Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya will reopen on May 25, 2023. Set between tropical forest and the Mexican Caribbean coast, the property will be completely refurbished upon opening. This will be the first extensive renovation within Belmond’s North American portfolio under LVMH ownership. Following the transformation, Maroma will debut 10 new waterfront suites, a wellness experience in partnership with Guerlain, sustainability initiatives and a new gastronomic program led by Mexican-born executive chef Daniel Camacho.
Designer Tara Bernerd is at the helm of the project, working in collaboration with local artisans to honor Mexican heritage. The original design and architecture of the property will be preserved, including the white stucco buildings. Each of the 72 accommodations will remain located along Maroma’s private stretch of sand, including a new waterfront suite category complete with a private pool and garden. The property’s three pools will also be completely redesigned.
Maroma will showcase a collection of pan-Mexican art and design. Eighty percent of furnishings and objects will be made by Mexican craftspeople—from a hand-blown glass chandelier and painted clay pots to traditional “Saltillo” floor tiles, curated for guestrooms.
Wellness at Maroma will take on a new dimension with the launch of the first Guerlain Spa in Latin America. Treatment rooms will look out onto the jungle and incorporate local design elements with geometric shapes and artisanal objects. Healing rituals will be inspired by ancient practices and the melipona bee, revered by the Mayans for over 3,000 years as a symbol of spiritual resonance. Guerlain will offer a spa menu comprising face and body treatments, in addition to experiences designed around the Mayan wellness philosophy of sound and healing rituals. The spa will also offer a selection of daily workshops in meditation and yoga.
Executive Chef Daniel Camacho will continue his legacy of celebrating Mexico’s culinary diversity at Casa Mayor restaurant. Ninety percent of ingredients will be sourced from Mexico and almost half from the Yucatán peninsula. Freshly caught seafood will be sourced from Amigos de Sian Ka’an. The restaurant will serve traditional Mexican cuisine with a twist. Elsewhere, Bambuco will offer seasonal herbal drinks made fresh from the garden, besides Mexican wines, tequila cocktails, and a selection of mezcal. Freddy’s Bar, the beach hangout, will offer live music and DJ sets, fresh seafood and cocktails.
Maroma will continue collaborating with Fundación Selva Maya and Mayahuum to protect the endangered melipona bee. Belmond will also launch a new partnership with Guerlain to further amplify this commitment. The collaboration will include expanding resident hives, unveiling a new melipona sanctuary for educational guest experiences and introducing Guerlain’s Bee School and “Women for Bees” initiatives into Yucatán communities. Melipona and other types of honey will also feature on the culinary and mixology menus. Other initiatives include turtle conservation and preserving the ecosystem.
Maroma will celebrate local artists through a multi-faceted creative concept, “Fotografía Maroma,” in partnership with curators Fariba Farshad (co-founder and director of Photo London) and Patricia Conde (the founder of Patricia Conde Galeria in Mexico City and the annual exhibition “Proyectosjuancano68”). Together with Belmond, the curators have hand-picked four Mexican photographers to participate in the inaugural photography series: Patricia Lagarde, Javier Hinojosa, Ilán Rabchinskey and Margot Kalach. Their works will be exhibited during Art Basel in Miami, Zona Maco in Mexico City and Photo London.
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