TORONTO — Two chefs and a sommelier with AMResorts travelled all the way from Mexico to present media and agents with gourmet fare and wine pairings.
The event showcased the company’s ‘Sip, Savour and See’ dining program, which offers guests dining privileges at sister brand resorts.
Head chef Daniele Muller and executive chef Felipe Vega recreated a menu inspired by the cuisine at Zoëtry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres Cancun, accompanied by wine pairings by Ariel Morales, sommelier at Secrets The Vine Cancun. Muller, who studied at the Institut Paul Bocuse in France and worked in Michelin-starred restaurants, also created the concept of French-Mexican cuisine.
During the event, Jan LaPointe, senior director of sales and marketing for AMResorts in Canada, highlighted the company’s plans for growth and expansion.
Last year, AMResorts grew its overall portfolio by 20%, opening five new resorts and expanding into two new countries: Costa Rica and St. Thomas. And it boosted its room count by 13% across its six brands, including Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets, Breathless, Dreams, Now, and Sunscape Resorts & Spas.
The company is currently expanding its footprint in Costa Rica, following the opening of Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica last year. AMResorts has assumed management of the former Hilton Papagayo Resort and Spa, which will debut as the Secrets Papagayo Resort and Spa this fall.
The property will undergo extensive renovations to “bring it up to the Secrets standard” before its debut, said LaPointe. “We’re thrilled about this property – it’s a beautiful Balinese-style tiered design. It’s really going to be very special.”
Earlier this year, AMResorts announced another four resort contracts, including two new properties that will expand its footprint in the Dominican Republic: Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa and Dreams Dominicus La Romana.
It took a long time to get to the development stage with Cap Cana, said LaPointe, but they’ve just broken ground and “it’s the most beautiful beach in Punta Cana, as far as I’m concerned,” she said.
Also coming is Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa and Zoëtry Isla Di Oro Aruba – its first resort in Aruba, which will feature over-the-water bungalows.
LaPointe also said they’re looking into Cuba (parent company Apple Leisure Group is American, so there’s potential to move into this market as the U.S. eases up on sanctions against Cuba) as well as the possibility of development in Haiti – what many consider the last untapped Caribbean destination.
Currently AMResorts offers rooms in 23 destinations across Mexico, Costa Rica, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St. Thomas, Panama and Aruba.
