LOS CABOS, Mexico
-- Tourism officials in Los Cabos reported positive numbers as 2004
came to a close, carrying with it bright predictions for the new
year.
From January to
August, for example, Los Cabos reported a 15% increase in hotel
occupancy and an increased hotel rate average of 10% over the
previous year.
Los Cabos now has
more than 9,200 hotel rooms, up from just over 8,000 in 2003 --
with more growth planned to reach the building cap of 10,000
rooms.
Several
properties expanded or refurbished their offerings. The following
are some of the highlights:
" The 150-room
Melia San Lucas redecorated its guest rooms.
" The 287-room
Melia Cabo Real Convention Center Beach & Golf Resort became
all-inclusive in December 2003.
" The 395-room
Presidente InterContinental completed a $20 million expansion and
renovation and now has conference facilities for up to 500
participants as well as six restaurants.
" The Melia Los
Cabos All Suites Oceanfront Spa & Golf Resort completed a $20
million expansion project, including the addition of 80 guest
suites, for a total of 200 units. Other additions to the property
include an infinity swimming pool with a swim-up bar, two tennis
courts, a pool bar and a wine and cigar bar.
" One&Only Palmilla reopened
in early 2004 following an $80 million renovation and expansion.
The property now has 172 guest rooms and a new spa, two new
restaurants, a new swimming pool and a new conference center with a
3,000-square-foot ballroom and 3,500-square-foot foyer for
events.
" AmResorts
opened the 308-room Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa,
a conversion of a former Melia property, in June.
" The Marquis Los
Cabos Beach, Golf, Spa and Casitas Resort, established in 2003,
opened a new spa and fitness center in April 2004. The
15,000-square-foot Spa Marquis has 10 treatment rooms, open-air
Jacuzzis and offers holistic treatments using indigenous
ingredients.
The fitness
center has workout equipment and offers classes in yoga, tai chi,
aerobics and meditation. The property has 9,270 square feet of
meetings space.
" The Westin
Regina Golf & Beach Resort Los Cabos finished a $2 million
upgrade. Renovated guest rooms now have high-speed Internet
connectivity, and there is a new cyber-cafe business center.
Wireless Internet access is available in the business center,
meetings facilities and all public areas.
The property also
has a new tequila bar plus sushi and martini bars and a nine-hole
putting green.
" The Hilton Los
Cabos Beach & Golf Resort offers a daily shuttle bus service,
connecting the property with San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.
Hotel guests can ride from 10 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. for $10 per
day.
" The Sheraton
Hacienda del Mar Resort & Spa Los Cabos added Sheraton Sweet
Sleeper beds to all 140 guest rooms.
Air
lift
From 2003 to
2004, there was a 23% increase in flight service in Los Cabos and a
12% increase in passenger arrivals.
Recent new
service includes Deltas seasonal service from Salt Lake City
(operated from Feb. 5 through May 31); Frontiers daily nonstop
service from Denver (through March 5); Continentals thrice-weekly
nonstop service from Newark; America Wests nonstop service from San
Diego, Oakland and Las Vegas; Aeromexicos service from Ontario,
Calif.; and Mexicanas service from Denver, Las Vegas and
Sacramento, Calif.
Also, there was
Northwests nonstops from Minneapolis (through April 30); Uniteds
daily service from San Francisco and thrice-weekly service from
Denver; Americans daily nonstop from Chicago (through April 15) and
increased service from Dallas/Fort Worth.
To contact
the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail to [email protected].