Prevue September-October 2017 - 63

Unico 20˚87˚
A hyperlocal all-inclusive opens on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula
[ON LOCATION] MICHELLE MARIE AREAN

M

inutes after arriving at the 448-room Unico 20˚87˚
Hotel Riviera Maya, attendees will be posting to social
media about the little piece of heaven they have found,
as we found ourselves doing during a recent jaunt
to the property. For us, it was the views from our swim-up guest
rooms. Frank Maduro, VP of marketing for AIC Hotel Group, says
relaxed luxury and this sense of place epitomizes the adults-only,
all-inclusive property through design, as well as "great food and
mixology, art and artisan programs, pop-up programming, wellness
and exclusively curated tours."
He's on point. At every corner something's going on, but it isn't
rowdy or disruptive. We watched an artisan weave handbags, belts
and table runners by the pool one afternoon; another afternoon saw
artists feverishly drawing on the resort's walls, showcasing their artwork
on mescal bottles, or decorating notebooks with traditional Mexican
artwork. The pop-up experiences switch to a more entertaining vibe
at night, offering everything from a Spanish pop band performance by
the pool to a sultry jazz singer serenading guests at Palmera Lounge
before the DJ and local band take over. "Each day offers a different
experience," Maduro says. "You'll never know what to expect."
During our stay, we enjoyed an hour-long, pre-dinner wine
tasting and painting experience that offered a chance to taste
various wines while indulging, under the guidance of a local artist,
in our artistically creative sides. A 60-minute spa treatment, where
two (yes TWO) therapists work simultaneously to target tension in
the body, is another must-do for attendees. The spa offers one daily
complimentary service.

62 | prevuemeetings.com

A BLISSFUL SANCTUARY
Unico exudes modern Mexican flair and a relaxed ambiance.
There are swim-up pools on every first-floor guest room (76 in all)
and all guest rooms offer a hydro spa tub on the balcony, as well
as minibars stocked according to attendees' tastes (ours included
wines, mescal, tequila, soft drinks) and complimentary sun hats
that can be artfully decorated during one of the many pop-up
activities around the resort.
In between meetings, attendees have at their disposal an
anfitrion (personal host), who, among other things, can prepare
the spa tub for a rejuvenating soak. All of this coincides with
a savvy meetings mindset that includes an on-site convention
center with an 11,600-sf ballroom and 10 breakout rooms. More
laid-back meetings have the great outdoors at their disposal, or
groups can meet in one of three on-site bars.
"This is not your typical all-inclusive property-it's anything
but cookie-cutter," Maduro says, and the statement rings true on
multiple levels.

OFF-SITE EXCURSIONS
The resort's veer toward the hyperlocal carries on with excursions
to Garrafon Natural Reef Park, Chichen Itza and other local
hot spots. We spent a half-day in a Mayan village where we
splashed in, zip lined across and canoed through cenotes. The
day concluded with a traditional Mayan meal served by locals.
unicohotelrivieramaya.com
http://www.unicohotelrivieramaya.com http://www.prevuemeetings.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue September-October 2017
