THE RIVIERA MAYA will host a Latin Jazz Festival
Nov. 13 to 15 at public venues, restaurants and hotels throughout
the region. Sponsored by the Tourism Promotion Board of the Riviera
Maya and the Riviera Maya Hotel Association, the event will bring
together several of jazz's top Latin performers, including
Caribbean Jazz Project, the recipients of the 2003 Grammy for best
Latin jazz album ("The Gathering"). On Nov. 13 and 14, events will
take place in restaurants and hotels, as well as at the Municipal
Park in Playa del Carmen. On Saturday Nov. 15, the main concert
with Caribbean Jazz Project will take place at the Municipal Park
starting at 8 p.m. Other groups scheduled to perform are La
Reunion, MaJazz, Hiram Gomez & Friends, Jazz Son Four and
Marion Patron. Most events are free. For information, call (888)
604-6044 or visit www.rivieramaya.com.
RUNAWAY launched specially priced four-night
packages to Mexico that include air fare on Alaska Airlines from
Los Angeles and airport transfers. The packages are valid through
Dec. 18. In Los Cabos, prices start at $492, at the Hotel Hacienda
Beach Resort, $793 at the Ritz-Carlton in Cancun, $426 at the
Pueblo Bonito in Mazatlan (including a daily $20 food and beverage
credit and use of the fitness center), $822 at the Melia Azul in
Ixtapa (kids under 12 stay free), $489 at the Jolla de Mismaloya in
Puerto Vallarta and $724 at the Karmina Palace in Manzanillo
(including a one-hour massage and 1000 bonus Alaska Airlines
frequent flyer miles). All rates are per person, double. For
reservations, call (800) 622-0723 or e-mail [email protected].
MEXICO'S KRYSTAL HOTELS are giving automatic
room upgrades at check-in to Pleasant Holidays clients who book
run-of-house rooms at Krystal properties in Cancun and Puerto
Vallarta through Dec. 20. At the Krystal Puerto Vallarta, guests
will be upgraded to Junior Suites facing the pool or garden;
five-night, land-only packages start at $281 per person, double.
Guests at the Krystal Cancun will be upgraded to Club Floor rooms;
five-night, land-only packages start at $329 per person, double.
Rates are both properties include roundtrip airport transfers,
daily breakfast, and hotel taxes and surcharges. Meanwhile, the
all-inclusive Presidente InterContinental Resort in Los Cabos is
extending its reduced rate special through Dec. 20. Three-night,
land-only packages start at $172 per person, double. Prices include
roundtrip airport transfers, a room upgrade if available at time of
check-in, all meals and beverages, and hotel taxes and surcharges.
For information or reservations, call (800) 448-3333 or visit www.PleasantAgent.com.
THE RITZ-CARLTON CANCUN opened the Cobalt
Lounge, the first Club Level lounge reserved exclusively for adult
guests among the 54 Ritz-Carlton Hotels worldwide. The lounge is
located one floor above the existing Club Level Lounge.
Ritz-Carlton said the Cobalt "provides an extra measure of
tranquility and privacy" for Club Level guests. The
2,200-square-foot lounge seats 30 and is located on the 9th floor;
it is accessible via a staircase from the Club Lounge. The Cobalt
is open from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and offers a full cocktail menu,
complimentary canapes and live music. The lounge name salutes the
famous Ritz-Carlton blue cobalt goblets introduced at The
Ritz-Carlton Boston in 1927. To book the Ritz-Carlton Cancun, call
(800) 241-3333 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com.
FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, Iberostar Hotels
& Resorts was voted "Best Hotel Chain" by Apple Vacations,
which presented Iberostar president Miguel Fluxa with the Crystal
Apple award. Apple Vacations' Crystal Apple, the company's most
prestigious accolade, is given to a hotel company that offers
quality, service and value. This year's winner was based on
questionnaires completed by more than 115,000 guests who evaluated
a total of 450 hotels worldwide. "Customer satisfaction is our top
priority so it is a true honor to once again be selected by
travelers as the best hotel chain," said Fluxa. "Apple Vacations
and the travel agents trust Iberostar to provide the best vacation
experience and receiving this award let's us know we are doing a
good job. We plan to get even better." For Iberostar reservations,
call (888) 923-2722 or visit www.iberostar.com.