Meagan Drillinger
The
landscape of Mexican hotels is flooded with fantastic all-inclusives for
romance travel or families, five-star colonial hotels for those who want to
splurge and tiny beachfront bungalows for the backpacker set.
But
over the past few years boutique hotels have been on the rise, and not just in
Mexico’s cities. Mexico is now booming with boutique luxury both in its cities
and on its beaches as Mexican hoteliers fill this obvious hole in the market. Today,
the boutique hotel scene in Mexico is thriving as young, affluent travelers
look for a little touch of lifestyle with their luxury, like gourmet cuisine,
nightlife, sex appeal, cocktails and a bit of local immersion. These travelers
are happily embracing the slew of trendy and chic accommodations that are
taking the country by storm.
“Mexico
has always been a popular destination,” says Dorota Atoszkiewicz, hospitality
director at the Hotel Matlali, a boutique luxury resort just north of Puerto
Vallarta. “Increase in boutique hotels became more popular due to the choices
of the affluent traveler. Boutique hotels are no longer small haciendas tucked
in between narrow streets. Today, boutique hotels are set along pristine
beaches or hidden coves, tropical forests or hills with private villas or
elegant cabanas. Guests receive a sense of residential living, accompanied with
personalized service.”
Puerto
Vallarta’s boutique scene continues to grow with the emergence of hotels like
the Hotel Mousai, which opened last year. This next-generation, design-forward
property is part of the changing dynamic of Mexico’s beachfront hotel scene.
This shift can also be felt in Los Cabos, with the emergence of lifestyle
boutique hotels like the Hotel el Ganzo and The Cape, a Thompson Hotel. “Los
Cabos has been known as a destination for luxury for some time now,” says
Eduardo Segura, general manager of The Cape. “However, before we launched,
there was still an untapped market from when it came to the modern lifestyle-driven
approach to luxury. From the architecture of our building and its interior
design to the nightlife offerings on our rooftop lounge, we’re bringing
something truly distinct to Cabo.”
Grupo
Habita is, without a doubt, at the forefront of Mexico’s
boutique boom. In 1996, they opened their now-iconic Hotel Habita in Mexico
City’s Polanco neighborhood. Today, the group has 12 hotels in Mexico,
including a new one that just debuted in Guadalajara.
“When
we started in the hotel business, we were adventurous and restless. Hotel
Habita was conceived on pure instinct,” says Carlos Couturier, managing partner
of Grupo Habita. “We understood our local culture but also the world. We
foresaw a need for change in the hospitality industry of Mexico. We conceived
Hotel Habita as an answer to the local vibe, weather and way of life of those
early days back in 1996. Our inspiration came from our own roots.”
Couturier
attributes this recent surge to the blend the destination has between old and
new. “Mexico has modernized but, in a way, remained the same,” he says. “Our
strong culture keeps us linked to the past, but our spirit looks to the future.
This combination of heritage, culture, creativity and wisdom is the perfect
ground for lifestyle hotels. Tourists are flowing to these kinds of
destinations. Plus we have year-round sunshine.”
Grupo
Habita has properties in Mexico City, Acapulco, Puerto Escondido, Veracruz,
Monterrey and Guadalajara.