HURRICANE
JOHN became the first storm of the Pacific hurricane
season to make landfall in Mexico Sept. 1, and despite several
inches of rain and sustained winds of up to 110 mph, the Los Cabos
Tourism Board reported that Los Cabos "suffered nothing more than
some rain and wind," according to Alberto Trevino, secretary of
tourism for Baja California. The resorts never lost power, and
guests were accommodated in ballrooms until the storm dissipated.
The storm struck around nightfall near Cabo del Este on the tip of
the Baja California peninsula as a Category 2 storm and made a
second landfall the next day near La Paz, also on the Baja
peninsula, as a weakened Category 1 hurricane. The airports in both
Los Cabos and La Paz did not sustain any major damage, according to
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, and have both since reopened
after canceling 151 flights due to strong winds in the area.
Meanwhile, the Acapulco Convention & Visitors Bureau, where
John drenched on its way by Aug. 28, said the destination
sidestepped John in stride. "Acapulco luckily suffered nothing more
than a good rain," said Mary Beth Medina Cortes, president of the
Acapulco Hotel and Tourism Association. Elsewhere in the Pacific,
Kristy regenerated yet again and is a tropical storm for the third
time, although the storm remains no threat to land.
PLAYA
HOTELS & RESORTS, the company formed earlier this year
by Spain-based Grupo Barcelo, acquired the 332-room Barcelo
Tucancun Beach Hotel from Highland Hospitality Corp. for $38
million. The hotel had been severely damaged by Hurricane Wilma and
reopened last April after a multimillion-dollar repair project.
Playa Hotels said it plans additional renovations and improvements
to the hotel's rooms and 16 beachside villas. The Barcelo Tucancun
will retain its management and branding as an all-inclusive under
the Barcelo Resort umbrella. As previously reported, Playa Hotels
& Resorts was formed earlier this year as a private equity fund
to acquire and develop all-inclusive beachfront resorts in Mexico,
Latin America and the Caribbean. Bruce Wardinski, chairman and CEO
of Playa Hotels & Resorts, said Playa is in "active
negotiations" to buy several more hotels as well as land to build
more resorts in Mexico and elsewhere. "We expect to close on some
of these transactions prior to year's end, and with over $1 billion
in available capital we are aggressively pursuing additional growth
opportunities," said Wardinski. Playa currently owns five resorts
in Mexico.
IBEROSTAR
HOTELS & RESORTS said it will open the 300-room
Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso in December. The all-suite resort
will be the fifth, and last, property developed on Iberostar's
Playa Paraiso Resorts complex on the Riviera Maya and will set the
standard as the five-star flagship of the Iberostar brand,
according to the company. The resort will feature 300 suites with
full or partial ocean views, 12 Honeymoon Villa Suites with private
plunge pools, four restaurants, three swimming pools and a "mini
spa." The much larger El Spa is situated across the street in the
Playa Paraiso shopping and entertainment plaza. The resort will
include 24-hour butler and concierge service. In addition to the
new Grand Hotel Paraiso, Iberostar's Playa Paraiso Resorts complex
includes the Iberostar Paraiso Maya, Iberostar Paraiso Lindo,
Iberostar Paraiso del Mar and Iberostar Paraiso Beach. For
information or reservations, call (888) 923-2722 or visit www.iberostar.com.
AEROMEXICO is offering Amigo Fares to
travel agents for 40 destinations in Mexico and three destinations
in Latin America. The fares start at $100 roundtrip for an agent
and $130 for a companion. Amigo Fares are good through Dec. 10 from
Boston; Chicago; Houston; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; New York;
Ontario, Calif.; Orlando; Phoenix; and San Diego. A current IATAN
card is required. For information or to book, call (800) 454-1847
and mention code G/USA/PRO/AM6.
CORRECTION: The Web site to register for
Destination Ventures' Los Cabos U.S. seminars is www.loscabos-seminars.com. An incorrect Web site was
published in Aug. 28 Mexico E-letter. For information about Los
Cabos, visit www.visitloscabos.org.
Mexico
E-Letter Editor:
Jorge
Sidron
Phone: (973) 898-0011
[email protected]
For promotional
opportunities in the E-letters, contact [email protected].