Family Favourite: Canadians are Flocking to Marriott Cancun, An All Inclusive Resort

Marriott’s first official branded all-inclusive resort opened last September after undergoing extensive renovations and Canadians are flocking to the family-friendly property.

Glaucia Canil, Director of Sales and Marketing for Marriott Cancun, an All-Inclusive Resort, tells us during a site check last week, that Canadians now make up nearly 80% of its guests – a higher share than next door’s sister property the JW Marriott.

“Canadians love our brand and this year we’re seeing more and more visit our property,” explained Canil. “We especially have a lot of multi-family bookings; they like that we guarantee connected rooms through our Family Connect program.”

With Marriott’s Family Connect program, connecting rooms are guaranteed at time of booking; a big plus for family travel.

The premium service offerings are aligned with Marriott Luxury Collection standards and balance a mix of adults-only luxury with family-friendly fun. 80% of the property’s 450 rooms are ocean view while the remainder overlook the lagoon with its stunning sunsets. There are 12 restaurants, ranging from buffet to ala carte, including Japanese, Mexican, Polynesian-inspired cuisine, and a pizzeria. There’s also Mo’s Burgers and Shakes; a retro diner-style that’s a tribute to Marriott founder J. Willard Marriott who started his career with a nine-stool root beer stand in 1927, eventually evolving into the brand it is today.

Young or old, there’s lots to do during a stay, from the kids’ waterpark and kids club for the littles, to the adults only pool and cooking classes. We were able to participate in a beachside ceviche-making class, at Cevichería by la Isla that was equally informative as it was delicious. There are also fitness classes, water activities, and themed workshops (most included) and in the evenings live music, bands, karaoke, and cultural shows which Canil says replaces the traditional “one-size-fits-all” entertainment approach, giving guests more choice.

“We understand and target our activities to who we have on property,” Canil says. “For example, if we have have more kids on property, we will offer more kid and family activities. If it’s the season for more adults, we’ll have activities for them. We do things different. Entertainment is as important as any other pillar of food and beverage and service.”

Advisors should know this would be a good venue for groups with outdoor decks that double as event spaces for concerts, receptions, or cultural performances. South Asian Weddings are becoming increasingly popular, with on site chefs trained to prepare authentic Indian cuisine for multi-day celebrations.

Staff are also on top of the dreaded S word – sargassum – with daily cleaning to ensure the beach remains pristine for guests.

Canil says the company is currently in negotiations with Air Canada Vacations for packages, and she expects the deal to be finalized soon, making booking even easier for advisors.

“For us, Marriott is a core brand and it is a premium brand. Our standards of service, of dedication within our price range is what set us apart.”