Hyatt isn't above a little corporate tease.
Last week, Hyatt officially revealed a few juicy secrets it's been keeping: the grand opening of the new Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres, along with the official opening of The Hyatt Vivid Grand Island, both of which are under the World of Hyatt umbrella.
Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres is a 507-room, adults-only property that is part of Hyatt’s expanding all-inclusive portfolio in the region. While it opened last winter, it did so on a multi-phased schedule. This week saw the resort showcase its finishing touches: the resort’s spa, wellness centre and theatre.
Situated beside a stretch of pristine oceanfront coast, about 30 minutes north of Cancun’s hotel zone, this property offers a fair bit of choice when it comes to dipping toes into inviting waters. Along with the Caribbean ocean-based options, the resort boasts four large swimming pools, an activities pool, a jungle-inspired pool (my fave), plus 10 smaller pools exclusively for guests in swim-out suites. The bevy of pools means that your clients will never be overcrowded while cooling off, unless they’d like to be.
The resort also offers poolside entertainment by way of Mariachi bands, live music, or DJs. And, before leaving this section about bodies of water, it should be noted that, should your clients be snorkelers or divers, one of the world’s largest barrier reefs lies close to the resort’s shore.
But it’s not just the surplus of pools that will entice clients. Hyatt preserved the existing dunes around the property to build a resort that honours the environment (as much as possible when it comes to all-inclusive resorts), while offering a lush perspective. Verdant greenery fills the property, with canopied, cobblestone walkways and encased fire and water installations that perfect for late-night chat sessions. The greenery is complemented with natural materials, including wood, stone, and handcrafted decorative furnishings from local artists. And, I’d be remiss not to mention the dramatic entrance way to the resort, which makes you are entering an amphitheatre of great measure.
The spacious rooms are also outfitted in neutral tones, with sweeping views of both the property and the beach. As always, there’s a secret compartment in the rooms to enable guests to order room service without having to engage with the outside world. Consider it a slice of James Bond-like room service experience, available any time of the day or night since the resort offers 24-hour room service. The bathroom is replete with state-of-the-art spa tubs, and also comes stocked with most of your toiletry needs, offering toothbrushes, toothpaste and more.
Beyond these services and touches, the hotel also offers concierge services, pool and beach wait service, and daily refreshed mini-bars. All taxes and gratuities are included, complemented by free Wi-Fi throughout the resort.
And, in case you’d like an even more elevated experience, the resort offers Preferred Club accommodations that provide an extra level of luxury with room categories, including swim-out pools, upgraded oceanfront suites, exclusive access to the Preferred Club Lounge, an oceanfront Beach Bar, and an infinity pool.
While I’m all about beaches and pools, I’m also all about food, and this resort doesn’t disappoint when it comes to cuisine. Your client’s mornings will begin with an expansive buffet filled with everything from bacon and eggs every which way to traditional Mexican fare filled with chilaquiles, tamales and traditional Mexican coffee. Aside from the delicious breakfast buffet, the resort’s nine dining establishments offer gluten-free and vegetarian menu options. Its restaurant offerings range from El Patio, offering authentic Mexican cuisine, to traditional Japanese Tatami rooms serving handmade sushi and Pan-Asian cuisine. The Italian restaurant, Portofino, boasts one of the largest wine selections in the destination. Clients can also book an array of culinary experiences such as the Chef’s Table, tequila tasting, wine tasting, and romantic dinners for an additional cost.
Beyond all of the above, I have to say the best feature in my humble opinion is the newly opened spa’s hydrotherapy circuit. I have done water therapy before, but not this extensively. The spa has up to seven stations including a sauna, steam room, cold plunge and a bevy of jet-enhanced stations. I spent almost two hours there and, as someone with chronic pain, I appreciated every moment of it.
“Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection is the largest portfolio of luxury all-inclusive resorts in the world, which was further solidified by the opening of Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres earlier this year,” said Gabriel Felip, President of Hyatt’s Latin America & Caribbean region during the opening event at the resort. “This new resort provides a romantic escape for guests and members seeking relaxation close to Cancun’s historical sites, further expanding our offerings within the portfolio.”
But this wasn’t the only secret Hyatt revealed this week. The company also celebrated the official launch of its adults-only Hyatt Vivid brand with the opening of Hyatt Vivid Grand Island also in Cancun.
Catering to a younger, hipper client, the resort offers a more budget-friendly resort in a chill setting. Upon entering the resort, clients will be greeted with a canopy of dream-catchers and pools that border almost the entire front of the hotel. A long wooden deck that lines the other side of the pool is outfitted with Insta-friendly features such as a tunnel decked with twinkling lights that illuminate up at night. But its most social media-friendly feature is the rooftop infinity pool overlooking a lagoon with 360-degree views, making for a sweet sunset vantage point. According to social media manager Christian Porcayo Flores, it’s the longest rooftop pool in Cancún at 98 metres (295 feet), offering sweeping views in every direction.
“We began developing the adults-only Hyatt Vivid concept in 2021 to address a gap identified through market research in Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection’s portfolio for a brand that addressed the next generation of travelers’ wants and price points,” Philippe Frey, Senior Vice President of Field Operations for the Inclusive Collection in Latin America & Caribbean, said during an interview at the hotel.
“Designed specifically for the young, global-minded adult traveler, the brand fills a niche by catering to couples, friends and solo travelers seeking an experience- driven vacation, offering a unique space within our all-inclusive offerings.”
The experience-driven vacation Frey is referring to includes offering guests enriching experiences, rooted in the local culture and surroundings, such as Mexican cooking classes, tequila tastings, sip and paint classes, Spanish lessons, and crafts including pottery, macrame, bracelet and dream catcher making.
Wellness is also a pillar for the brand, with a state-of-the-art rooftop fitness centre and exercise classes, including aqua spin classes, along with water aerobics. The resort also offers tabata and HIIT classes, paddleboard yoga, boxing, meditation classes, sound bath sessions and cacao ceremonies. It was hard for me to step away from the infinity pool to partake in the myriad offerings, but I did participate in a sound bath session with guide Fernanda Lizet Islas Delgado, which was one of the most immersive sound baths I’ve experienced.
The hotel features modern suites ranging from 570 to over 3,000-square-feet with a neutral colour palate and pop of artistic detail such as handmade ceramics. The sunken bathtub is lovely and the bathroom also comes with all of your toiletry needs and a double vanity. Amenities include a secret box for private, stress-free room service; a fully stocked in-room mini bar including water, sodas, and beer. But the real selling feature of the rooms are the large balconies overlooking the pool and lagoon. I was almost a tad emotional watching the sun descend on my balcony on my first night.
The Vantage Club offers an upgraded experience for guests looking to indulge with exclusive perks, including club suites with premium locations offering sweeping views, a soaking tub, an in-room espresso machine and pillow menu in-room, personalized check-in and check-out, concierge service, club status, and additional amenities and services including access to the private Vantage Club lounge.
And, clients won’t go hungry here. The resort features eleven casual dining options and six bars serving top-shelf and zero proof beverage options. Five à la carte restaurants, and an all-day eatery featuring global cuisine, all with healthy menu options served me well. I ordered tacos and wings by the rooftop pool during the day, and feasted on a sushi feast in the evening at the resort’s Oishii restaurant. This authentic Japanese dining experience overlooking the rooftop pool will make your clients feel like they’ve booked an indulgent experience without the costly price-tag. Throw in restaurant reservation at sunset when the sky features gradients of purple hues and your clients will be golden, pun intended! And this wouldn’t be a resort catering to millennials without a food truck or two. Just be sure to tell your clients to double check the opening times of all restaurants and the food truck.
Since this isn’t a beach-adjacent resort, the hotel offers guests a shuttle service to The Ennea Beach Club, a private, boho-chic club including two pools, a beachside snack bar and restaurant accessible solely to Hyatt Vivid Grand Island and Dreams Grand Island guests.
Upon arriving, clients walk through a long, picturesque tunneled entrance that peaks out to the beach. A series of stairs led to Bali beds and loungers overlooking the turquoise waters of Playa Delfines. I spent a leisurely afternoon lounging by the beach, indulging in delicious poke tuna nachos at the restaurant and dipping into the pool overlooking the ocean. The only thing I’d caution clients is that the ocean can be rather rough. As an avid swimmer and ocean lover, I attempted to swim in it, only to be bashed quickly into a large rock that left me leaving the waters with bloodied legs and hands. However, it should be noted that I called the concierge to request bandages before bed and a lovely lifeguard appeared at my door offering to clean my wounds with antiseptic and provided me with a few aids to ease the pain.
Hyatt seems poised to corner the all-inclusive market and this resort moves the company one step closer to its goal of being the primary provider of well curated experiences.
