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Three Takes On Classic Mexican Destinations
May 05, 2008
Three writers from Incentive recently visited properties in Cancun and Los Cabos, Mexico's major incentive destinations
By Anne Marie D. Lee
Cancun For Grown-ups
In the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane, Cancun, Mexico decided to rebuild more than its storm-battered physical infrastructure and beach. The leaders of the city's tourism industry decided to rebuild its reputation and target market, focusing more on the upscale leisure and incentive market and less on the spring break destination it was becoming known as.
That is reflected in the new marketing campaign launched last month by the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau, "Cancun: Deeply Unique," which highlights more than just the destination's famous sun and beaches. Cancun will be shown as a fully integrated tourist destination, with cultural attractions, adventure and eco-tourism activities, fine dining, luxury spas and a thriving meetings, incentives and conventions market.
Aqua Cancun
One of the new hotels that personifies this trend is the Aqua Cancun. Opened a few months before the hurricane, Aqua's management completely rebuilt the property, which had its real grand opening in February. The result is a very chic luxury resort with a very modern feel.
Aqua is a consummately stress-free place, starting with check-in, which is handled one-on-one at soft benches looking out over the Caribbean, with cool moist towels and tasty iced tea, rather than at a desk. My suite, with a nice-size balcony overlooking the ocean, had a light, airy feel, enhanced by soothing colors and the white gauze curtains instead of walls and doors separating the bed, bathing room (as I called it) and living room. The bathing room had a huge shower and enclosed WC, of course, but was designed around the circular whirlpool tub set in the middle of the room. With the curtains pulled aside and the balcony doors thrown wide, it was like bathing outdoors.
 "The recent incentive program Windward [International Corporation] managed at Aqua was an exceptional experience for the attendees," says Phil Mullins, the Deerfield, Ill.–based incentive travel management firm's president. "What makes an immediate impression is the warm, almost spiritual feeling from the 'In laákech,' a Mayan greeting that means 'I am you,' that you receive from the resort staff. Accompanying the distinctive aromatherapy with exotic scents emanating throughout the resort and guestrooms, it creates a soothing, sensual atmosphere that makes it a truly unique setting for an upscale incentive program." He adds, "I would also be remiss to not mention how well the resort F&B functions were handled, from the exquisite care in the table design to the food preparation, presentation and service."
The signature restaurant, MB, is the brainchild of Michelle Bernstein, the celebrity-chef owner of Michy's in Miami—and she's a celebrity with good reason, I can attest—while Siete features food by Martha Ortiz, Bon Appetit magazine's Best Mexican Chef of 2007. Another signature is AKA Wine & Mezcal Bar, which specializes in single-village mezcals—a must for a cocktail party.
Then there's Spa Aqua. By design it's multicultural, with a Mayan base but incorporating massage, relaxation and treatment techniques from Sweden, India, Japan, Polynesia and Morocco—sometimes in one treatment, such as the Fusion Massage.
A worthwhile stop around the corner is Luxury Avenue, a high-end mall with boutiques like Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Salvatore Ferragamo. Private group shopping, complete with cocktails and makeovers, are easily arranged.
—Leo Jakobson
The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun
 At the Luxury Meetings Forum held at the Ritz-Carlton, Cancun—located on the brilliant blue-rimmed tip of the Yucatan peninsula—a conundrum of sorts was presented: How to appeal to the young folks (Gen X and Y) while staying true to a long-standing identity of regal elegance and world-renowned footman-style service? Ritz-Carlton, after all, is not what you'd call a "sexy" hotel, like Aqua, but then, The Ritz-Carlton doesn't aspire to that. Today, as yesterday, Ritz-Carlton continues to offer beauty on a grandiose level, and service that makes you feel like a dignitary, even in your flip-flops.
At the 365-room and -suite resort, all guests enjoy sweeping ocean views and a trove of exquisite amenities such as a gorgeous welcome tray, featuring tricolor nacho chips, guacamole served in a lava molcajete and your choice of margarita prepared on the spot.
Two of the property's dining options, The Club Grill, which serves international specialties, and Fantino, which has fine Mediterranean cuisine served in a fresco-enhanced European ambience, are the only restaurants in Mexico to hold AAA's 2006 Five Diamond Award—a feat that, combined with the hotel's own Five Diamond rating, is unmatched in North America, according to Tony Perrone, manager of AAA national headquarters in Mexico.
At an unforgettable farewell dinner, indoor meeting space was magically transformed into a Mexican rain forest by Fritz Mercer, the property's amazing director of meetings and special events. Complete with leafy canopy, encroaching sounds, foggy mist, Mayan temple and muscular natives, the grand illusion that Fritz created for our final dinner was so convincing that table guests giggled about concern over mosquitoes and virgin sacrifices. As for the feast itself, Chef Rainer Zinngrebe prepared a skillfully nuanced menu. It began with mini truffle quesadillas, warm langostino tempura in achiote citrus mayo, seared Yucatan venison carpaccio and caviar, and finished with a charming minimalist presentation of a soufflé trio that was anything but minimal in its eye-rolling richness and flavor.
The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun caters to the current trend for cooking classes at the recently opened $500,000 Culinary Center overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Chef Rory Dunaway makes the classes fun and educational. We learned how to make authentic guacamole and margaritas. The former entails chopping herbs as well as tomatoes—a technical skill that, once learned, leaves you feeling superior to those poor, lesser cooks who don't know how to use a large knife properly. As for the high-end tequila used for the margaritas, let's just say that by the end of our lesson, the avocados weren't the only things to get slightly smashed.
—Anne Marie D. Lee
Los Cabos
 On the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula lies lovely Los Cabos, a place where the postcard-perfect scenery and leisurely pace instantly lift the spirits. A sleepy fishing village no longer, this resort destination comprising the lively Cabo San Lucas, the low-key San Jose del Cabo and the connecting Corridor still manages to retain its distinctive charm and calm cadence despite making its mark on the international map. The natural beauty of the area is not hard to miss, with the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range rising high above, the famous Arch attracting admirers and the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez framing the bronze coast. The idyllic setting is well-suited for incentive travelers accustomed to taking trips to luxurious locales around the world.
Among the group-friendly accommodations are Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide's modern Westin Resort & Spa, Los Cabos and the quaint Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Resort & Spa, located within minutes of each other. Each features all the amenities one would expect from an elegant property, including a beachfront location, a serene spa, access to championship golf courses, spacious guestrooms and really good restaurants. At the Westin, jazz and inventive international fare are on the menu at the cliffside fine-dining restaurant Arrecifes, while the Five-Diamond-Award-winning Pitahayas Restaurant at the Sheraton serves up fusion cuisine from the Pacific Rim and offers an intimate wine cellar for special occasions. Of course, this is Mexico, and you can't call it a night without indulging in a tequila tasting or two.
 For those seeking adventure, head to Rancho Carisuva in Playa Migriño. Ecological excursions such as the Rhino Safari, Pacific Beach Horseback Ride and the ATV Desert and Beach Expedition will take thrill-seekers over oceanside cliffs, rugged desert ranges and canyon trails, providing incredible vantage points to view the vast beauty of the area. For an awe-inspiring experience on the water, Ocean Riders in Cabo San Lucas specializes in whale-watching tours. Prime season is late November through April, when massive humpbacks, grays and, on occasion, orcas arrive on the scene for relaxation, romance and for the rearing of their newborn calves. Witnessing the grandeur of these massive mammals up close is an exhilarating experience that is a must in any Los Cabos itinerary.
It's really hard to leave Los Cabos, but when you do, you'll feel recharged, relaxed and ready to plan your next trip back to beautiful Baja.
—Jeanie Casison
Planner Resources
Aqua Cancun
www.feel-aqua.com
Luxury Avenue
www.luxuryavenue.com
The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun
www.ritz-carlton.com/cancun
Westin Resort & Spa, Los Cabos
www.westin.com/loscabos
Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Resort & Spa, Los Cabos
www.sheraton.com/loscabos
Ocean Riders
www.cabosanlucastours.net/oceanriders.htm
Rancho Carisuva
www.ranchocarisuva.com
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