Park Hyatt opens its first all-inclusive in Riviera Maya

Park Hyatt is opening its first all-inclusive resort, and it wants to be different from the all-inclusive stereotype.

The Points Guy reports the Park Hyatt Riviera Maya, on the south side of Cancun, is accepting reservations for stays from early December. The resort will have 148 rooms and suites, all with ocean views, outdoor space and a resort ambassador. It also includes restaurants, bars, the Velara Spa, pools and programming.

General manager Sam Kirby told TPG the property is a Park Hyatt first. “This is a Park Hyatt, it just happens to have an all-inclusive lens over the top.”

The model is simple, Kirby said: “It’s just the fact that you pay a higher room rate, but everything’s included.” That means no checks after meals, no watching $28 margaritas add up and no fee for laundry. “You walk in the door, now it’s up to us.”

The all-inclusive part is meant to remove friction, not lower standards. Kirby said the food and beverage program has to be “spot on,” with top-shelf spirits, a worldwide wine list and an executive chef with Michelin-starred kitchen experience. Dining is a la carte, with premium upgrades for rare wines, spirits or ingredients.

Personalization starts before arrival. The team works with guests on what they want to experience and what they need in the room. “If you drink Coke, you probably don’t drink Diet Coke,” Kirby said. No more loading every minibar with the same things.

Park Hyatt is not alone. The Points Guy notes Marriott has put The Luxury Collection into the all-inclusive segment and opened the world’s first W-branded all-inclusive resort last year. JW Marriott is also entering the space with its first all-inclusive resort, in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste region. Hilton announced Oct. 1 that the Waldorf Astoria Riviera Maya and Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya would become all-inclusive effective immediately.

Kirby said the market is realizing all-inclusive is no longer one limited category. It now spans budget to luxury, same as traditional hotels.

What this means for you: If you want a luxury stay where the bill is largely settled upfront, the Park Hyatt Riviera Maya is a new winter option, but the rate is higher and the first stays begin in early December.

• all-inclusive
• Cancun
• luxury hotels
• Park Hyatt
• Riviera Maya
• Sam Kirby