Situated in Manzanillo on Mexico’s beautiful Pacific Gold Coast is the Grand Isla Navidad Resort, the centrepiece of a 1,200-acre private island development. Known for golf and a wide array of on-site activities, the resort is ready to welcome back Canadians with new health and safety protocols in place. In this week’s Take Five, we sit down with Adrian G. Schjetnan, Director of Sales & Marketing, who wants travel agents to know that room upgrades, welcome amenities and special requests are all available for their clients – all they have to do is ask.
- Can you tell us a little about the Grand Isla Navidad Resort?
Isla Navidad is an exclusive self-contained, 1,200-acre resort located 30 minutes from the Manzanillo International Airport (ZLO). The hotel offers 199 deluxe rooms and suites, most overlooking the private yacht marina, the lagoon and the Pacific Ocean. Several restaurants and bars showcase the local and international cuisine and drinks. On property, you can find three swimming pools, a private 800-metre beach on the swimmable lagoon, water sport activities, tennis courts, a fitness centre and spa, and a daily activities program that includes yoga lessons on the beach or garden areas during the winter months. There’s also a 27-hole championship golf course.
- What health & safety precautions as the Grand Isla Navidad Resort implemented since the start of the pandemic?
All of our clients have to go through a sanitization arch upon arrival at the resort, their temperature is taken and we have a mandatory face mask use in all indoor public areas. Also, guests have to wear a face mask when serving their food at the buffet line. Hand gel sanitizer is available throughout the property and guests have the option to decide whether they want housekeeping service in their room or not. Their room is completely sanitized before their arrival.
- How is the resort working with Canadian travel agents in 2022?
I would like to ask travel agents to contact me at salesdirector@islaresort.com.mx to let me know that they have booked a client and I will gladly offer them a room upgrade and send an amenity on behalf of the travel agent to their client’s room. Also, let me know of any special requests or if the customer is celebrating something special.
I love to visit travel agents in their offices but this has not been possible for over two years now. I really miss that.
Agents should know that our resort is ideal for adults looking for a more relaxed atmosphere, families with small children (we have a very fun activity program for kids), golfers and fishing enthusiasts. The weather in the winter cannot be beat at this Pacific Coast destination and I always like to say that this area has the best value for money anywhere in Mexico.
- How were winter 2021-2022 bookings, and do you foresee bookings to ramp up as the year progresses?
Bookings for this winter season are still slow as we only have a couple flights per week out of Calgary with WestJet. But we are ready to welcome Canadian visitors again! We did not have any golf group bookings this winter but have several requests for space for 2022-2023. However, our golf course has seen an uptick in rounds played by Canadian visitors or temporary residents.
- What’s new at the resort for 2022?
Our all-inclusive packages include a 7th night free most of the season and we also offer complimentary golf (a cart fee applies) for all WestJet Vacations clients, plus up to two children 12 and under stay, play and eat free with any booking. For all direct bookings we offer a 15% commission on the total package price. We have remodelled all the furniture in our pool area and have installed a new A/C system in the main lobby where we have our lobby bar and the Grand Café Restaurant.
For more information go to www.islanavidad.com.mx.
