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Mexico's largest freshwater lake is preparing to welcome a fresh, international name to its accommodations scene. With construction slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2016, the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Ajijic will bring a luxury hotel experience to the popular Lake Chapala destination located 30 miles south of Guadalajara.
The announcement was made last week by Sun-Star Group, a Mexico-based real estate and investment firm led by developer Omar O'Rourke Martinez and veteran hotel executive Thomas Wahl. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group tapped Sun-Star to develop and operate the Radisson Blu at Lake Chapala, with an option for additional properties.
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Distinguished across the globe as the brand with Hotels Designed to Say YES, Radisson Blu offers leading-edge style where the delight is in the detail. Hotels are in prime city locations, airport gateways and leisure destinations like Lake Chapala.
Sun-Star selected Ajijic at Lake Chapala for its initial Radisson Blu development based on the market's demographics and strategic location. "We have examined the Mexican hotel market very carefully and it is no secret that the industry is at a point where many opportunities are emerging to serve both the domestic and international markets for leisure and business travelers," said Wahl.
"We chose Ajijic and the El Dorado development specifically as our first project for strategic reasons. This popular destination currently has no internationally branded hotels," Wahl said. "It not only enjoys tremendous leisure traffic, but is also home to a large international community and actually closer to the (Guadalajara) airport and commercial activity in El Salto than is downtown Guadalajara."
Wahl added that the El Dorado development simply made perfect sense. "It is a premier upscale mixed use development, and the addition of an internationally flagged luxury hotel will both complement and enhance the existing facilities. The developer's long range strategy always included a hotel tower, which provided us with a shovel-ready project and made the decision an easy one".
Martinez noted that Sun-Star has a strong commitment to the Lake Chapala area. "We are excited to bring the upscale Radisson Blu brand to Lake Chapala, knowing that it will further enhance and establish Lake Chapala as a first class destination."
Tourism Perks
With an average year-round temperature of 68 degrees F, the former fishing village of Ajijic appeals to visitors with its cobblestone lanes, central plaza thriving with civic celebrations, vibrant gardens, sidewalk cafes, galleries, boutiques and curio shops. A Wednesday street market showcases locally grown fruits, vegetables, cut flowers and fresh seafood brought in from the coast.
The backdrop of lush green mountains surrounding Lake Chapala is sprinkled with flowering trees and plants. Visitors can hike along trails to explore waterfalls, petroglyphs, caves and indigenous sacred sites. Ajijic has also attracted a healthy ex-pat community of artists and writers that contribute to a lively social scene.
Radisson Blu figures to be a welcomed enhancement in this community where accommodations have been limited to smaller hotels and inns. The brand is globally recognized for upscale full service hotels and resorts with striking design components and innovative service concepts. More than 395 of these flagship properties are currently open or are being development in more than 110 countries.
The Magic Bed, an intelligent mattress that molds to each individual, highlights the iconic brand's Blu Dreams sleeping experience. After a good night's sleep, guests refuel with Radisson Blu's Super Breakfast concept based on high-quality ingredients, local specialties and visually appealing presentations. They'll also be privy to Radisson Blu's Yes I Can! hospitality philosophy. Reservations will be available at radissonblu.com
The Agent's Edge
Radisson rewards travel agents with its "Look To Book" that converts your hard work into valuable rewards. Enroll at looktobook.com and you'll receive 10 points for every USD reservations booked and consumed at more than 1,000 hotels worldwide - including Radisson Blu, Quorvus Collection, Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, and Country Inns & Suites by Carlson. You'll also enjoy access to exclusive bonus point earning opportunities. You can redeem your points for fun and flexible personal rewards including prepaid cards, free hotel nights and airline miles.
Each month, "Look To Book" features a new online quiz that's designed to educate and update agents on brands, hotels and destinations. Agents who view the short training module and correctly answer questions can earn 500 "Look To Book" bonus points.
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Be sure to recommend that your clients join Club Carlson, the global hotel rewards program from Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. The program offers faster free award nights with no blackout dates on standard rooms, plus valuable redemption options that include airline miles, prepaid cards and in-hotel express awards. For more information on Club Carlson, visit clubcarlson.com.
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