MERIDA, Mexico --
The Yucatan state capitals inventory of luxury hotels increases by
one this winter, when Presidente InterContinental Hotels and
Resorts opens its ninth five-star hotel in Mexico, the Presidente
InterContinental Villa Mercedes Merida.
The hotel -- with
127 rooms and three suites decorated in art nouveau style and
outfitted with the latest technology, such as high-speed, wireless
Internet -- occupies a 19th-century mansion near the elegant
boulevard Paseo de Montejo, a downsized version of Paris Champs
Elysees, and within striking distance of the citys historical
quarter and convention center.
The property
formerly operated as the Hotel Villa Mercedes. After $12 million in
expansion and renovations, it was rebranded and is now managed as
the Presidente InterContinental Villa Mercedes Merida.
The Merida
property -- now in soft opening and set for a January official
debut -- is the first in Yucatan state for Presidente
InterContinental, which has five-star hotels in Cancun and Cozumel
in the neighboring state of Quintana Roo.
Its also the
first new hotel property of any ilk to open in Merida in about a
decade.
The opening of
the Presidente InterContinental Villa Mercedes Merida closes the
Cancun-Cozumel-Merida [travel] triangle for us, said Gordon Viberg,
managing director of Presidente InterContinental.
The profile of
the guest who comes to our Cancun or Cozumel hotels is a North
American or European who also visits Merida -- for obvious reasons,
such as the nearby [Mayan] ruins plus newer attractions such as the
restored historic henequen-producing haciendas.
World-class goes local
The Presidente
InterContinental Villa Mercedes Merida boasts two
special-access executive floors of Club
InterContinental rooms and suites.
Club
InterContinental executive units feature high-tech extras and
amenities such as 27-inch plasma televisions, butler service and
free morning newspaper delivery.
Nine
state-of-the-art rooms capable of hosting up to 350 people comprise
the meetings space.
In addition, the
hotel offers a menu of round-the-clock services and facilities,
including room service, laundry/valet and state-of-the-art business
and fitness centers.
On-site
restaurant Frutas y Flores serves three meals a day, specializing
in Yucatecan and international cuisine. Lobby bar El Consulado,
meanwhile, boasts an extensive wine list and a selection of premium
cigars.
Rates at the
Presidente InterContinental Villa Mercedes Merida start at $109 per
night for a deluxe room.
Presidente
InterContinental pays travel agents 10% commission.
For reservations
or more information, visit www.intercontinental.com/merida.
To contact
Destinations editor Kenneth Kiesnoski, send e-mail to [email protected].