ME CANCUN DEBUT DRAWS CELEBRITIES AND JETSETTERS TO EXCLUSIVE LAUNCH PARTY
Cindy Crawford, pop group Kabah, Barbara Mori, Jose Maria Torre, Gloria Perez Jacome, Talina Fernandez attended star-studded event
Cancún, Mexico (May 7, 2007) - A bevy of international celebrities and jetsetters joined ME by Meliá to celebrate the launch of ME Cancun, the first resort location for the new brand, on Saturday, May 5. Guests sampled a variety of cuisines from hotel restaurants Salt, Silk, and THE BEACHHOUSE and premium drinks from the resort's fashionable bars, as they wandered through the vibrant lighting scheme, exotic décor, sensual beats, and spirited dance performances that transformed the resort into a world of rich sensory experiences.
Having recently undergone an extensive multi-million dollar transformation, the expansive property offers guests an experience-based "personality hotel" that is characterized by passion for service, contemporary design, international fusion cuisine, and world music.
Hundreds of notables from the U.S., Spain and Mexico traveled to Cancún to fete the opening of the chic new addition to the innovative ME by Meliá portfolio, which welcomes ME Cancun as its second property. Attendees such as Cindy Crawford, pop group Kabah, Barbara Mori, Jose Maria Torre, Gloria Perez Jacome, Talina Fernandez and Inés Saenz, among other movers and shakers, started pouring in for the 3-day weekend on Friday, May 4.
"We were thrilled to celebrate our first resort property in Cancún," says Guy Hensley, Senior Vice President of Operations of ME by Meliá. "This was one of the best parties Cancún has ever seen and it brought out everything that represents ME by Meliá - fun, glamour and a little bit of naughtiness."
Introductory festivities commenced with a welcome lunch at THE BEACHHOUSE, created by internationally renowned nightlife entrepreneur, Rande Gerber, along with his brother Scott. THE BEACHHOUSE is located in a "palapa" (an outdoor, thatched roof structure), and serves local cuisine with a modern twist ranging from Smoked Mako Shark Dip to signature dishes such as Tuna Riviera Maya.
Ernesto Luna, ME Cancun's General Manager, was also on hand to give guests a tour of the property's 448 guest rooms, which offer stunning ocean and sunset lagoon views. All of the rooms have been artfully refurbished by world-renowned architect Alvaro Sans in collaboration with architectural firm Interarq, designer Rebecca Perez, and celebrated Mexican artist, Yuri Zatarain. Together they recreated each of the guest rooms in warm, rich colors. Custom-made wood and stone furniture by Zatarain has been etched by hand and adorned with shells and other elements, making each piece a work of art. Guests were also able to admire Marie France Porta's work throughout the public spaces of the property, including a provocative sculpture of black mermaids made of resin and alabaster dust in the hotel's lobby.
Standard features in each room include: high speed internet, state-of-the-art DVD player with a 32-inch interactive plasma TV, surround-sound speakers, an extensive DVD library through an "Everything is Possible" service, an in-room laptop safe, iPod adaptors and connectivity docking stations - guests who arrive without iPods may request a pre-set iPod with over 900 songs to use throughout their stay. Additionally, beds boast 300-thread count linen and a down pillow top mattress and rooms feature organic, all natural products by AVEDA, which can be enjoyed with luxurious rainfall showerheads.
As Friday afternoon gave way to evening, guests were invited to enjoy premium cocktails and an exotic meal at Asian Bistro, Silk, where they sampled the innovative fusion cuisine of Chef Matias Martinez.
The weekend-long celebration was kicked into high gear on Saturday, May 5, when celebrities and others began walking the purple carpet at 7:30 pm. Soon after, party-goers prepared for an evening of revelry at lobby lounge Rose Bar, where they sipped drinks and lounged on modern white furniture in the candle-lit space in anticipation of the electric evening ahead. A candle-lit path fragranced with exotic scents encouraged guests to wander through Silk and Salt, ME Cancun's Mediterranean restaurant, as well as the hotel's eSpace, which serves light-bites as well as an array of delectable drinks.
As the evening progressed, attendees migrated to the pool area, where their senses were stimulated with energetic dance performances, sensuous beats, and vibrant, colorful lighting. ME Cancun's adults-only Infinity Pool was transformed into a dance floor and attracted guests with provocative music and a visually intriguing dance floor bathed in electric blue and vibrant purple light. Finally, the party moved beachfront, where ME Cancun's Maxim Beach, one of the resort's electric nightlife options, is located. Internationally renowned nightlife operator, Rande Gerber, along with his brother Scott, partnered with Maxim magazine to open the space, where guests can find their groove to the beat of world-renowned DJ's and lounge on Balinese-style day beds.
After the weekend wound down, guests had the opportunity to unwind at ME Cancun's 11,000 sq. ft. Yhi Spa. The Spa offers a number of massage and treatment options, including hot stone massages, body wraps, exfoliations and facials. All spa treatments are culled from local, natural products inspired by the ancient Mayans and Aztecs and are specially prepared on the premises. The hydro-therapy zone is a unique area of the Spa that includes a variety of water-based treatments, including full-body hydro-massage pools targeting different areas of the body, and thermo-heated and scented rain showers. Outside the private Yhi Spa pool lies the hotel's swimming oasis, where guests could soak up the hot Cancún sun at any of the three outdoor pools.
Attendees embraced the numerous opportunities to dance, eat, and drink well into the next morning.
