Business has been “shockingly good” for Playa Hotels & Resorts in the aftermath of the pandemic, with 2022 serving as the company’s best year ever, said Playa Chairman and CEO Bruce Wardinski in an interview during the company’s 10th-anniversary celebration at Hyatt Ziva Cancun.
“We’re doing incredibly well, and while a lot of people think the leisure bubble has burst and things are heading down, we’re not seeing that,” he said, adding that 2023 is shaping up to be another stellar year.
“There was a little bit of softness in the in the Cancun market in the summertime,” Wardinski said, noting that that was to be expected with travelers now able to visit Europe with no restrictions for the first time since the pandemic ebbed.
In other developments, Playa is taking a measured approach to expansion. “We’re going to be smart about our growth,” Wardinski said. “So, I always like to tell our team that we want to be the best all-inclusive company, which doesn’t mean the biggest all-inclusive company – and we will continue to grow,” he said.
“We'll focus our growth on the places we already are now,” he added, which include Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
In the near term, plans are underway to transform a shuttered restaurant on the Hyatt Ziva Cancun property into an ultra-luxury hotel tower. “Our goal is to build a hotel-within-a-hotel tower there,” Wardinski said, following municipality approvals.
Meanwhile, during the Playa celebration event itself, executives spoke about the company’s evolution over the past 10 years.
“We take immense pride in the strides we’ve made as a brand. From our humble beginnings to becoming a recognized name in the hospitality industry,” said Gregory Maliassas, Playa’s executive vice president and COO.
“It’s been a journey fueled by hard work, commitments and unwavering focus on delivering excellence. Staying at the forefront of the industry, we’ve continually pushed the boundaries of what an all-inclusive resort can offer.”
Part and parcel to that success, he noted, are the people who work for Playa. “Our employees –from frontline staff to management – have been the heart and soul of our brands.
“Their commitment to creating exceptional experiences for our guests is truly commendable.”
Another key to Playa’s success has been its focus on superlative customer service. “Our guests have always been at the center of our efforts,” Maliassas said. “We’ve listened to their feedback, embraced their preferences, and tailored our offerings to meet and exceed their expectations.”
He added, “As we embark on the next phase of our journey, we’re committed to raising the bar even higher. Our dedication to innovation, guest satisfaction and responsible practices will continue to be the driving forces behind our brand success.”
Echoing Maliassas’ sentiments, Dayna Blank, executive vice president and chief people officer, said that every each and every employee has “played a pivotal role in Playa’s story, propelling us forward.”
“Your dedication, hard work and commitment is the reason why we can proudly celebrate this 10-year milestone,” she said.
“Our commitment to humility, integrity respect, diversity, responsibility and love has shaped our culture and set us apart not just about what we do, but how we do it.”
For his part, Wardinski noted that Playa’s path to success came with some caveats. “It wasn't easy. We had a couple of bumps in the road – there was that thing called the pandemic, which tried to make our 10 year celebration not so good,” he said.
“But we came together as a company and as a group of people. We’re better now than we were before the pandemic.
“The first 10 years were amazing – but we’re going to be pushing for much, much more,” Wardinski concluded.
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