IBIZA, SPAIN, February 23, 2017 – Palladium Hotels & Resorts announces plans today to invest an additional 21 million dollars to upgrade the guest experiences at its Grand Palladium and The Royal Suites by Palladium properties in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Mexico. The investment is being made to improve quality and consistency as part of the company’s dedication to offering the same high-quality experiences at each hotel at an excellent value.
Five million dollars of the total investment will go toward improving food and beverage offerings, which will include upgrades in steak quality to use angus and cowboy cuts, upgrades to the quality and presentation of food at the buffets, higher-quality liquors at all bars including Absolut, Stoli, Havana Rum, Bombay Sapphire, Courvoisier, Don Julio Blanco and Reposado and better mini bar snacks.
For staffing, Palladium Hotels & Resorts is increasing the number of staff by 13-percent over 2016, which will total 8,243 staff at all 12 properties in the Caribbean and Mexico, which includes the Grand Palladium Resorts & Spas and The Royal Suites by Palladium. A director of innovation and product development, Bernard Wyss, is beginning work this month who will oversee all of the quality and service consistency at the properties. He will identify market trends, analyze economic impacts on the business and oversee services that will be implemented at each property. Wyss has over 20 years’ experience in hospitality with top all-inclusive hotel groups including Paradisus, Melía Hotel International, RCD Resorts and AMResorts.
Palladium Hotels & Resorts is also investing in technology on property, such as improving the Palladium Hotels & Resorts App so guests can message the concierge directly, increasing the bandwidth of the WiFi, installing better surround sound systems at the pools and updating the animation capabilities for performances. Also, additional trolleys to take guests from one property to another will be added to reduce wait times when traveling to each of the lobbies. New pool bikes for exercising in the pool will also be installed.
“We are dedicated to improving our guests’ experiences in every way possible, so we are investing in upgrades in the areas that matter the most — service, food and beverage and technology. Guest satisfaction at our upgraded properties in Jamaica, Riviera Maya and Punta Cana has soared after the renovations completed so we are extending this investment in upgrades at all of our properties,” said Jacques De Paep, Palladium Hotel Group’s commercial director for North America.
GRAND PALLADIUM RIVIERA RESORT & SPA TO BECOME THE ROYAL SUITES YUCATÁN BY PALLADIUM WITH A MAJOR INVESTMENT
The company is also announcing today that it will convert the Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa in Riviera Maya, Mexico into an extension of The Royal Suites Yucatán by Palladium to expand the resort’s boutique adult-exclusive offerings. This transformation will be completed in various phases starting June 1, 2017 and will carry through the fall.
The conversion of the Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa to The Royal Suites Yucatán will give guests a personalized, intimate, adults-only experience in a smaller setting and access to exclusive restaurants. The current Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa lobby will be converted into the new lobby of The Royal Suites Yucatán. At this time, all hotel services will be available at the adjoining Grand Palladium White Sand, Colonial and Kantenah lobbies.
The newly renovated, adult-exclusive property will feature a total of 454 guestrooms with premium amenities and services, 108 of which will have swim-up pools, a completely new beach experience featuring an adults-only Beach Club, four exclusive à la carte themed restaurants and a cabaret a la carte restaurant that will host different shows and a new infinity pool. Guests staying at other Palladium resorts at the Riviera Maya complex will not be affected by the construction.
This additional investment follows major renovations and upgrades to the Palladium Hotels & Resorts in Jamaica, Riviera Maya and Punta Cana in 2016. The 21 million dollars will be invested at five Grand Palladium Resorts & Spas in Mexico, three in the Dominican Republic and two in Jamaica.
GRAND PALLADIUM PUNTA CANA RESORT & SPA TO UNDERGO ADDITIONAL RENOVATIONS
Additional investment is being made at Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort & Spa to upgrade the property by the end of November 2017. Rodizio, the Brazilian steakhouse, will replace the current Hemingway Bar at Grand Palladium Bavaro Resort & Spa. At Sumptuori Restaurant, additional teppanyaki tables will be installed. A new area will also be added that will be dedicated to the popular nikkei concept, which is a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines. In addition, the interior of El Behique restaurant will be renovated to feature new, modern designs.
At Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort & Spa, the lobby and select guestrooms will be renovated with Caribbean designs. A new beach club will be added to the adults-only area of The Royal Suites Turquesa, which is inspired by the success of the beach club concept from Ibiza.
