Every year, one of my favorite reads is Jack Ezon’s outlook report on hot destinations and the best openings of new luxury resorts and hotels.
Jack is one the driving forces in making travel advisors relevant again, particularly for luxury travelers. He and his Embark Beyond team are mainly out of the office scouting what’s next, getting a first-hand look so they can expertly advise their clients. In this issue, we look at Jack and team’s picks for best new openings – and re-openings – in Mexico and the Caribbean for 2023.Â
1. Beach House by Silversands, Grenada
2. Belmond Maroma, Riviera Maya
3. Casa Gyp Sea, St. BartsÂ
4. Kimpton, Roatan, Honduras
5. La Valise San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
6. Naviva by Four Seasons, Punta Mita, Mexico
7. Rancho Pescadero, Todos Santos, Baja Sur, Mexico
8. The St. Regis Kanai, Riviera Maya
1. Beach House by Silversands, Grenada
Opening July 2023, Silversands Grenada Resorts Beach House by Silversands will feature standalone 1-bedroom villas and two 2-bedroom suites, either cliffside or beachfront, on a secluded cove, a privacy-seekers paradise, unique on the island.
2. Belmond Maroma, Riviera Maya
Reopening May 2023, LVMH helps to reinvent what was once the jewel of the Riviera Maya. Set on the most beautiful white sand beach, Maroma will be reinvented while staying true to its authentic Mexican sense of place. Tara Bernerd incorporates the Sacred Geometry of Mayan masons honoring Mexican artisanal traditions, authentic craftsmanship, and local materials throughout the interiors. The indoor-outdoor spa is steeped in Mayan tradition and incorporates some of the unique treatments Maroma was originally coveted for.
3. Casa Gyp Sea, St. BartsÂ
The beloved St. Barts boutique hotel Villa Marie expands its sandy footprint by offering a new set of villas right near its buzzy beach club, Gyp Sea. They’ll offer plenty of leisure activities, such as paddle boarding, snorkeling, and morning yoga classes. But its real attraction is its location: perched on the bay of Saint Jean—the same stretch of sand as Nikki Beach and the Eden Roc—it’s the perfect place to stay if you’re looking to indulge in the island’s famous elevated party scene
4. Kimpton, Roatan, Honduras
Located off the shore of Honduras, the sleepy island of Roatan is getting a wakeup call with the addition of the trendy Kimpton that will deliver its edgy lifestyle concept with 126 guest rooms (including 43 suites) and amenities like a rooftop sky bar with a glass-fronted pool.
5. La Valise San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Behind a vermillion colonial façade, La Valise is a boutique urban resort in the vibrant city center with just six suites. The heart of the property is a Zen Garden with cascading plants, peaceful pools, and art installations. Suites feature bespoke furnishings and unique bathrooms designed to feel like an in-house spa. Psychedelic art installations and famous furnishings by surrealist artist Pedro Friedeberg adorn the property, paired with delicate pieces of mid-century furniture.
6. Naviva by Four Seasons, Punta Mita, Mexico
Adjacent to the Four Seasons Punta Mita, Naviva features just 15 adult-only luxury private pool-tented camps nestled amidst 48 forested acres. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it includes a host of unique wellness and active programs embracing the local environment. The all-inclusive experience includes meals, complimentary spa treatments, and a host of communal wellness and active experiences.
7. Rancho Pescadero, Todos Santos, Baja Sur, Mexico
Just outside the artsy town of Todos Santos. Located about an hour from the bustling tourist mecca of Cabos, Todos Santos is a sleepy art town dotted with surfers, whales, and little else. The resort reopens in 2023, completely reimagined from a former Boho 12-room lodge to a 103-room and villa wellness resort on a pristine 30-acre stretch of Pacific Coast, forming an idyllic escape from humanity where the desert meets the sea.
8. The St. Regis Kanai, Riviera Maya
Opening Q1 and located in Riviera Maya’s Kanai development, The St. Regis joins the Auberge Etéreo and Edition in an uber-modern, design-focused facility offering each of the 124 guest rooms with perfect ocean views in addition to its 32 villas private pool villas. The property will also offer two 18-hole golf courses designed by José MarÃa Olazábal and Nick Faldo.
VIP Contact
Contact Jack Ezon at Embark Beyond at Jack@EmbarkBeyond.com.
