A major new adults-only all-inclusive resort is coming to the Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The new Hotel Xcaret Arte will officilaly open its doors on July 1, 2021, the company confirmed. 

The 900-suite property will include seven eateries, a spa, five “immersive cultural experiences,” multiple pools and a broad stretch of white sand beach. 

The dining concepts include a restaurant overseen by Michelin-starred Chef Paco Mendez called Encanta. 

Another award-winning chef, Jonathan Gomez Luna, will oversee an eatery called Chino-Poblano, while Mexican culinary star Ricardo Muñoz Zurita will lead the menu at Xaak, which focuses on indigenous cuisine from the Yucatan peninsula. 

It’s all part of the company’s effort to give travelers an authentic Mexican experience, and to help “provide guests with the opportunity to explore and engage with the country’s heritage and nature,” according to a statement. 

The resort will also feature 10 bars and lounges, including poolside and rooftop outposts, along with a speakeasy-style bar called Deseo. 

The luxury resort is an expansion for the Xcaret brand, which opened its first hotel in the Mexican Caribbean back in 2017. 

The resort is set across five distinct “casas,” each of which the company said will be inspired by Mexican traditions. 

That’s along with the Muluk Spa, a wellness center with hydrotherapies, flotation spas, mudrooms and vapor treatments, among other unique offerings. 

The resort is the latest in a burgeoning trend in Mexico of resorts focused on authenticity and culture, one that kicked off in earnest with the debut of the UNICO 20 87 resort and continued with properties by Atelier de Hoteles.

It’s yet another new addition to what continues to be a strong pipeline of hotel development in Mexico, a destination that has outperformed the rest of the region amid the pandemic. 

For more, visit Hotel Xcaret. 

— CJ

The post A New Adults-Only All-Inclusive Is Coming to the Riviera Maya appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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A major new virtual conference will look at what’s ahead for the Caribbean hotel industry in 2021.

Caribbean Journal Invest’s Caribbean Hotel Outlook will run on March 30 from 12 PM to 2 PM EST.

The two-hour virtual conference will look at the Caribbean hotel sector, covering current numbers on occupancy, rates and revenue; the market for hotel properties, transactions, development and what’s next for the overall industry.

Sandals Resorts International Executive Chairman Adam Stewart will be the event’s keynote speaker.

Panelists will also include Paul Weimer, Senior Vice President at CBRE Hotels; Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism; Rico Louw, Senior Client Account Manager at STR; and Karen Whitt, VP of Sales and Marketing at the Hartling Group.

“The 2021 edition of Caribbean Hotel Outlook will give an in-depth update on the state of the industry amid the new realities of travel,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal and Caribbean Journal Invest. “Whether you’re a hotel owner, a developer, an investor or you work in the Caribbean tourism industry, this is essential viewing. Period.”

The Caribbean Hotel Outlook is free for Caribbean Journal Invest subscribers.

To register for the conference, click here.

If you’re not a CJI subscriber, click here.

Caribbean Journal Invest subscribers get 24-7 access to CJI content, events, and a bi-weekly newsletter with the latest Caribbean hotel and real estate news.

For questions, email news@caribjournal.com.

— CJI

The post Caribbean Hotel Outlook Conference Set for March 30 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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It’s always been a rarefied, exclusive beach destination; and as more and more travelers seek seclusion and privacy amid the pandemic, the Turks and Caicos Islands is seeing a surge in villa rentals. 

And with top Caribbean villa destinations like St Barth currently closed (although that’s likely to change soon), travelers are increasingly looking to the luxurious sands of Providenciales. 

“A vacation in the Turks and Caicos islands is a great option right now, and renting a private villa is the ideal way to enjoy the destination and stay safe,” says Stiles Bennet, president of WIMCO Villas. “There are direct flights from many US hubs, everyone who visits is required to produce a negative test result so you know everyone on the plane recently tested negative, and there are very few cases on the island.”

Turks and Caicos officially reopened for tourism last July, and has undertaken what has been among the model tourism reopenings in the Caribbean. You can find more on the destination’s travel protocols here.

That’s come as more and more carriers increase their service to Provo’s airport, from American Airlines, which operates two flights a day from Miami to new flights on the way from New York.

“Most private villas are located along the 10 mile long Grace bay beach, and there is plenty of room along the beach to relax and be socially distant,” Bennet told Caribbean Journal. “The restaurants and waterfront bars are open air, and are open until 10 PM each night. For those that prefer not to dine out in public, it is easy to arrange grocery delivery, take out, or private chef services.”

And while Grace Bay Beach is Provo’s top draw, villa vacationers are finding stays across the island, from the tony Turtle Cove section of Provo to the

And then there’s Long Bay, home to Provo’s premier residential resort: The Shore Club on Long Bay Beach. 

The Shore Club has been popular for its villa-style units and its ultra-luxe standalone villas, with the latter among the most spectacular accommodations in Turks and Caicos. 

For travelers seeking even more seclusion, there are options on other islands in Turks and Caicios like the all-inclusive villas at the Ambergris Caye private-island resort and beach villas like those at the Sailrock Resort on the island of South Caicos. 

For more, visit WIMCO. 

— CJ

The post Turks and Caicos Is the Caribbean’s Hottest Villa Destination appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises will soon become the first cruise line to return to the Caribbean since the pandemic, with a new Bahamas-only itinerary exclusively for vaccinated travelers.

The program, which launches this summer, is called Bahamas Escapes, and will include a series of 16 seven-night, round-trip cruises out of Nassau on the company’s Crystal Serenity flagship, beginning July 3, 2021.

Crystal will also offer 16 seven-night voyages round-trip from the island of Bimini beginning July 4, 2021.

The cruises will stop at four islands in The Bahamas: Harbour Island, Great Exuma, San Salvador and Long Island.

The biggest question, of course, is how the cruise line is handling passenger safety.

Accordingly, Crystal will require all guests to have been fully inoculated with a vaccine at least 14 days prior to boarding any Crystal ship.

All guests will additionally have to follow the company’s Crystal Clean+ 4.0 measures, including negative tests for guests and crew, reduced capacity, social distancing, a mask policy and health screening questionnaires.

“The Bahamas is ready and delighted to welcome cruise visitors back to the islands and to partner with Crystal Cruises in the effort to restore and help re-activate our tourism industry and protect jobs and businesses,” D’Aguilar said. “Crystal Cruises will go on record as the only cruise line offering Bahamas-only voyages that highlight the signature features and experiences travelers can find here in our islands, and the support that these cruises will bring to multiple communities within the country will be tremendous. We have worked tirelessly to ensure a safe and healthy stay for all travelers, enhancing the innately spacious and outdoor-focused experience the islands provide. Guests will find ample room to roam and a warm welcome from the people of this unique destination.”

It’s a boon for The Bahamas, whose 700-island archipelago provides a diverse destination for cruising in its own right, from the historic charms of Harbour Island to the sparkling blue waters of Exuma.

Crystal Serenity will become the first-ever cruise ship to homeport in Nassau.

“Like our guests, we have been eagerly looking forward to the day we can welcome them back on board, and we’re thrilled that this day will come in The Bahamas,” Anderson said. “The new Bahamas Escapes cruises will allow travelers to enjoy luxury cruising now, as well as bring much-needed benefits to the local workforce, airlines, restaurants, retailers and hotels for pre- and post-cruise stays. The launch of these cruises will also drive economic growth to The Bahamas, which, like other destinations around the world, has been negatively affected by the global pandemic,” said Jack Anderson, Crystal’s interim president.

Crystal is also launching an extended “land and hotel” program that will include stays at Nassau resorts like the SLS Baha Mar and Hilton Resorts World Bimini.

“Travelers’ sense of exploration has only grown over the past year, and the destinations featured on the new itineraries are ideal for unwinding and renewing the spirit, as well as adventures that remedy restlessness brought on by extended stays at home. Some of the destinations we are calling on are only visited by private yachts and our guests will have the opportunity to visit these idyllic places that are not on other cruise itineraries.”

For more, visit Crystal Cruises.

— CJ

The post Crystal Is Relaunching Cruises in The Bahamas This Summer appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The leading all-inclusive in Grand Bahama is set to reopen this month, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The Lighthouse Pointe all-inclusive at the Grand Lucayan resort complex will reopen to guests on March 25. 

The Freeport-area resort has a total of 196 guest rooms, along with a Senses Spa and Fitness Center and four eateries: Portobello’s, Pizzeria Capri, Aroma Café and Waves Bar & Grill. 

The property has unveiled a series of health and safety protocols amid the current realities of travel, including daily temperature checks for staff, touches hand sanitizing stations and frequent disinfecting of public spaces, among other implementations. 

Amenities at the property include the Reef Course, one of the top golf courses in The Bahamas, along with other options like birdwatching at the nearby Rand Nature Center, horseback riding and biking trails. 

Getting to Grand Bahama is easy right now, with weekly ferry service on Balearia Caribbean (which just relaunched operations) and flights on carriers including Bahamasair, Silver Airways and American Airlines from Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports. 

The Bahamas is currently open for tourism. All visitors need to show proof of a negative PCR test taken and received within five days of travel, with the exception of children 10 and under. You can find more on the country’s entry protocols here. 

For more, visit the Lighthouse Pointe resort. 

– CJ

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