On Feb. 2, Iberostar Cancun celebrated its grand opening following the acquisition of the former Hilton Cancun Hotel. The property closed in August for renovations totaling 15 percent of the $100 million investment. Iberostar representatives and Mexican dignitaries attended the event, including Miguel Fluxa, Iberostar group president; Antonio Banderas, actor and Iberostar brand ambassador; John Long, vice president of sales and marketing; Gloria Guevara, Mexico’s secretary of tourism; and Roberto Borge, governor of the state of Quintana Roo.
At the event, Banderas explained that his partnership with Iberostar has to do with the company’s Spanish origin, international reach and to its commitment to social values. The day following the grand opening, Iberostar executives and Banderas joined UNICEF Mexico representative Javier Alvarez to unveil “Book of Dreams,” a children’s story that will be distributed to all Iberostar guests in an effort to promote awareness of the sexual exploitation of children and teens in the tourism industry and travel.
“We sometimes relate the problem of sexual exploitation to one country, but we’re being hypocritical by not thinking that exploitation happens in many other countries, even developed countries,” said Banderas.
