RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico – November 9, 2016 – Hyatt Hotels Corporation is proud to announce the December 2016 opening of Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya. An exciting addition to the internationally acclaimed eco-resort Mayakoba, located on the Caribbean beachfront just north of Playa del Carmen, the new property will introduce guests to a hidden paradise – a place where style meets nature. Situated on 590 acres of breathtaking oceanfront, preserved mangrove and lagoon surroundings, the property will have 214 guest rooms, including 41 suites. The inspiring setting will transport guests into a lush natural environment where locally inspired and indigenous experiences, cuisine and personalized service will be brought to life. Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya marks the first Mexican resort for the lifestyle Andaz brand. The property will join the Andaz resort collection which currently consists of Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort in Costa Rica, Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort and Andaz Scottsdale debuting November 2016.
“We are thrilled to open this incredible resort in the compelling, eco-friendly destination of Mayakoba. We think it is an ideal location for the Andaz brand’s first Mexico property,” said General Manager Lin Schatz. “The region is filled with lush nature and a rich Mayan culture which we will utilize across all aspects of the property from the unique design and native cuisine to indigenous spa treatments, local partnerships and authentic Mexican hospitality. We look forward to offering our guests inspiring new experiences that will fully immerse them in the local culture during their stay.”
Vibrant Design Andaz Mayakoba’s unique design will draw inspiration from the abundance of natural elements, highlighting a respectful relationship between architecture and design. Renowned architect and Costa Rican native Ronald Zürcher, known for creating a natural ambiance through his cultural and architectural sensibilities, imagined structures that will bring about a conversational element between trees, bedrocks and water without competing in form. Inspired by the richness of nature and its wilderness, organic forms and shapes, as well as observing Mayan cultural elements, Zürcher designed the resort to seamlessly integrate the property’s beautiful environment and local heritage. The texture and finishes used throughout the property will create a pattern and natural rhythm as well as highlight the integration of man and nature.
When guests arrive at Andaz Mayakoba, they will enter a sculptural and striking lobby and lounge area with walls clad in wood, floors in stone and ceiling in cane. There will be a circular water feature and oculus at the center of the lobby that will reflect the region’s ancient cenotes which are mystical underground reservoirs of water. The water feature and oculus are intended to both frame and reflect the stars and the sky, reminding guests of the importance of astrology in Mayan culture. The textures, finishes, abundant light and water found throughout the resort’s lobby will provide the effect of tranquility.
The resort’s 214 guestrooms are housed in 28 buildings inspired by the more than 200 bird species found at Mayakoba. The natural forms and curves of birds will be seen in the geometry of the roofs of the guestroom buildings. The buildings’ color tones will range from grey to white with some secondary wooden and stone elements, blending in with the bedrock typically found in the region. The colors will be purposefully muted to allow the vibrant colors from the wide variety of local birds to stand out.
Throughout the resort, Zürcher will incorporate touches of Mayan symbols. Panels and enclosures used for privacy between guestrooms as well as facades on the outside of the guestrooms’ buildings will reflect the glyphs and numbers used in Mayan numerology and calendars. Light will enter the rooms and balconies in a pattern and rhythm during the day.
The property’s interior designers, the internationally acclaimed DAS Concept, drew inspiration from the local scenery and culture to create vibrant and colorful interiors. The blues of the Caribbean ocean, deep greens of the jungle and intense colors of the toucan bird will all be seen throughout the property. DAS Concept will also use stone and wood extensively in their work to celebrate the region’s Mayan culture.
CCS Architecture designed the resort’s four restaurants which will each feature their own style, ambience and cuisine, all inspired by local materials, flora and fauna as well as the natural environment and landscape. The restaurants are designed and curated to create a sense of place, reflecting casual luxury and unique local cuisine.
Breezy Accommodations In the spirit of providing the guest an authentic local experience, the design of the guestrooms and suites will draw heavily from traditional crafts and iconography to create an intriguing design meant to stimulate guests’ senses in new and refreshing ways.
Andaz Mayakoba’s 214 alluring, open layout guestrooms and suites will overlook crystal clear lagoons, mangrove and resort gardens, the golf course or spectacular views of the Caribbean coastline. The accommodations will be naturally inspired with stylish amenities and a refined collection of artisan décor. Each will offer a spacious balcony or terrace, of which 41 luxury suites will feature private plunge pools. The design of the rooms will be grounded by an ‘area rug’ crafted from a collection of locally produced Mexican cement tiles as well as a signature Mayan décor item such as a traditional mask, a Mayan huipil or a colorful bird figure while the rest of the room will be minimalist in design with color tones inspired from natural terrain such as stone, sand and water.
Unlike most typical guestrooms, where the bathroom is located at the rear, near the entrance, the rooms at Andaz Mayakoba were designed with long, narrow bathrooms spanning the entire length of the room, therefore allowing natural light and views to filter into both the bathroom and sleeping areas.
Dining In Style Andaz Mayakoba will offer four diverse and unique restaurant concepts, all offering fresh ingredients and authentic cooking techniques. Casa Amate will feature Latin American cuisine and have a unique residential concept featuring intimate rooms with terraces offering lagoon views. Cocina Milagro will be the resort’s poolside open kitchen restaurant that will have a market-to-table concept and an emphasis on seafood. Hand-crafted cocktails and live entertainment will also be found at this venue. OllaTaco is another poolside restaurant which will offer ocean views along with live entertainment, a feast of Yucatan specialties and locally crafted beers. OllaCeviche will be a casual beachfront and poolside dining option featuring fresh ceviches and sharing plates, as well as a Tequila bar.
Unrivaled Stay Experience – Spa, Meetings, Events, Family and More Spa and Fitness – Guests will be invited to relax, restore and recharge at the Naum Spa, housing six treatment rooms and offering a complete menu of services, some of which will feature indigenous Mayan methods. Many of the products that will be used have been created with all-natural, locally sourced ingredients, hand-selected for the Andaz resort. The Spa’s treatment cabins will be airy and open to their surroundings. The décor is uncomplicated and intended to relax and blend in with the jungle setting. The 10,000-square-foot facility will also include a 24-hour state-of-the-art-gym.
Beach and Pool – A beautifully landscaped outdoor pool, plus a lap pool will be centralized in the lagoonside section of the resort, in addition to the expansive beachside pool, allowing for guests and families to enjoy the open space at their leisure. A secluded beach will allow guests ample time to enjoy the sand and the turquoise Mexican Caribbean waters.
Meetings and Events – The expansive 14,000 square feet of meeting and event space located in the center of the property will offer an unrivaled group experience for both business travelers and social guests to feel inspired and re-energized. With five meeting and event studios as well as a 6,000-square-foot ballroom, guests will be able to take advantage of the flexible and distinctive event and meeting space as well as state-of-the-art integrated audiovisual systems, a fully equipped open kitchen and innovative breakout spaces, as well as outdoor and lawn areas.
The meeting and event spaces will be situated around a central courtyard. Once again, the finishes will be simple and mostly wood and stone. Large sliding panels will open the spaces and connect them to nature. The ballroom will be dominated by a large area rug of multiple colored stripes reminiscent of Mayan textile design.
Local Flavor Personalizing the Andaz ethos of reflecting the local culture, Andaz Mayakoba will include local touches, activities and events throughout the resort experience – all overseen by the resort’s on-property Experience Curator.
Andaz Mayakoba has teamed up with a series of Cultural Insiders including Senkoe, a Riviera Maya graffiti artist, who has been tapped to curate vibrant and colorful murals that will be seen throughout the resort. Additionally, Sol Tamargo, a local photographer, will offer photo and video shoots to Andaz Mayakoba guests in unique settings throughout the property. The resort will also offer a series of inspiring activities and events, allowing guests to get in touch with the millennial Mayan culture, such as learning to speak the language or preparing the best tacos in a Tacology class.
For more information, visit: https://mayakoba.andaz.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html.
