TORONTO — Karisma hotels and resorts, a luxury chain of properties (most in Mexico) known for its gourmet inclusive experience, has announced the lineup of Canadian chefs and winemakers, including master sommeliers, from around the world who will participate in the 2016 Canadian Beef Culinary Series.

The event, now in its third year, is a partnership between Karisma Hotels & Resorts, Jackson Family Wines and Canadian Beef and takes place at three of Karisma’s Mexican resorts: El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas Royale and Generations Riviera Maya.

Among the participants are Victor Barry from Toronto’s Splendido; Mark Forgione from Impasto in Montreal; Paul Rogalski from Rouge in Calgary and Murray McDonald from the Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland.

“The program is very interactive,” Karisma’s Alex Portman told 80 travel agents at a function last week in Toronto. “There are beef and wine pairings, a cooking demo and guests can meet the chef and ask questions, it’s an incredible opportunity to learn more about food and wine.”

The series takes place the second full week of every month, and, when booked through Air Canada Vacations, includes room upgrades, exclusive reduced prices and more, valued at US$220 per person.

The Karisma portfolio in Mexico includes four El Dorado properties, three Azuls, one Generations Resorts and one Hidden Beach, plus one Azul in Negril, Jamaica. At Karisma properties, all three meals are a la carte and 15 different house wines and premium alcohol are available at no additional cost.

Portman also announced:

• the new El Dorado Seaside Suites will open in December with 192 oceanfront sites and infinity pools on balconies
• the new El Dorado Maroma will open next year with over water suites with glass bottom floors
• a new Nickelodeon Experience at Azul Beach in Mexico opens in 2016 to entertain kids from ages 4-12 with toys, activities and characters such as Dora the Explorer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• a new five-star Nickelodeon Hotel by Karisma opens in Punta Cana in May 2016
• the Azul property in Negril, Jamaica is sold out until 2017 and a new Azul hotel will open next door in May 2018.

Meanwhile Air Canada Vacations Area Sales Manager Dianne Pedroso encouraged agents to register all of their bookings from Jan. 1, 2015 on karismatravelagents.com for “amazing benefits.”

Air Canada Vacations has nonstop flights to Cancun from Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax, Calgary and Winnipeg.

Pedroso told agents Air Canada Vacations will match (up to $100 per person) a lower quoted price for a Mexico or Caribbean group booking. Just e-mail groupspricematch@vacv.com with the competitor’s quote and your quote from Air Canada Vacations.