Posted Feb 3, 2011 by Elite News Team Every year from December to March, the waters of the Mexican Pacific are graced with the presence of one of the most enchanting marine mammals, the humpback whale.

Since the 16th and 17th centuries the area from San Blas to what is now Nuevo Vallarta was known as The Bay of the Humpback, due to its grand sighting of these beautiful creatures.

The whale season for this year officially starts on the 8th of December, according to the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). The Secretary's office grants 200 special permits per year to recreational boats in the area, whose crews have been specially trained in responsible whale watching and to provide the best possible experience to those who go on whale-watching tours.

Groups of male whales can be found near Rincón de Guayabitos, showing themselves off and attempting to conquer a female by performing impressive leaps into the air to impress them. In the Bay of Banderas, mother whales teach their young to dive slowly and gracefully.

It is important to mention that in addition to the humpback whales, the area is visited by other species such as gray whales and orcas; with a little luck, one can see these marvelous animals as well.

Come to Velas Vallarta and take advantage of the perfect Whale Watching Package to enjoy this incredible natural show. Don't miss the opportunity to see these wonderful creatures! Posted Feb 3, 2011 by Elite News Team Recently Grand Velas Riviera Maya was honored with the 5 Diamond award by AAA, in recognition of excellence, quality, hygiene, environment, amenities and service offered to guests.



Every year, more than 60 travel editors from this prestigious organization evaluate without previous notice thousands of tourist lodging options throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The 5 Diamond rating is awarded to only 0.27% of the 60,000 properties assessed.



This award affirms Grand Velas Riviera Maya's position as one of the best resorts in Mexico and the entire continent, with its dazzling facilities and luxury suites, exquisite restaurants with internationally acclaimed chefs and a spectacular world class spa (winner of Virtuoso's Best Spa in the World award).



Grand Velas Riviera Maya

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Velas Resorts has now been awarded 26 Diamonds by AAA among its four properties in Mexico: Velas Vallarta, Casa Velas, Grand Velas Rivera Nayarit and Grand Velas Riviera Maya, placing them among the most sophisticated traveler's preferences and acknowledging the group's commitment to only offer the very best. Posted Oct 1, 2010 by Elite News Team One of the various activity options available to guests at Grand Velas Riviera Maya, is the ecological tour guided by the recreational activities staff. This tour begins in the Master section Lobby that is immersed in the exuberant jungle. From here the tour follows the path to the resort entrance, through the zone known as "la casa de los alushes" or "house of the alushes", as the guides explain a bit about these mythological Mayan creatures as well as the flora and fauna of the zone. The tour continues to the entrance of one of the closest cenotes where information is shared about these incredible natural wells, and concludes with a visit to the plant nursery where guests can see many products growing that will be used in the preparation of the delicious cuisine at Grand Velas.

The ecological tour is offered Monday through Friday free of charge, and lasts about 1 hour. Space is limited, as the tour is done by golf cart, so don't forget to ask the Concierge about this fun and informative activity. Please feel free to write to: conciergemasterrm@grandvelas.com Posted Aug 24, 2010 by Elite News Team Affirming its level of class, service and quality, Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort Riviera Maya was chosen as the winner of the Best Spa Award, presented by the prestigious Virtuoso agency. This award recognizes the hotel spa that offers the most alluring environment for rest and rejuvenation, creative and therapeutic treatments, and highly skilled and knowledgeable therapists.

The honor was presented during Virtuoso's 22nd Annual Travel Mart Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The nominees for this category were the following spas:
Le Spa Metropole, Sofitel Legend Metropole, Hanoi; The Spa at Grand Velas All-Suites & SPA Resort, Riviera Maya; The Spa at La Reserve Ramatuelle, France; The Anantara Spa at Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea, Jordan; and To B. Wellbeing & Spa, Grand Hotel Quellenhoff & Spa Suites, Bad Ragaz, Switzerland Posted May 5, 2010 by Elite News Team *The Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI) granted recognition plaques to Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort and other lodging centers that reached high marks on environmental preservation
Riviera Maya, Q. Roo (April 29th, 2010) A group of Riviera Maya hotels led by Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort, were recognized by The Mesoamerican Reef tourism Initiative (MARTI) for applying good environmental practices and promoting sustainable tourism in the Mexican Caribbean.

Recognition Plaques were granted to lodging centers that reached high marks on the preservation of the environment during the event for the Graduation of the Second Generation of MARTI Hotels with an Environmental Administration System (EAS), which took place in this exclusive resort, with the presence of the Riviera Maya Hotel Association and ecologic groups such as Amigos De Sian Ka´an (Sian Ka´an's Friends), Coral and International Conservation.
Constructed in an area of 85 hectares in the heart of the Riviera Maya, the 491 room, Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort reached an excellent grade of 97 per cent in the MARTI Program evaluation, thanks to its programs that promote the caring for the environment and the saving of natural resources.

This tourism development of great luxury has been distinguished for its great environmental contribution by applying a rigorous program for the conservation of mangroves and the reforestation of the area, with a sowing of over 15 thousand adult trees. An important part of their investment, estimated in 3 thousand 500 million pesos, was destined to preserve the natural richness of the area, with the reconstruction of the coastal dune, beach regeneration, cistern construction, water treatment plant operation, and equipment for the generation of electric energy and drinking water.

The mission of the MARTI initiative is to conserve the natural heritage of this reef system, its biodiversity, and to demonstrate that human societies can coexist and develop in harmony with nature.
The Good Environmental Practices Program and the Environmental Administration System (EAS), form a component of the MARTI initiative that seeks to involve sustainability in the daily operation of hotels, providing economic, environmental and social benefits.

It is worth mentioning that the Mesoamerican Reef is the largest reef system in the Atlantic Ocean, and the second largest worldwide. With a length of over 643 kilometers, it extends from the Yucatan Peninsula in the South of Mexico, passing through Belize, Guatemala, and reaching Honduras. The crystal clear waters of the Mexican Caribbean are home to over 60 kinds of coral and 500 species of fish, amongst which you can find: Caribbean lobster, pink snail; Tabasco, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles; dolphins and whale sharks. Posted Apr 29, 2010 by Elite News Team Cocina de Autor, signature restaurant of Grand Velas Riviera Maya, having been created by the internationally renown Spaniard Chefs Bruno Oteiza and Mikel Alonso, was named one of the "100 Best New Food & Drink Experiences" in the entire world, by Food & Wine magazine, a prestigious publication, and one of the most important ones of the cuisine field in the United States. This magazine focuses on high cuisine topics since 1956, exclusive gourmet restaurants, entertainment, and the most incredible tourist destinations.

Cocina de Autor presents new high cuisine selections with Spanish and Basque gourmet signature dishes in the a la carte, Mexican specialty menu, daily. The coconut soup with fruit bread and the hot chocolate cake are just a small taste of what a client can expect at the end of their meal. Posted Apr 29, 2010 by Elite News Team Grand Velas Riviera Maya, a resort greatly dedicated to the conservation of the environment, and designed for that particular purpose, performed ecologic activities in order to celebrate Earth Day this last April 22nd Posted Apr 14, 2010 by Elite News Team Grand Velas Riviera Maya greatly dedicated to the conservation of the environment, as well as having being designed with that goal, will perform ecologic activities on April 22nd in order to celebrate Earth Day. During the festivities, a special package will be available where guest will have the opportunity to admire natural "cenotes" (natural wells) located inside the hotel, as well as to participate in interesting talks in order to learn more about these beautiful natural formations; each guest will have the opportunity to plant a mangle tree (mangrove) that will carry their name, as well as to monitor their growth and evolution from Google Earth. At the same time, you will be able to enjoy a snorkeling tour through the Moc-che reef.
Let's celebrate together the wonders that Mother Earth has provided for us! Posted Mar 17, 2010 by Elite News Team "For all the Mexican People... Thank you Grand Velas". Hugo Chávez, president of Venezuela.

From February 21st - 23rd , 2010, Grand Velas Riviera Maya was the venue of the international Rio Group Summit, where the Heads of State and Governments of 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean's gathered for this magnum event. In parallel, in the same complex, the Mexico-Caricom summit was held and brought together 14 leaders of the Caribbean community on February 21st.

Thanks to its natural beauty, sophisticated architecture, privacy and world class services, Grand Velas Riviera Maya was selected to organize these two major multilateral meetings. Congratulations to all the staff for the successful event! Posted Feb 24, 2010 by Elite News Team Virtuoso, the most recognized agency network worldwide in the travel industry, has granted Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resorts Riviera Maya the honor to be part of its select and exclusive recommended hotels list. With over 300 agencies in 22 countries, and a career of over 50 years, Virtuoso is characterized for recommending only the most prestigious hotels and destinations.

Velas Resorts is delighted of this recognition! Posted Feb 10, 2010 by Elite News Team Head Coach of the Mexican National Football Team, Javier 'El Vasco' Aguirre, visited the Riviera Maya staying at Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort to spend a relaxing vacation.

The Exclusive Ambassador Ambiance of this Resort, surrounded by beautiful Mexican Caribbean, was host of the celebrity and his family where they enjoyed the excellent service and haute cuisine at the Italian restaurant, Lucca, as well as the renowned signature restaurant, Cocina de Autor. Posted Nov 11, 2009 by Elite News Team Grand Velas Resorts have been recognized as one of Mexico's top luxury hotels by some of the most regarded names in the travel industry. AAA, Conde Nast Traveler, Leading Hotels of the World and more, have honored Grand Velas Resorts for its all-inclusive luxury, superior service, spa facilities, innovative gourmet dining, and state-of-the-art resort facilities. Posted Nov 11, 2009 by Elite News Team - AAA Five Diamond designation, an honor only 3 percent of hotels and restaurants receive.
- "Most Excellent Spa Hotel" Conde Nast Johansens, the leading worldwide guide for independently owned hotels
- Leading Hotels of the World's Leading Spa designation as a top luxury spa hotel
- Conde Nast Traveler named us one of the top 15 hotels in Mexico and Central America in Conde Nast's annual top list
- Five-Star Diamond Award from New York-based American Academy of Hospitality Sciences
- Mexico Tourism Ministry's Distintivo H certification as an outstanding gourmet hotel
- 2006 Traveler's Choice Award Best Luxury Hotel from TripAdvisor, with more than 5 million real unbiased traveler reviews annually Posted Feb 18, 2009 by JorgeM Luxurious All-Inclusive Resort Blends Gourmet Cuisine, Seclusion, Adventure and

RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO - Riviera Maya, an unspoiled luxurious destination located along the lush Yucatan Peninsula, furthers its appeal with Grand Velas All Suites & SPA Resort, representing the next iteration of the all-inclusive, ultra-luxury resort experience. Building on the success of its AAA Five- Diamond sister resort in Nuevo Vallarta, Grand Velas Riviera Maya offers unsurpassed service, amenities and programs in each one of its key experiences: accommodations, food and beverage, spa, meetings and events facilities, design and ecological and cultural enrichment programs. "Grand Velas Riviera Maya is proud to offer guests a rejuvenating, inspiring and serene haven that undoubtedly raises the bar for all-inclusive resorts. This marvelous resort offers everything a guest desires from exceptional service to gourmet dining and a spa experience of a lifetime," said Fernando Garcia Rossette, Grand Velas' managing director. Featuring 86 acres of luxurious living within 493 spacious suites boasting views of the azure Caribbean Sea or vibrant jungle vegetation and ranging in size from 1,184 to 3,767 square feet, Grand Velas offers the most extensive cache of luxurious and personalized amenities of any all-inclusive resort in Mexico including: a 76,640 square-foot spa with 40 spa treatment rooms and suites, 91,457 square feet of indoor and outdoor flexible meeting space , 12 food and beverage options, 24-hour in-suite dining, dedicated butler concierge services, waterfront plunge pools, indoor whirlpool bathtubs, children's activities programs and state-of-the-art fitness center. All of this nestled within the natural wonders of stunning sugar-sand beaches, jungle flora and fauna and protected mangroves. Situated just 35 minutes from Cancun airport, the resort is also an easy seven-minute drive from downtown Playa del Carmen.

Stylish Suites, Amenities and Service
All guest suites are luxuriously appointed with clean-lined, neutral-toned bedding and seating in shades of cream, taupe and brown merge with plush accessories and custom-commissioned artwork by local master artisans delivering bold punches of tropical color. Dark wooden accent walls add warmth and sensuality while travertine floors and slab countertops add soothing and cooling air after days spent in the tropical sun. Thoughtful amenities such as whirlpool bathtubs, 42" flat screen plasma televisions, wireless internet access, deluxe bathroom amenities by Molton Brown, remote-controlled window coverings , DVD, CD and MP3 players, iPod docking stations, all-inclusive stocked minibar, 24- hour in-room suite service and oceanfront and jungle terraces, some with private outdoor plunge pools complement the guest room experience. Ricardo Elias, principal of Elias and Elias Architects in Guadalajara, who designed the highly acclaimed Grand Velas in Nuevo Vallarta, returned to Grand Velas as the architectural designer for the Riviera Maya location. The resort's interior design was created by architects Roberto Elias and Ernesto Vela and interior designer Melin Castro. Grand Velas' clever design offers a distinct experience for every traveler in mind. Guests may choose to stay in a private, adults-only suite with stunning oceanfront views, a spacious family -friendly suite featuring ocean views or a business traveler may choose to stay in the zen Master ambiance in the midst of lush jungle landscape and within optimal proximity to the convention center and spa. Each of the three distinct resort ambiances reflects the location on the property and every traveler will be able to find a "resort within a resort" to fit their travel needs.

Grand Velas Spa

Experience a journey for the senses at Grand Velas' world-class Spa sanctuary. Surrounded by a verdant jungle, the Spa features 76,640 square feet of pure indulgence with 40 treatment rooms and suites complemented with native artwork and furnishings. The ultimate Spa experience begins with personalized spa butler service and personal care amenities such as a plush robe and spa sandals. Guests refresh in the Spa's adjoining men's and women's hydrotherapy facilities, which feature dry saunas, cold plunge pools, vitality pools, whirlpools, herbal steam rooms with color-therapy, clay and ice rooms and experience showers. Self-service juice and fruit bars are located in men's and women's sensory relaxation rooms and both areas include skin care diagnostic and consultation rooms. A women's meditation room is also available in the Spa environment and for a VIP Spa experience, there are luxurious Spa treatment suites for privacy and relaxation. Some Spa suites are equipped with hydro- massage tubs and one suite includes a double Jacuzzi tub. Conceptualized by world-renowned spa consultant and frequent industry lecturer Diana Mestre, the spa specializes in its Seven Journeys flight of signature treatments including: Mediterranean Voyage , Travels through India, Natures Aromatherapy Trail, World Travels, Men's Journey, Inner Journey, a Kid's Rainbow Journey and its Journey through Native Mexico. In addition to the "Seven Journeys" treatment, the Spa offers an extensive menu of services for every spa enthusiast including the Riviera Maya Ritual , which includes Whirlpool sauna, crystal steam room, eucalyptus inhalation, pressure shower, Swiss shower, hydro-reflexology and hot and cold water lagoon immersion. Holistic packages, salon services and traditional Spa treatments including massage, body wraps, facials and manicures are also available for spa-goers. The Grand Velas spa also delivers hydrotherapy benefits via its eight, specially-designed water features. For those guests who want to continue the spa experience at home, the resort's Spa Boutique retails premium spa products from sophisticated brands including Spain's

Natura Bisse, France's Decleor, the Ayurvedic Sundari line, and the Italian line Comfort Zone, as well as an array of indigenous regional products, gifts and personal luxuries.

Resort Dining
Grand Velas offers the most varied, fresh, gourmet and sensory food and beverage program in the Riviera Maya, offering a virtual gastronomic voyage to all corners of the earth by way of its12 food and beverage outlets. Its abundant dining offerings allow guests to explore and savor a worldly fusion of flavors without leaving the comfort of the resort. World-renowned Spanish chefs create haute Spanish cuisine at the resort's Signature Restaurant by Bruno Oteiza and Mikel Alonso. Other on- property fine dining options include Frida, offering Mexican Fine dining in a contemporary and relaxing atmosphere by Chef Daniel Garcia Gomez, and Piaf, which serves gourmet French specialties from celebrated Chef Michel Mustiere. Similar to its French chanteuse namesake, Piaf is a bold and artistic dining experience. At Sen Lin Restaurant, the resort's tribute to upscale Asian dining, Chef Antonio Gonzalez Cortuza borrows from the most significant aspects of Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine to reinterpret the best of northeastern and southeastern Asian cuisine. For guests seeking a casual dining experience, the mellow all-day dining restaurant Azul offers panoramic beach vistas and a relaxing, open-air, yet air conditioned, environment in which to indulge in international cuisine with menus designed by the resort's Executive Chef Patrick Louis. Bistro serves French brasserie favorites, while Chak serves and array of organic all-day menu items with delicious desserts, wines and coffees in an ambiance embraced by mangroves and lush tropical jungle. The resort also features open-air snack bars situated around the property, 24-hour In-Suite Dining and four diverse bars, including the Sky Bar, Sen Lin Bar, Lobby Bar, Karaoke Bar and Aqua Bar, that offer innovative libations and sensory ambiances for every mood.

Meetings and Events at Grand

The resort's 91,457 square feet of indoor and outdoor meetings and events space offers an efficient and versatile canvas for creating scenic events and business gatherings from 10 to 3,000 guests. In addition to the expansive meeting locations, the resort offers top-of-the-line audio-visual equipment, technical support, CD and DVD reproduction, secretarial and translation services, the largest lift in the area suitable for large promotional items such as a car and a fully-equipped business center. With its convenient location to the airport, special pre- and- post -group rates, and easy access to an abundance of local activities, Grand Velas is a perfect destination for a meeting and a vacation all in one. The resort's expert meetings and events team is dedicated to deliver accessible, well-equipped and exceptional meetings and events tailored to every guest need.

Leisure and Cultural

Travelers looking to discover the beauty and thrill of Mexico's Riviera Maya will thrive with the abundant offerings at Grand Velas. Adventure-seekers will enjoy exploring the ancient Mayan ruins of nearby Chichen- Itza, world-class snorkeling and scuba diving, zip-line tours through the Yucatan's vibrant jungle, kayaking and Mexico's best nature reserves. The seaside communities of nearby Playa del Carmen and Cancun offer exquisite shopping, dining, golfing and nightlife. A leisurely day at the resort is effortless with a sun-soaked afternoon at the resort's pristine white-sand beaches and infinity pools. Grand Velas also offers a collection of workout programs such as tennis, yoga, pilates and tai chi. For families travelling with children, Grand Velas's Kid's Club offers a safe, fun and creative environment to explore interactive activities such as soccer, treasure hunting and cooking classes.