Growing, growing, growing

Karisma set to double its portfolio with global expansion

ANN RUPPENSTEIN

Karisma Hotels & Resorts’ Daniel Scheiman took the recent marketing forum at the 10th annual Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultants conference as a platform to let travel agents – the company’s No. 1 partner – know there’s plenty of developments in the works.
“We truly understand you are the force behind the wheel. You run the factory,” said the senior business development manager for North America at the event held at El Dorado Royale in Riviera Maya, Mexico. “Our way of saying thank you is to keep opening new hotels.”
In fact, the luxury hotel collection which owns and manages properties in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, is amid a period of rapid growth, aiming to double its portfolio with the introduction of Margaritaville-branded hotels throughout the Caribbean and Mexico, and new properties coming online around the world.
“In the next five years, you’re going to see our product double,” said Mandy Chomat, chief marketing and sales officer at Karisma Hotels & Resorts.
Some of the latest development announcements include the Cap Cana area in Dominican Republic, where Karisma will open three new resorts by 2019. The properties will be the first two El Dorado Royale and Casitas hotels outside of Mexico, as well as the Sensimar Cap Cana.
Back in Mexico, the company announced plans to develop three hotels in the resort region of Huatulco, including an El Dorado Royale hotel, a Generations resort, and a Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts property. Ground breaking is expected for 2019, with all properties slated to open in summer 2020.
Meanwhile in Riviera Maya, Karisma will open the first Margaritaville in Mexico, as well as a Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts in 2019. The latter will feature 272 connecting and all oceanfront suites – all of which will boast swim-up or infinity pools – a pineapple village in the shape of a turtle shell, eight Gourmet Inclusive restaurants and the largest water park in the region complete with nine slides.
As for the 355-suite Margaritaville resort, which will be located next to Azul Sensatori, Scheiman says the property won’t require a dress code at any of its six restaurants.
“You’re gonna hear the booze in the blender, you’re gonna smell the coconut oil,” he said, noting that the resort will feature a LandShark brewery. “It’s laid-back, giving you the feel that you’re in Margaritaville.”
Also opening in 2018 is a new hotel at El Cielo Vineyard in Mexico’s Villa de Guadalupe, less than a two-hour drive from San Diego, giving guests the option to stay at the winery. The state-of-the-art villas, which provide access to 15 different types of wine produced on-site, will also target destination weddings clientele.
Further developments are also underway across the pond, with a 257-suite Holiday Villages Montenegro coming to Ulcini, with what’s being dubbed as the first swim-up suites in the country and four restaurants, and an Allure Palazzi Kotor Bay by Karisma underway in Dobrota. Both are anticipated to debut next year.
As for the Canadian market, Chomat says it remains a top priority for the company.
“Our Canadian travel agent partners have been crucial in helping us grow our business in Canada,” he told Travel Courier. “This year, Karisma Hotels & Resorts increased business in Canada by 30%, while seeing a 50% increase from our agents.”
www.karismahotels.com