Prevue May/June 2012 - (Page 56)

Right: Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla Paradisus Resorts Mexico Mount Nelson Hotel There’s an oversupply of luxury product in Cape Town, South Africa due to the buildup for the 2010 World Cup. The downward pressure on rates helps planners maximize ROI in this stellar incentive destination. We toured the pink and charming, grand dame Mount Nelson Hotel, long a favorite for groups at the base of Table Mountain. While most of the good hotels are located in the downtown core and harbor, Mount Nelson resides in a bucolic garden setting only 10 minutes from the city center. The 209 rooms and suites are all unique, so the property is more suited for smaller groups, but the relaxed residential ambience is unmatched. That was fully evident around the gorgeous indoor/outdoor terrace leading off the all new Planet Restaurant. Both visitors and locals alike enjoyed local wine and cheese in the slanting sunlight as if they’d been returning for decades. Try the smoked crocodile and Namibian red crab, paired with a sublime Stellenbosch pinot. The beauty here is the modern cuisine and decor, surrounded by the warmth of the well maintained historic hotel. You’ll also like the Librisa Spa Corporate Package discounts. mountnelson.co.za; southafrica.net Paradisus Resorts opened two properties last November in Playa del Carmen, Mexico: the adults-only Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla and family-friendly Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda. The 394-suite La Perla is the more upscale of the two properties, enhancing the all-inclusive experience with their exclusive Royal Service concept. This resort-within-a-resort product offers 122 upscale suites with a private check-in area and lounge, a personal butler and your own Jacuzzi on the terrace. The junior suites feature iPod docking stations, fully-stocked mini bars and complimentary WiFi. “Guests receive a cell phone upon check-in that connects to their butler,” says John Iannini, director of meetings/events. “So if you’re by the pool and you want your butler to draw a bath for you at 4 p.m., you place a call on your assigned cell phone and the butler can do that for you.” There are some really fun options for teambuilding here. Host a Mexican ﬁesta in one of the 14 meeting spaces, treat the group to a tequila tasting on the beach, or create a private cooking class inside one of the 14 restaurants. “When we do a price quote for a customer, we design that quote based on the speciﬁcs of the group so that their experience is literally all-inclusive,” says Iannini. “This includes a choice of private functions anywhere on our property. We have covered palapas, we can offer a function around the pool, and if they want to do a beach party, then we can do that too.” In between the two resorts, El Zocalo is a traditional Mexican town square packed with amenities: the spa, the bars and restaurants, and 25,000 sf of meeting space, including a 16,000-sf ballroom. Groups can also rent out the chic GABI Club with local entertainment for private parties on a sandy area located where the boardwalk meets the mangroves. “One of our things at the Paradisus brand is that we call ourselves ‘luxeclusive,’” says Iannini. “We really make it an experience for the guests. We can set up a private event to learn about Mexican cooking or any of the cuisines we serve at our specialty restaurants. We have an Asian bistro, a Mediterranean restaurant and a seafood restaurant, so the chefs can spend time with the guests and teach them a little bit about how they cook.” They’ll even teach you how to make guacamole, the real way, depending on what type of avocados to use. There’s also a class on the different types of hot peppers, where you’ll learn how to touch a pepper so the oils don’t burn your skin. By the end, attendees will know what the different grades of peppers are and how to cook with them, from jalapenos to habaneros. “We have a lot of added unique things that we can offer besides the traditional ones that groups might want to do,” says Iannini. “They can also walk to the neighboring golf course, which is only a 5-minute walk.” 52 | prevue magazine http://mountnelson.co.za http://www.southafrica.net

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue May/June 2012

Sheraton China + Macau
The Peppermill, Reno
Charleston + Denver
CSR with Caesars
Hong Kong's Kai Tak Terminal
Special Section: Europe
Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf
Affordable Luxury
Frenchman's Reef, USVI
Australia
Toronto
Taiwan
U.S. Gaming Hotels
Caesars/Paris Las Vegas
Grand Lucayan, Bahamas
Iberostar Cancun

Prevue May/June 2012