Luxury Travel Advisor - August 2008 - (Page 32)

CHEF RORY DUNAWAY AT THE CULINARY CENTER (above) offers six two-hour classes throughout the week. THE ITSY BITSY KIDS ROOM (left) is ideal for families with infants. request a private tasting session of these vintages, which originate primarily from the country’s west coast. Hint: Our favorite vintage was a 2006 Casa Grande Chardonnay from the Valle de Parras, Coahuila region, but your clients can choose their own. Tequila tastings are also an option. Be sure to reserve spa treatments at the eight-room facility 48 hours in advance via Lucy Garcia or Anseli Reyes (rc.cunrz. kayanta.spa@ritzcarlton.com). We suggest the signature Kayantá massage, which uses a mixture of various techniques, such as Swedish massage, reflexology, pressure points, stretching and therapeutic movements. Spa Director Viorica Coman (viorica. coman@ritzcarlton.com) advises that Maribel Rivera or Juan Taritolay are the choice therapists for a deep-tissue massage and that Iliana Martinez and Alejandra Bustamante are tops for facials. Leticia Ramirez or Alina Duma should be requested for special body treatments. Nice for families: The spa provides a Back-and-Neck Massage experience of 25 minutes for mothers and daughters or fathers and sons. Mildred Reyes (mildred. reyes@ritzcarlton.com) is the executive concierge at the expansive Ritz-Carlton Club, which also has a separate Cobalt Lounge in the evening for adults only. The club serves several meal offerings a day. During our stay we saw several guests pop in for luscious and lovingly prepared margaritas. Reyes is also the concierge manager for the entire hotel; her team can assist in arranging for a tour to Chichen-Itza in a private helicopter or a private snorkeling tour with whale sharks. Or, she can secure a reservation for guests to sail via a catamaran to Isla Mujeres, where they can snorkel along the way and then enjoy a truly local Mexican shopping and dining experience once they arrive on the island. Hint: The resort can provide an elegant boxed lunch for the ride home. Back in Cancun, shoppers can visit “Luxury Avenue,” which offers brands such as Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Carolina Herrera, Cartier and Tiffany & Company—just five minutes from the hotel. Be sure to book six months out for the busy Christmas season; for other holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Easter and Independence Day, reserve at least a month ahead of time, especially for special requests such as connecting rooms. Note: Clients visiting during the summer can be a part of “The Turtle Guardian Experience,” which the hotel offers as part of Ritz-Carlton’s Community Footprint program. Through the program, guests actually assist in helping to release seaturtle hatchlings into the sea. We’re also excited about the new Beach Club at the resort, which opened in July, and offers a low-key, fun, Mexican-themed environment. The resort is consistently a Five-Diamond Award winner, as are its top dining facilities, The Club Grill and Fantino. A highlight of our experience at The Club Grill was a jazz band that artfully played some of our favorite standards. The personalized service at Fantino was another special experience. Clients can also enjoy a progressive tasting dinner that starts at the Sushi and Seafood Bar, continues in Fantino or The Club Grill and concludes with dessert and afterdinner drinks in a casita on the beach or in The Lobby Lounge. Travel Industry Sales Manager Marimar Montemayor (marimar. montemayor@ritzcarlton.com; 011-52-998-881-0843) is the luxury travel advisor liaison at the property. Fly clients into the Cancun International Airport. It’s just a 20-minute ride away from the hotel, which provides ground service in brand-new SUVs. —Ruthanne Terrero 32 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | August 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Luxury Travel Advisor - August 2008

Luxury Travel Advisor - August 2008 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter Maui Dubai Cape Town The Capella Resort and Spa, at Pedregal Cabo San Lucas Ritz-Carlton Cancun Presidential Suites The Palazzo, Las Vegas The Water Club Arrabelle at Vail Square Ferntree The Spa at Half Moon Fall Foliage Cruises New England Strong Travel On the Horizon: Luxury Travel Expo The Pulse Traveling Shopper Leaders Speak Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - August 2008

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