A European hotel brand you may not know is taking over the Ritz-Carlton, Cancun
One of the best-known points properties in Cancun is being stripped of its flag.
It’s safe to say the Cancun area has been in the midst of a hotel boom, even with looming questions of safety plaguing the region in recent months. Despite that, a handful of high-profile new hotels and resorts have opened here over the last year, including the Hilton Cancun, an All-Inclusive Resort.
Yet it seems the Ritz-Carlton, Cancun is on its way out and European luxury hotel brand Kempinski is taking over.
Internet sleuths and would-be visitors to the resort recently noticed there are no rooms available to book from Sept. 1 on, as shown in the booking calendar below.
The calendars for the months following display the “not available for check-in” message.
“We can confirm that The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun will cease operating under The Ritz-Carlton brand flag as of [Aug. 31], 2022. The owner company and Marriott International continue to discuss next steps,” a Marriott spokesperson told Loyalty Lobby.
TPG’s request for comment to Marriott was not answered in time for publication.
A quarter century of history
In 1993, this Ritz-Carlton was the brand’s very first property to open outside of the U.S.
Back in 2018, the resort celebrated its 25th anniversary. To honor the milestone, the resort launched a new family-friendly Club Lounge and renovated its upscale Meditteranean restaurant, Fatino.
“The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun has maintained its commitment to quality and service by offering its guests the best experiences and facilities,” the resort shared back in 2018. However, we’re not sure that’s entirely true.
In 2019, TPG sent a reporter to check in on the hotel a little more than 25 years after its opening — and the headline speaks for itself: “25 years too old: A review of the Ritz-Carlton, Cancun.”
On the trip, our reporter, Zach Griff, found the resort had “the name of a luxurious [five]-star property” but was in desperate need of a renovation.
Dated features in public spaces — such as a gold elevator bank, low ceilings and furniture past its prime — felt out of touch with the modern-day designs offered at many upscale resorts nearby.
The room was slightly better, but even all the way back in 2019, Zach had a feeling something wasn’t quite right at the Ritz.
“While the room just barely passed the Ritz-Carlton-brand-standard threshold, the rest of the property did not — it was in dire need of a makeover and renovation,” he wrote.
That leads us to today’s two questions: What happened, and what happens next?
What happened?
Considering our recent review of the resort, one could assume the Ritz-Carlton, Cancun was no longer meeting the brand standards set by Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, and an agreement to meet the standards couldn’t be reached.
They say one bad apple spoils the whole bunch, right?
Well, brand standards are created to hold each property to a certain set of rules, so guests have a great experience at one property and then book a stay at another. For Ritz-Carlton, these brand standards are probably front of mind as high-profile new openings are modernizing and elevating the brand.
Just take a look at the recently opened Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City. Or, to really highlight the need for modernization, consider the brand-new Ritz-Carlton New York, Nomad, which opened last week. As I reported then, this new property was designed “to bring a smarter, more modern type of luxury to the Ritz-Carlton portfolio.”
Even beyond Ritz-Carlton’s brand standards, it’s clear this resort isn’t up to par with many of its new luxury competitors that are planting flags on the beaches around Cancun.
Earlier this year, in Tulum, Hilton opened up the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya. The resort offers a sleek design where every room has a relaxation tub or plunge pool, floor-to-ceiling windows and a 65-inch television, as pictured below.
To put it into perspective even more, let’s quickly look at the price difference between the dated Ritz-Carlton and the new Conrad. For the rest of August, until it ceases to be a Ritz-Carlton, rates start at $539 a night.
At the Conrad Tulum, rates are all less than $400 a night, with some as low as $339.
Sure, Tulum isn’t Cancun and there’s some distance between the two, but if we’re comparing a dated, name-brand luxury resort to a brand new one, there’s a clear winner in terms of style and price.
What’s next?
Earlier this week, we still weren't sure what was next for this dated property. But now we have some definitive answers.
Starting Sept. 1, luxury European hotel brand Kempinski will take over the resort and temporarily rebrand it as the Grand Hotel Cancun without ever closing the resort to guests. Over the next several months, "this well-known property will undergo various improvements and adjustments to the Kempinski brand standards," Kempinski shared in a statement.
Once those "various improvements and adjustments" are made — and we're hoping various means very serious, in this case — the resort will be rebranded once again at the beginning of next year to the Kempinski Hotel Cancun.
"During a three-month transitional period, we will ensure that we implement our Kempinski DNA in the operation of this outstanding beach hotel and that we extend our brand recognition by delivering the impeccable service and quality Kempinski is renowned for," Bernold Schroeder, CEO of Kempinski Group, said in the statement.
This will be Kempinski's first property in Mexico, but it currently has hotels in Cuba and Dominica.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.