Meliá Relaunches Paradisus Cancún With $55 Million Renovation

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Hotel group Meliá has completed a $55 million relaunch of its Paradisus Cancún resort, choosing to preserve the property’s Mayan pyramid-inspired architecture rather than tear it down and build anew.

The renovation of the 40-year-old complex took more than a year. Gabriel Escarrer, the company’s president and CEO, said the group deliberately rejected the option of demolishing the structure to put up a generic eight-story block, opting instead to keep the original design and anchor the redesign in local culture.

Escarrer said every builder and supplier involved in the remodeling was local, and that more than 90% of the hotel’s current operating supplies are sourced at “kilometer zero” — bought from Mexican companies in the region.

Clay vessels, paintwork, textiles and art in the guest rooms and restaurants, along with the food and beverage offering, draw on local Mexican and Mayan culture. More than 900 people worked on the project, and the hotel now generates more than 800 direct jobs, rehiring over 60% of the workforce employed before the temporary closure for renovations.

Destination Inclusive pushes guests beyond the resort

The hotel’s Destination Inclusive program is designed to connect guests with the surrounding community, inviting them to visit cenotes and pyramids and to take part in experiences designed with local businesses and families rather than staying inside the resort for the length of their stay.

According to Escarrer, the United States is the property’s most important market, while Latin America is also significant and has grown strongly, driven mainly by travelers from Argentina and Brazil.

The relaunch targets a more sophisticated, higher-spending traveler. The property reopened in October with 773 suites, four pools, a new Aquzone splash park, a Kidsdom club, nine restaurants, seven bars, a spa and gym, and 22 meeting rooms.