Stretched to their limits after a draining year, more and more Canadians are looking to recharge their inner selves, their bodies, and their “AïA”—their connection to nature. For your clients itching to unplug after a hard year stuck at home, but still craving all the trimmings of a luxury resort, Palmaïa, The House of AïA is just the place.
Hidden away among the Riviera Maya jungle and the Caribbean Sea, Palmaïa is grounded in principles of holistic personal development, nature and sustainability. Set on a private stretch of white-sand beach in the exclusive gated community of Playacar, the eco-resort boasts one of the few quiet beaches in Playa del Carmen, surrounded by lush mangroves and first-rate golf courses.
“Palmaïa is the future of travel,” says Karen Collado, Sales Director at Palmaïa, The House of AïA.
“After everything we’ve been going through, people are going to think deeply about the type of travel experience they want and about their health and wellbeing. We are a property where you can have it all — the beach, the pools, that nice vacation feeling — but also take care of yourself while travelling.”
Wellness Programs for All Goals and Lifestyles
From landing to leaving, the House of AïA offers an experience unlike any other in the wellness world.
Its flagship Architects of Life activity program touts over 20 rotating classes, ceremonies and rituals guests can participate in, each carefully curated by the resort’s in-house Personal Growth Guide, Balder. With programming rooted in the philosophy that your health is your wealth—and the best way to improve wellbeing is through a holistic approach—the wellness offering goes much deeper than aqua aerobics and facials. Palmaïa proudly calls it “the most comprehensive personal growth program ever offered at any resort.”
A typical day can begin with Kundalini Yoga to improve nervous system function, followed by a Cacao Ceremony in the afternoon. The cacao plant—widely used in ancient Mayan traditions and medicines—is said to open the heart and induce awakening, revelation and inner healing. End the day with meditation on the Ritual Deck, a serene, shaded platform located right above a cenote.
A different selection of classes—from tarot and Tai Chi, to Chi Kung and Tibetan Bowls therapy—is available each day of the week.
Palmaïa’s Rituals of Sound is another standout program unique to the resort. Paying homage to the music of Tulum and Mykonos, the primal ritual transforms the beach bar into a stage for creative experimental musicians who spin deep-fusion electronic music with acoustic overlays.
Taking Spa to a New Level
Relaxation and rejuvenation wouldn’t be complete without an indulgent spa session at Atlantis. Treatments are tied to our body’s nine energy centres to heal the body, mind and spirit. Besides a wide variety of healing massages, the spa also offers traditional temazcal rituals and wellness therapies.
Even the spa’s location is therapeutic, built around a natural, fresh-water cenote and centuries-old rock formations in the heart of the Mayan jungle. Treatment rooms are punctuated by floor to ceiling windows that enhance that “away from it all” feeling as you lay back and relax.
Your clients can truly unplug at The House of AïA, knowing that every whim, every concern will be taken care of by private butlers—or “Nomadic Guides”—from booking an activity to delivering late-afternoon snacks, to recommending the best Architects of Life class for them.
“We call them Nomadic Guides because they guide you in your path at Palmaïa. They are there for you any time, for whatever you need,” Collado says.
All-Inclusive, But Not As You Know It
The Architects of Life program, the Rituals of Sound activities, à la carte restaurant meals, room service, premium drinks, Nomadic Guides, and even a Waldorf kid’s program are all included in a guest’s stay as part of the brand’s “Gifting Lifestyle” philosophy, a twist on the all-inclusive resort concept.
“The philosophy of the property is about giving. It’s a community where we all participate and give together. That’s why we see it more as a gift. It’s a kind of all-inclusive plan,” explains Collado.
After a week of such indulgence, the post-Palmaïa after-glow will leave guests not only well-rested, but wholly invigorated, spiritually-healed individuals, ready to tackle our rapidly-changing world with grace and vigor.
