PUERTO VALLARTA -- Viva Resorts will add a Puerto Vallarta
property, its third in Mexico, and is constructing additional guest
rooms at one of its hotels in Playacar, located south of Cancun.
The move is part of the firm's expansion program in the
Caribbean and Mexico.
Viva Resorts, which has rebranded its resorts to include the
Viva name, operates four inclusive properties: Club Viva Maya and
Club Viva Azteca, both located in Playacar on the Riviera Maya;
Club Viva Fortuna on Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas, and Club
Viva Dominicus in La Romana, Dominican Republic.
In addition to the new Puerto Vallarta resort and the additional
rooms at Club Viva Maya, the company is building a second resort in
the Dominican Republic and is increasing room inventory at Club
Viva Fortuna.
Viva's success in the Riviera Maya market prompted its decision
to move into another area of the country, according to Amanda
Santana, director of sales and marketing for the company.
"We have had a very good experience so far in Mexico," Santana
said, citing average occupancy levels of more than 80% during the
first year of operation at the 300-room Club Viva Maya, which
opened in late 1996.
The 230-room Club Viva Azteca, adjacent to Club Viva Maya,
opened in May, and Santana said the response has been positive.
Viva chose Puerto Vallarta for its third Mexico project based on
the popularity of the destination, a solid network of air service
from the U.S., the attractive layout of the land on which the
property will be constructed and the shortage of inclusive products
in the area, according to Santana.
"There is definitely a demand for Puerto Vallarta, and there are
not many inclusive resorts of the level that we are going to
build," Santana said.
Club Viva Vallarta, scheduled to open in the fall of 1999, will
be a four-star property situated on 15 acres of land in the Costa
Banderas development north of Nuevo Vallarta.
Costa Banderas, located 20 miles from downtown Puerto Vallarta,
is a beachfront resort project slated to include other hotels as
well as golf courses, Santana said.
Viva is spending roughly $30 million on the property, which will
feature 400 guest rooms, a pool, three restaurants and bars, three
tennis courts, a fitness center, a scuba diving center, a full
range of water sports options and a disco.
The resort will follow the same inclusive concept as other Viva
properties: the rate will include all meals and drinks; unlimited
participation in sporting activities and nonmotorized water sports;
group instruction; live nightly entertainment; enrollment in the
children's program, and all taxes, gratuities and surcharges.
"The design of Club Viva Vallarta will not duplicate our
properties in the Riviera Maya, but it will have a Mexican
atmosphere of the Pacific region," Santana said.
As with other Viva properties, Club Viva Vallarta will cater to
families, singles and couples, although Viva hopes to attract more
North Americans to the property than it receives at its other
resorts.
Santana said North Americans are expected to represent at least
50% of the clientele at Club Viva Vallarta.
Viva's other Mexico properties have a client mix of
approximately 40% North Americans, 50% Europeans and 10% Latin
Americans and other international visitors.
To ensure a steady flow of North American guests at the Club
Viva Vallarta, the chain is working to improve its relationships
with tour operators in the western U.S. and is launching a print
advertising campaign in the trade press.
Viva's main tour operator partners in North America include
Adventure Tours, Apple Vacations, Friendly Holidays, Funjet
Vacations, Gogo, GWB, Island Resort Tours, TransGlobal Vacations,
T&T and Travel Charter.
At Club Viva Maya, the expansion initiative includes the
addition of 100 guest rooms that will be identical to the resort's
existing units as well as a third restaurant, which will offer a la
carte dining.
The project is expected to be completed by July.
Through Aug. 31, inclusive rates for a three-night package start
at $270 per person, double, at Club Viva Maya and $210 at Club Viva
Azteca.
Children under the age of 7 stay free when sharing a room with
their parents, and a 50% discount is offered to kids ages 7 to
16.
Guests staying at either resort can take advantage of services
and activities at both properties.
Viva Resorts
Phone: (800) 898-9968 or (800) 74-CHARMS