Recommend September 2011 - (Page 86)

MAZATLAN reinvigorated continued from page 84 enjoying the shoreline in town get to admire the different monuments by the boardwalk—to Paciﬁco, to the continuity of life, to the open-aired, only-in-Mazatlan vehicles known as pulmonias. The Historic Center is the home of trendy sidewalk cafes and bars, the gorgeous and stillworking Angela Peralta Theater—built in the 1870s and now housing an award-winning dance company—and a seemingly nonstop roster of live performances and cultural events. The city’s cathedral is another unique stop, as each of its stained-glass windows features a Star of David. Those who’d rather stay in Old Mazatlan, within walking distance of the historic center and its many attractions, have a gorgeous option in Casa Lucila. Owner Conchita Valades de Boccard and her husband— transplants from San Francisco—commandeered the restoration of this 19th century mansion and designed eight big rooms that are named after Conchita and her seven sisters. The hotel is named after their mother. In front of the hotel is a sculpture to famous Mazatleco actor and singer Pedro Infante, with an eyeful of the Paciﬁc beyond. Not far is El Mirador, from where cliff divers jump into the sea. Rates here run from $65 to $195 during low season, depending on the room. shiny & new One advantage to Mazatlan is that there is no shortage of varied hotel products, including many new and recent openings. In New Mazatlan, the Emerald Bay area is home to three favorites: the Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay Resort & Spa and its vast gardens, roaming ﬂamingos and neoclassic-like buildings; the more intimate and very new Crowne Plaza, which comes with a sushi bar and lets guests do little more than jump between the pool and the beach; and the RIU Emerald Bay, which is a world of its own. Budget-conscious families who still want that beachfront experience, not to mention the all-inclusive concept complete with nightly shows, will love the family-friendly RIU and its art deco lobby. Rates here start at $72 pp per night dbl, with kids staying for free. Then there’s Las Villas Hotel & Spa at the Estrella del Mar development, a world away from the hubbub of the city and even of New Mazatlan—it’s just 10 minutes away from the international airport, in fact. This is a great place for unwinding, with spacious rooms, small courtyards that are great for a low-key drink—perhaps after an awesome dinner at Los Delﬁnes Restaurant—and no doubt the most private stretch of shoreline in the area. Estrella del Mar is home to the biggest turtle sanctuary in Mexico—last year it released more than 150,000 hatchlings—and is so serene, after a couple of hours on site it’s hard not to sign on the dotted line for one of the waterfront condos so many are already snatching up. Rates at Las Villas start at $120 per night; guests pay just $50 during low season for a round of golf at the beautiful 18-hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., cart included. sports & side trips Just 20 miles northeast of Mazatlan in the tiny hillside town of El Quelite, an adorable place called El Meson de los Laureanos serves tasty Sinaloan dishes and lots of ambiance. Its owner, Dr. Marcos Osuna, is Palace ResoRts shows its love foR tRavel agents with theiR new PRo agency PaRtneR PRogRam. alace Resorts continues to lead the way in resort/travel agent relations with their new Palace Resorts Official (PRO) initiative. With PRO, travel agents can take advantage of a full array of tools and programs designed to enhance their business. From educational events and personalized marketing consultations to custom marketing materials and partnership in national co-op ad campaigns, PRO partners can maximize their efforts like never before. The PRO program comes at a key time in the increasingly competitive leisure and business travel markets. With the economic landscape P changing shape on a seemingly daily basis, it’s vital that travel agents are able to strike quickly and strategically to gather and keep sales momentum. And PRO has been designed to achieve just that. Moreover, PRO also allows generous incentives and bonuses to agents in order to award performance. This is just a sampling of what travel agents receive upon becoming a PRO Partner: · · · · GM Recognition on property Discounts on Spa/Golf Invites to private events Personal marketing consultant · Annual awards ceremony · Friends and family rate throughout the year · Accreditation, certificate, lapel pin, luggage tag · Free nights through the Ready. Sell. Stay. program for agents and a guest · Complimentary upgrade vouchers · Dedicated inside sales line · Bonus commission program Palace Resorts wants you to be treated and rewarded like the professional you are. You can find complete details on the PRO Initiative at palaceresorts.com/travelagents. “As we pioneer towards a new generation of agency partnership, we hope to strengthen our long lasting relationship and are committed to our mutual growth and success.” - Rafael chaPuR, COO, PalaCe ResORts http://www.palaceresorts.com/travelagents

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Abercrombie & Kent
Sunset Key Guest Cottages, Key West
Can't Get Enough of Jupiter Beach, Florida
Hanging Out in the Outer Banks
Aloha to Families in Hawaii's Resorts
Cruise Stockholm
Galapagos Islands- Cruising 101: Back to Basics
The Ultimate Family Adventure in Costa Rica
Flanders Travel Planner
Fabulous Family Voyages
China: A Wonderland for Kids
India: Pure Wonderment
An African Adventure
Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa, D.R.
The Bahamas: Islands of Adventure
Cayman Islands: A Home Away from Home
Mazatlan Reinvigorated
CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort

Recommend September 2011