Acapulco Continues to Invest, Revamp its Hotel Product

A new Acapulco is being unveiled, led by an array of new hotels, sport and entertainment complexes, and major tourism initiatives and investments, both from the public and private sector.

Among the current roster of upscale activities and cultural offerings, an array of ambitious new projects are underway in Acapulco.

The most recent investment in Acapulco comes in the form of the new Advisory Council for the Recovery of the Traditional Zone; a celebrated neighborhood in Acapulco that is home to the legendary La Quebrada cliff divers, the famous Hotel Flamingos and the retro-chic Hotel Boca Chica.

Mexican entrepreneur Carlos Slim was appointed chairman of the new Advisory Council, whose main objective is to protect, restore and revitalize this important area of Acapulco. Future projects include the creation of a Center for Biodiversity, a recreation center for the Caleta and Caletilla beach areas, inclusive of an entertainment center, movie theatre, gourmet market and traditional 'zocalo' as well as an outdoor shopping plaza.

Two additional and important projects to launch this year are major upgrades to Acapulco's tourism infrastructure - a new transportation system (ACABUS) that will run from the Traditional Zone to the Diamond Zone as well as the construction of a new tunnel that will connect the main tourism area (the Golden Zone) to the Diamond Zone. Both projects are expected to alleviate traffic in Acapulco's main tourism areas and offer travelers an easy, affordable way to enjoy all of the destination's distinct neighborhoods.

Also new in Acapulco this year is the Turtle Dunes Country Club and Golf Course, an exclusive, full-service country club opened in late February on the grounds of the Fairmont Acapulco Princess. The club features an 18-hole championship golf course, a clubhouse located on the famed Revolcadero Beach, the Lorena Ochoa Golf Academy and a fitness center. Additionally, the destination prepares to welcome a brand new soccer stadium in the Diamond Zone, which will hold more than 27,000 people and will include a shopping mall, aquarium and gym upon completion.

Over recent years, Acapulco has additionally welcomed some of the most celebrated hotels in Mexico to its collection of resorts, such as Las Brisas Acapulco, El Cano and the newly renovated Grand Hotel Acapulco.

Recent openings include the fashionable boutique property, Hotel Encanto, the vision of Mexican architect Miguel Angel Aragones and the cliff-top wonder of Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués, featuring the signature Banyan Tree Spa. Also new to Acapulco this year is the 224-room Holiday Inn La Isla property in the Condesa neighborhood, located just minutes from the destination's top-rated restaurants and attractions.

New mega-complexes serving to lure sophisticated travelers to Acapulco include the 685,000 square-foot La Isla Shopping Village, which recently announced its expansion to include new, high-end retail stores, movie theatres and an interactive aquarium, and Mundo Imperial, a $300 million investment that features the city's most popular entertainment and concert venue, the Forum at Mundo Imperial. Mundo Imperial has continued to solidify its position at the center of Acapulco's tourism infrastructure with the 2012 opening of the Expo at Mundo Imperial, a new convention center.

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