Special collaboration: Natalie Sicard

Some 150 agents, including 9 from Canada, are currently at the AIC Hotel Group's 2023 Showstopper Awards, which is taking place this week at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya. They also take the opportunity to discover the novelties in the Heaven section, for adults.

This 6th edition, which is back to its original formula - last year's combined, due to the pandemic, 3 years in one - rewards its best sellers for Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The AIC group includes, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana (the first all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel), Hard Rock Hotel Cancun, Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos, Nobu Hotel Los Cabos and UNICO 20* 87* Hotel Riviera Maya.

“It's exciting to have the agents back. The goal of bringing them together is certainly to thank them for their work, but also to give them updates on AIC tools and programs,” said Jasmine Grant, BDM for the AIC Hotel Group in Canada, during the outdoor opening night, festive and dancing.

A new image for the Heaven section

“The improvements made aim to make the Heaven section 'the resort within the resort', more intimate and exclusive. A family business, the Hard Rocks are increasingly passing the torch to children, so it's the younger generation who are breathing new life into the image. We are no longer showing photos of fire eaters or snake charmers by the pool, they love design, follow trends in decoration, gastronomy and music. We therefore find ourselves in a refined and chic decor," explained Ash Tembe, vice president of worldwide sales for AIC.

New swimming pool, new restaurants

The Heaven section, for adults only, which has some 500 rooms (and 700 in the Hacienda section for families) comprises two buildings in a horseshoe structure facing the sea. The huge square in the center now houses the gigantic Eden pool and its bar, Arribo, with an elegant design. The plaza is dotted with lounge chairs and 5 private cabanas with full service. You can order snacks throughout the day (tacos, sandwiches, salads). Holidaymakers can simply swim in this semi-Olympic pool or enjoy the secluded beach, a natural pool of water in the form of a creek.

There are 2 new restaurants, that opened last Fall in this section: UMO, traditional Mexican cuisine from Yucatan and WAI, with Thai-inspired dishes. A little further afield with sea views, the self-service, gastropub-style restaurant, Faro, offers extensive and delicious options from around the world. A great place for breakfast and lunch.

The rooms at Heaven and the new swim-ups

The Heaven zone offers several categories of rooms and suites, ranging from those with two double beds to king beds, from Deluxe Gold to Rock Royalty - offering a dedicated telephone concierge at *Rock Royalty. All rooms have 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton bedding, aromatherapy menus, free Wi-Fi, rain showers, whirlpool tubs, and more. There are also PURE WELLNESS® hypoallergenic rooms designed to give you a better night's sleep, especially if you suffer from allergies.

The rooms also offer different outdoor spaces, private balconies and terraces and all rooms on the ground floor overlook the new lagoon, acting as a private swimming pool.

In Rock Royalty accommodation, it is also possible to select The Sound of Your Stay® - the Picks® program which gives access to a selection of 20 Fender® electric guitars, the Wax® program which provides Crosley turntables, available on request and according to availability or the Tracks® program which programs music lists. We're in a Hard Rock Hotel, let's not forget that.