Slew of Upcoming Hotel Openings Point to Positive Growth Post Hurricane Odile

Hurricane Odile, last September’s monster storm, was a major setback for the Los Cabos economy, but all signs point to positive growth for the area during the next few years. Not only have many affected businesses taken advantage of the downtime for repairs to address upgrades and renovations, but new air routes promise an increasing number of visitors, and a slew of new, high-profile hotels are on the horizon to boost available room inventory.

According to the new chief commercial officer for the Los Cabos Tourism Board, Luis Palacios Larrañaga, expanded air routes continue to be a prime focus, despite the fact that Los Cabos has already added 500,000 new airline seats’ worth of service since 2011. This month, United Airlines introduces new service from Washington, D.C., and Southwest will begin offering flights from Baltimore in June. To add to the positive overall outlook: seven new hotels are scheduled to open within the next year, and over a dozen are expected to open their doors by 2017.

Here’s a snapshot look at some of the major properties slated to premiere in coming years.

2015

Thompson Los Cabos

Boutique specialist Thompson Hotels (New York-based Thompson and San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre are jointly managed under the Commune Hotel & Resorts brand) will unveil its latest lodging this summer, with 115 rooms and 44 condominiums sporting Land’s End views from a scenic location by Misiones del Cabo. One of two Thompson projects currently under development in México, the Los Cabos property will showcase contemporary styling courtesy of Mexico City architect Javier Sánchez, as well as sophisticated amenities like a sky garden terrace, poolside lounge, and hip restaurants and bars.

JW Marriott Puerto Los Cabos

The upscale, master-planned Puerto Los Cabos development outside San José del Cabo is adding to its already impressive hotel portfolio (El Ganzo, Secrets Puerto Los Cabos) with two new properties, both under the Marriott banner. Luxury brand JW Marriott is expected to open a 300-room hotel by the end of the year, with a staggering list of services and amenities that includes several onsite restaurants – most notably “Café des Artistes” from acclaimed chef Thierry Blouet, and a beachside “Churrasquería” grill – a variety of swimming pools, a pampering spa, tennis courts, fitness center, business center and expansive meeting space, as well as access to the private marina and spectacular 18-hole design collaboration between golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman.

2016

Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos

Hard Rock now boasts 186 venues in 57 countries, including 142 cafés, 20 hotels and nine casinos; and the enormous 600-room, all-inclusive, beachfront Hard Rock Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas will be the company’s fifth resort in México. The property’s size allows the company to target a diverse group of travelers – the hotel is expected to feature dedicated family-friendly and adults-only sections – but trademark touches like live shows, musical memorabilia from legendary performers, and iconic Hard Rock merchandise will surely satisfy long-time fans of the franchise. Anticipated amenities include a Rock Spa with a special Rhythm and Movement menu, a Body Rock fitness center, and a gargantuan amount of meeting space.

VieVage Los Cabos

Auberge Resorts, the company behind noted tourist corridor luxury resort Esperanza, also manages the newly minted VieVage lifestyle brand (it premiered in 2014). The local iteration, VieVage Los Cabos, is a resort and residential community whose first phase – a seaside luxury resort nestled within the 1.200-acre Chileno Bay master development – is set to open in 2016. Elegant contemporary design and furnishings for the project will be provided by, respectively, Glazier Le Architecture of Burlingame, and BAMO of San Francisco, California. Shared facilities are expected to includes a massive centerpiece pool complex with multiple levels, an oceanfront hot tub and fire pits, a signature restaurant serving up artisanal cuisine under the stars, as well as a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, an extensive spa, a fitness center and movement studio, a kids club, a private residents’ lounge, and an h2O Cave that doubles as the resort’s water sports center.

Mar Adentro by Encanto

This unique, strikingly contemporary architectural enclave in San José del Cabo is being designed by innovative Mexico City architect Miguel Angel Aragonés, and will not only include an 83-suite, five-star hotel, but also 106 private residences and 18 estates. The two, three and four-bedroom living spaces are to be formed of modules that can be linked both horizontally and vertically, and all residences and estates will be outfitted with top-of-the-line international appointments, from Italian Poliform furnishings and German Miele appliances to South Korean Samsung electronics and Swiss Nespresso coffee makers.

Additional lodgings expected to open in 2016 include the 124-room Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Los Cabos (comprised solely of single-story, oceanfront villas), a 196-room Park Hyatt, and an adults-only, all-inclusive Le Blanc Spa Resort featuring 400-rooms and five restaurants. The latter is the first local foray from the Cancún-centered Le Blanc, and will be located next to Cabo Real at Km. 18 in the tourist corridor.

2017

Starwood Solaz

Starwood (which owns Sheraton and Westin, among other hotel brands) is making a major push towards warm weather resort supremacy, with 13 hotels currently in development in Latin America and the Caribbean. All 13 are expected to open by 2017, including Solaz. The Luxury Collection managed, mixed-use, beachfront property will feature 131-rooms (including a 2,000 square foot Presidential suite), 18 residences, a sterling selection of onsite bars and restaurants, a world-class spa, tennis courts and fitness center, and expansive meeting facilities that encompass four separate ballrooms.

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In other hotel news, local grand dame resort One&Only Palmilla is scheduled to reopen on April 20, 2015. Fellow corridor-based luxury providers Esperanza and Las Ventanas al Paraíso will resume operations June 1st and 15th, respectively.