach community. The project will comprise two boutique hotels, a beach club, a shopping center, and a 591-foot swimming pool, situated along a two-mile stretch of beach and residential condominiums.

More new properties A site on 12th Street — just a few blocks from the popular Mamitas Beach Club and only two blocks from Playa del Carmen’s popular 5th Ave- nue — now serves as home to the 108-room One Playa del Carmen, the first Fiesta Americana property in the Riviera Maya. Making its mark in Playa del Carmen as well is the Hotel Reina Roja, a boutique hotel property whose design incorporates natural and cultural elements. Just 10 minutes by car from Playa del Car-

men, groups will discover the new Azul Fives Hotel, by Karisma. In addition to 260 over- sized, luxurious suites, some with as many as three bedrooms and a rooftop deck, the prop- erty wows guests with its Gourmet Inclusive® all-inclusive gourmet-dining concept as well as other flexible meal-plan options. Another new hotel-scene entrant is the Ocean Breeze Riviera Maya, surrounded by

World-class golf courses

A Haven for Eco-Tourism and Adventure The Riviera Maya offers options for nature-lovers and adrenaline junkies alike

The Riviera Maya’s location along Mexico’s Caribbean coastline makes it not only a great destination for post-meeting relaxation on the beach, but also a haven for eco-tourism and adventure. Whether delegates want to interact with the Riviera Maya’s flora, fauna, and native people, or test their limits with adrenaline-inducing

activities, the region delivers an extensive menu of options. On the eco-tourism side, one of the most popular locations to bird-watch, learn about indigenous plants and animals, and explore the Yucatan Peninsula’s natural landscape is the Sian Ka’an Biosphere. A nature preserve and UNESCO World Heritage site that spans 1.3 million

acres of verdant jungle, pristine beaches, and transparent ocean, it is populated by nearly half the world’s species. Biologists conduct ongoing environmental research here, while offering educational programs for visitors, such as kayak tours for birders. For a truly unique experience, visitors can stay overnight at lodging within the Biosphere.

Other eco-activities abound. Delegates can protect endangered sea turtles by gather- ing their eggs from potentially danger- ous locations, moving them to less-populated beaches, and ensuring that the baby turtles reach the ocean upon hatching. Eco-parks such as Xcaret and Xel-Ha feature programs that educate visitors about the nature of indigenous species. These include swimming with nurse

sharks or baby dolphins, guided walking tours through a butterfly pa- vilion, and much more. The Riviera Maya

also offers visitors a wealth of options for engaging with both the ancient and living Mayan cultures, to learn first-hand about their fascinating traditions. Tour operators such as All-Tournative escort visitors on tours of the amazing archaeological sites of Tulum, Coba, Muyil, and others, while