Prevue March/April 2015 - (Page 78)

Club Med Cancun Yucatan Authenticity. It's the buzzword of the hour and one that French designer Marc Hertrich seemed hyper aware of when he set out to add a little pizzazz to Club Med Cancun Yucatan, one of the ﬁrst resorts to land in Cancun. [ON LOCATION] JOHNALEE JOHNSTON A s a ﬁfth generation cabinetmaker, Hertrich already had a sense of where to dig in-he plunged into Mexico's vibrant cultural heritage and explored the work of local artisans to ﬁll in the gaps. The result was a $14 million renovation with local, resort-wide touchpoints that introduce groups to Mexico in meaningful ways. "This is luxury by Club Med," Hertrich says of the 60 new beachfront family accommodations. "It's small, livable, convenient spaces that explore the colorful side of Mexico. We're [sharing] the history and legends of the country in a modern way." THE BIG REVEAL Hertrich's 'modern Mexico' played out in numerous ways over the course of our three-day stay, including the ribbon cutting for the new Aguamarina family rooms, kicked off by a traditional Mayan ceremony. Chanting, drumming and dancing captured the evening at the tip of the property, with Aguamarina's contemporary design and the Caribbean Sea as backdrops. For a resort spread over 22 acres, the atmosphere was intimate, despite the large crowd gathered at dusk to mark the occasion. We didn't realize it at the time, but the intimate 'big moment' really gave nod to Club Med's knack for personalizing the resort experience. As an all-inclusive resort, this isn't always an easy task to accomplish. Much of it has to do with specialized 'Genteel Organizers,' 74 | prevue magazine known resort-wide as GOs, whose sole purpose is to strut around the property with a smile, shake things up when needed and ﬂex their know-how. At the on-site sports schools, this may mean jumping up on a wakeboard during a group lesson or swinging upside down through the air for a trapeze teambuilding session. The artistic ﬂair of the GOs hit center stage halfway through our stay in resort-wide theatrical vignettes on Mexico's history that emptied out into the new part lounge/part nightclub, Maya Lounge. After the ceremony, we took advantage of the breeze rolling off of the Caribbean and strolled down to La Cazuelas, a recently renovated upscale restaurant built on stilts for panoramic views of the sea. Serving local specialties in buffet form by day, the restaurant gets serious about Mexican cuisine at night. We asked Jacqueline Manuel, account director for the Eastern US region, the secret to their success in capturing groups who book Club Med over a number of other hotels and resorts in the area. Her answer? Options. "Club Med stands apart from most brands, including other all-inclusive resorts, for the multitude of activities and sports that are included in the per person rate. Attendees can enjoy activities and engagement without any additional out-of-pocket costs, allowing them the opportunity to go home with more memories than just a beach and pool." Diversity in accommodations is another standout feature,

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue March/April 2015

Planner’s Pick: Los Angeles
Fresh Meets: The Evolution of Local Hospitality
Bureau Buzz: Atlanta
Good Business: On the Agenda: Zero Waste
Sea Shores: American Queen Steamboat Company
Incentive Bound
FLORIDA
CALIFORNIA
NASHVILLE
IHG EUROPE
On Location: Bermuda
CLUB MED CANCUN YUCATAN
On Location: Beaches Turks & Caicos
On Location: St. Kitts
On Location: Delano Las Vegas
Club Med Meetins, Incentives and Corporate Events 2015 Edition

Prevue March/April 2015