Experience fun and creative activities at a Luxury Resort
Fueled by the global pandemic, todays’ savvy hotels and resorts are continuing a trend to entice guests with more outdoor spaces, activities, and experiences, especially during the warm summer months. From expanded outdoor dining and entertainment to more options for kids’ and adults’ activities, taking advantage of outdoor spaces has become all the rage in the hospitality industry. Examples include expanded rooftop restaurants and lounges, outdoor movie nights, morning yoga in a serene natural area, a resurgence in traditional lawn games like croquet and bocce ball, as well as an explosion in trendy new sports like pickleball and jazzminton. There’s no doubt that more top luxury hotels and resorts are blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces and filling those spaces with unique activities and experiences.
How important are outdoor spaces for resort guests? The American Institute of Architects (AIA) noted in a recent survey that outdoor living spaces have emerged as the most popular home improvements among homeowners. The AIA survey also noted that 69-percent of homeowners prioritize increased outdoor living options along with landscaping, when looking to make major home improvements. Popular outdoor home enhancements include furniture, lighting, landscaping, insect repellent systems, water features, electronics, garden products, fire pits, sunrooms, screened porches, hot tubs, heat lamps, pools, decks, ponds, gazebos, pizza ovens and more. Of course, this trend certainly has not gone unnoticed by the luxury hotel and resort industry.
At Fairmont Mayakoba merging comfortable indoor spaces with the resorts’ five natural ecosystems was at the core of its recent multi-million-dollar renovation. This project included upgrading the resorts three expansive pool areas and the addition of a new state-of-the-art beach club – Maykana – which features grand terraces, private luxury cabanas, sunken fire pits, outdoor restaurants, and seaside pools that bring a sophisticated flair to beachfront relaxation and resort dining.
The resort has also taken its array of outdoor activities to the next level. From world-class dive excursions and training for divers of every level, snorkeling along the world’s second-largest barrier reef, relaxing on a guided catamaran tour, or cruising above or below the water on a SEABOB underwater scooter, ocean adventures are just the beginning. Guests can also explore Fairmont’s extensive freshwater canal system via guided tour boats, kayaks or hydrobikes. For those who prefer to stay on land, bikes and electric scooters are an excellent way to enjoy the natural outdoor environments of Mayakoba. Or guests can simply walk the extensive network of nature trails, looking out for some 240 bird, mammal, and reptile species, including macaws, geckos, iguanas, spider monkeys, agoutis, and coatis. While world-class golf is only steps away at El Camaleón Golf Course, guests can also experience something different at the resort’s archery center or visit the sports club for a game of tennis or even try your hand at the sport that has become a craze – pickleball.
For younger guests The Lucky Ducky and Mayakoba Whale offer a thrilling ocean ride in the Caribbean Sea. Pulled by a jet ski with a professional driver, kids get a taste of speed and salty water while smiling from ear-to-ear. Guests can also record their kid’s ocean adventures by renting a GoPro camera and remember their experience for years to come. Fairmont has also added a second Kids’ Club where younger guests are entertained with games, art, and fun outdoor activities. They will also learn about the resorts’ ecosystems and the plants, birds and animals that call it home.No matter what your outdoor pleasure is, it is certain to be found at Fairmont Mayakoba, where the warm Caribbean sun meets one of the world’s most unique resort environments.
