The Future Looks Bright For Playa Hotels & Resorts
Playa Hotels & Resorts held its first VIP showcase event in three years in Toronto last night to thank travel trade partners and give “breaking news” insights into what the future holds.
“Tonight is really just about celebrating. It’s our first in person event,” Amanda Morris, Director of Sales — Canada, told PressToday at Constantine restaurant and bar. “We wanted to bring our top agent partners, tour operator partners and our media friends to come and thank them for their support. And we have so many exciting things happening. We’ve got some brand new announcements that have recently come out like our partnership with Marriott.”
Through the partnership, Sanctuary Cap Cana is the first luxury all-inclusive resort for Marriott International. However, the biggest news of the evening was another brand partnership.
“IHG Hotels & Resorts has a brand called Kimpton and we are announcing that our first Kimpton Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort in the Riviera Maya is going to be a Playa property,” said Rose Cosentino, Vice President, Sales — Canada & EurAsia. “When I say this is breaking news, it’s legit! It’s all inclusive, if you know the Kimpton brand, it’s very boutique.”
Slated to open in early 2024, the rebranded Kimpton Hacienda Tres Ríos will be the first all-inclusive Kimpton Resort to open in the Riviera Maya. The original Hacienda Tres Ríos first opened in 2008.
“That is new and exciting for us, and means that there will probably be more of those type of hotels in our portfolio,” said Cosentino. “When I say we’re still a growing company, here’s a perfect illustration of what that looks like.”
Other soon to open resorts include Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya, an adults-only all-inclusive property officially launching in December, and Wyndham Alltra Riviera Nayarit, another takeover debuting Oct. 10.
“I think the biggest thing for me right now is making sure agents recognize the consistency with our portfolio and as we continue to add, we are adding more of our mi- scale market properties to our portfolio,” Morris said. “We really do have something for everybody and all budgets. For a long time it was just those luxury properties, our Hyatts and our Hiltons, and now we have the Wyndhams and that portfolio is going to continue to grow as well as our Jewel resorts.”
Morris told PressToday that the Canadian market is very strong.
“As Rose says revenge travel is very true and we’re seeing it . We’re getting a lot of limited availability already over festive so we’re encouraging agents to let their clients know they can’t wait — especially in those hot top suite categories,” she said. “Of course, we are a little bit behind the rest of the world, but we are seeing the business coming in very strong and we’re really excited to see what the rest of the year and into 2023 looks like for us.”
Due to the impact of Hurricane Fiona directly on the Dominican Republic, Playa Hotels & Resorts has made the decision to temporarily close Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana and Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana through Sept. 23, 2022.
There were multiple prize giveaways over the course of the evening, including several resort stays.
Pictured:
- Baxter Media’s David McClung with Rose Cosentino, Playa Hotels & Resorts
- Playa Hotels & Resorts’ Amanda Morris
- A look at Kimpton Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort
- Sanctuary Cap Cana
