Regional focus
understand. “Central America offers a plethora of destinations to appeal to any type of traveller, and a culture of service that is unrivalled,” says Carbone, managing director of development for Mexico and Central America at Hilton, adding that the isthmus offers everything from birdwatching to ancient ruins. The region’s post-Columbian heritage is increasingly popular too. Typical are towns like Antigua in Guatemala or Oaxaca in Mexico, with their handsome colonial squares and their grand, wedding cake-style cathedrals. At the same time, many Central American countries
Above: The idyllic view from the lobby at the all-inclusive Hilton Cancun resort.
Previous page: Hilton Cancun’s impressive facade, overlooking the ocean.
Vamos a la playa Few hotel groups have as much experience in Central America as Marriott. In 1969 it opened its first non-US hotel, the Paraiso del Pacifico, at the Mexican resort of Acapulco. And though styles have changed over the decades – building a stark concrete skyscraper like the Paradiso would be impossible these days – many of the same principles still apply. Acapulco, after all, is a spot for poolside cocktails and beachside flings, a combination that remains popular across the region. “Clearly, the main attraction in Central America is its untouched beaches – the sun, the ocean and sand,” says Alejandro Aceveda, a regional vice-president at Marriott. “Fishing and sea activities are also an important source of leisure tourism, in some cases with important competitions.” Marriott is not alone. Over the past several decades, resort destinations like Puerta Vallarta (Mexico) and Roatan (Honduras) have come to dominate Central American hospitality. If nothing else, this is reflected by the numbers. According to Statista Cancún, the Yucatán Peninsula had nearly 10,800 hotel rooms under construction at the end of 2020. To put that into perspective, Mexico City, a heaving metropolis of nearly nine million, has a pipeline of just 3,584. More to the point, this boom is shadowed by where specific operators are laying foundations. Marriott, for instance, plans to open a new property at the Ambergris Caye resort in Belize. Other brands are following suit, with Hyatt opening several new beach hotels. A typical example is the Secrets Moxche, a luxury 485-room hotel at Playa del Carmen in Mexico. As the Paraiso del Pacifico continues to cast a
shadow over Central American hospitality, more adventurous travellers are starting to flock there too. And as Mario Carone argues, this is not difficult to
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are investing heavily in the infrastructure needed to cope with the influx – with the seven countries south of Mexico predicted to welcome 30 million visitors annually by 2030. A case in point is Costa Rica, which in 2020 invested $160m across four international airports and eight local airfields. Its neighbours are close behind, with Panama recently announcing a flurry of road-building projects. It helps, too, that Central America arguably has suffered less from the pandemic than its neighbours. Buoyed by a resurgence in package deals, Mexico was the first country to return to pre-pandemic tourism levels, while minnows like Belize have performed well too.
A new world When it opens in 2024 Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve property owned by Marriott, promises to be one of the most glamorous hotels in Central America. Set amid 1,400 acres of private land, about 150 miles north-east of the Costa Rican capital, guests will be able to enjoy private plunge pools and spa-like bathrooms and spectacular views over the rainforest beyond. Yet if you think Nekajui sounds like just another Paraiso del Pacifico – do not be fooled. Though sunbathing will certainly feature, Aceveda is keen to emphasise the resort’s other attractions too. As he puts it, Nekajui (meaning “garden” in the local indigenous language) will offer guests “a highly personalised journey” to one of the world’s biodiversity wonders. In practice that means hikes and bike trails, as well as opportunities to spot woodpeckers, toucans and other rare birds. In its sophisticated mix of sun and culture, the Nekajui is of a piece with other new properties. The new Ritz-Carlton, in Mexico City, is a case in point. Opened in late 2021, near the trendy Roma neighbourhood, the property offers easy access to bustling restaurants and tequila bars. Even hotels that keep more closely to the traditional seaside model are moving in a similar direction. Carbone, for his part, highlights the Conrad Tulum
Riviera Maya in Mexico. All sea view suites and swimming pools, the Hilton property hardly differs architecturally from other beachside hotels. Unlike them, however, the hotel also features ornate
Hotel Management International /
www.hmi-online.com
Hilton Cancun
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