 |
| adults-only Oasis Sens |
Cancun didn’t invent the hotel-within-a-hotel concept. But it has certainly refined and re-imagined it over the years. Recently-opened properties employing the concept with great success include the Royalton Riviera Cancun. Janine Chapman, vice president of marketing for Royalton Resorts, describes it as a “next generation all-inclusive.”
“The Hideaway at Royalton Riviera Cancun is a unique adults-only boutique hotel within a resort, offering all of the great services of its sister resort, plus a dedicated adults-only restaurant, bars, and pool areas,” Chapman tells Travel Agent.
Royalton’s formula is a winning one according to Brandi Poss, senior account executive with Travelzap in Chicago, IL.
“The exclusive beach area for The Hideaway guests has an adults-only lounge, pool, Jacuzzi and spa area. It’s great for honeymooners. And they still have access to the rest of the property. It’s also super convenient for destination weddings. The couples and adult guests can stay at The Hideaway, while the families can stay at the Royalton section. It works very well, and it’s extremely versatile,” Poss tells Travel Agent.
Another brand that’s implemented the hotel-within-a-hotel concept is Oasis Hotels & Resorts. The Pyramid at Grand Oasis launched this spring within the Oasis Cancun/Grand Oasis Cancun resort campus.
Travel Agent has just returned from a stay at The Pyramid, as well as the adults-only Oasis Sens.
Guests of The Pyramid are ushered upon arrival to a separate check-in lobby lounge. Light snacks and beverages are available there throughout the day. And the lounge is staffed by a dedicated Oasis Plus concierge team.
Pyramid guests enjoy exclusive access to several restaurants and lounges. There’s also a separate beach club area available to them offering Balinese-style lounging beds and a wait staff to bring out drinks and snacks. Soft goods, flat-panel TVs and minibar offerings in the pyramid-shaped tower’s 260-rooms have been added or upgraded. Guests also enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi.
“We looked at our current branding and ways to improve it. The Pyramid is a direct result. It’s an independent self-contained resort in the middle of another very ample resort. Instead of creating a section, room category or club level, we went straight for creating a self-contained resort within the main property,” Enrique Klein, vice president of sales and marketing for Oasis Hotels & Resorts, tells Travel Agent.
Enhancements are also underway at the Oasis Cancun. By year’s end, Oasis Cancun will cease to exist. It will be incorporated into the Grand Oasis Cancun.
Oasis is also adept at the club-level concept.
At Oasis Sens, the perks are plentiful for guests booking Sian Ka’an-level accommodations. They include a separate VIP check-in lounge complete with its own bar. Rooms for Sian Ka’an guests feature balconies with small private pools. Guests enjoy access to a reserved Sian Ka’an Beach Club area with its own bar and Bali beds.
Dining privileges are also noteworthy.
Among other things, Sian Ka’an guests enjoy a complimentary dinner at the property’s Hacienda Benazuza. Launched by Spanish chef Rafael Zafra, the venue lands consistently atop culinary “best of” lists for Cancun. Safra was a protégé of Adrian Feria, the acclaimed chef-founder of the molecular cuisine movement.
“By expanding the diversity of our product offerings, we’ve shown that we’re not a one-flavor company,” said Klein.
Certainly, the idea of differentiating between service levels is a trend that’s here to stay.
“It’s something we’re seeing in hotels and even cruise ships these days. It’s quite popular to create a new level of luxury that wasn’t there before. Hotels are offering luxury zones and enhanced club-level amenities. They’re introducing areas of restricted access or perhaps a mini-haven within the larger structure. It’s a great option for multi-generational travel. And properties that utilize it are enhancing their appeal,” Suzanne Hall, senior director, land supplier partnerships for Ensemble Hotel & Resort Collection, tells Travel Agent.