LOS CABOS — Over a year after the devastating effects of Hurricane Odile, Playa Resorts and Hyatt Hotels gathered media, guests and local VIPs to celebrate the renovation and reopening of Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos. The hotel, which had been a Barcelo Hotel in its previous incarnation, suffered damage during the 2014 hurricane season.

Management took the opportunity to update and renovate the all-inclusive property, reopening the property on Sept. 15 and hosting a grand opening party on Nov. 19 to mark its official return to the Los Cabos resort area.

Executives from both Playa Resorts and Hyatt Hotels were quick to praise the staff and talk about the newly redesigned hotel, which now includes an open air lobby with a view of the pool areas and the Sea of Cortez, 591 suites, 12 restaurants, bars and lounges and a new Kidz Club.

“Our biggest challenge is to change the perceptive of all-inclusive,” says Playa Hotels and Resorts CEO Bruce Wardinski. “But give us a chance, and try us once.”

With design inspired by the region’s history and Baja style, the updated rooms feature an earth tone palette of cream and chocolate brown with ceramic tile, modern wood furniture and accents in blue. There are now 21 premium oceanfront and oceanview two-bedroom suites and 34 swim-up suites.

Over 1,000 guests were officially welcomed by Francisco Silva, general manager of Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, as well as Wardinski and CEO  Alexander Stadlin of Playa Hotels & Resorts and Carlos Cabrera, Senior Vice President of Hyatt’s Global All-Inclusive Operations. With a ribbon-cutting to kick off the party, the night was a combination of live music, dance, circus performers, generous food and drink stations, a Marilyn Monroe impersonator and fireworks. Cabrera believes this property [and brand] to be “…a game-changer in the all-inclusive market.”

The hotel’s open air lobby with an eye-catching view of the Sea of Cortez features the newly-added Coffee Shop, offering espresso coffee drinks, snacks, ice cream and paletas (Mexican ice pops) while 24 Horas Deli Cactus, a  European deli is open all the time for guests to have light snacks. Below the lobby is the newly-added Mexican Plaza, with a Tequila tasting bar, seating areas with firepits surrounded by small pools and a weekly Mexican craft market. The Zen Spa offers spa treatments, salon, fitness centre and a hydrotherapy circuit.

The extensive main pool area is surrounded by endless rows of lounge chairs, an infinity pool overlooking the beach, a swim-up bar and water volleyball areas, as well as pool-side vendors offering Mexican snacks like fresh fruit with chili and lime and hot-off-the-grill quesadillas. Guests can also order in-person or via staff at Coco Loco, for freshly-made Baja fish tacos and cold Mexican appetizers and salads. Throughout the resort property there are several public seating areas in the sun or in the shade, all of which can easily access the complimentary WiFi.

Beach firepit seating areas, beach loungers and beach lounge beds are available to all guests, and there are two dining options on the beach: Zafiro for Italian-inspired cuisine and La Hacienda Steak House. The KidZ Club features daily activities from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., a waterpark and treehouse, while the adult pool area has the Baja Bar and lounge areas.

Other dining options include El Cortijo, a Spanish tapas restaurant, DoZo, an expanded Asian restaurant with sushi bar and Teppanyaki tables, Bon Vivant, an elegant French restaurant, La Plaza, a Mexican and international buffet restaurant, and El Molino, an elegant Mexican cantina.

There are several distinct bars, including Spirit of 1968, inspired by the Olympic Games held in Mexico City in 1968, El Mirador, a martini bar, El Piano Lobby Bar and El Agave, the tequila tasting bar.

Another benefit to the newly-renovated resort is 35,000 square feet of conference space as well a new streamlined registration system for meeting attendees and incentive groups.

With no resort fees and almost everything included (spa treatments and off-resort activities are the exceptions), Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos aims to make a mark in the busy all-inclusive resort market with unique resort amenities and consummate service.

For more information. go to loscabos.ziva.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html.