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Ritz-Carlton's flag to fly over Cancun's beaches once again in 2027

Oct. 11, 2024
3 min read
ritz-carlton-cancun
Ritz-Carlton's flag to fly over Cancun's beaches once again in 2027
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Ritz-Carlton is returning to Cancun two years after leaving the popular Mexican tourist destination.

Set to open in 2027, the all-new Ritz-Carlton, Cancun, Punta Nizuc will be located 10 minutes from the airport in a towering building with 131 rooms and suites and 126 branded residences, all developed in partnership with FibraHotel, Fibra Danhos and Beyond Ventures.

Though details are currently sparse about what else the resort will feature, we do know there will be an oceanfront pool complex, a spa, and six restaurant and bar outlets.

Related: The best Ritz-Carlton hotels in the world

“Marriott is thrilled to bring The Ritz-Carlton brand back to Cancun, as we continue aiming to meet the growing demand for luxury travel experiences and world-class branded residences,” said Brian King, president of Caribbean & Latin America at Marriott International, in a statement about the project.

Ritz-Carlton's presence in Cancun was first established in 1993 when The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun became the first hotel in the brand to open outside of the U.S. In 2022, the aging hotel dropped the Ritz-Carlton flag and was rebranded as the Kempinski Hotel Cancun.

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At the time, the aging hotel faced stiff competition from new luxury hotels in the region with fresh paint, updated amenities and overall better value. It also felt like the former Ritz-Carlton, Cancun wasn't living up to Ritz-Carlton's brand standards or matching the modern luxury experience offered at newer Ritz-Carlton locations around the world, like The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad.

With the return of the Ritz-Carlton, Marriott continues to double down on its luxury offerings around Cancun. Next year, The St. Regis Costa Mujeres Resort is scheduled to open slightly north of Cancun in Costa Mujeres. Farther south near Playa del Carmen, The Riveria Maya Edition at Kanai opened this year to much fanfare.

While The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun, Punta Nizuc will offer Marriott Bonvoy members a traditional resort experience, Marriott is also focusing on its luxury all-inclusive resorts in greater Cancun. Later in October, Almare, an adults-only Luxury Collection all-inclusive resort, will open on Isla Mujeres, adding a high-end option to Marriott's all-inclusive offerings.

Related reading:

Featured image by MARRIOTT
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 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.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
  • Annual Fee

    $325
  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

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.