Gutierrez
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The Aqua Cancun is the flagship hotel for the premium Aqua brand from Grupo Posadas hotels. Francisco Gutierrez developed the concept for the original Aqua Cancun, which was opened just before it was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma in 2005. The hotel recently reopened in February of this year with a new look and design.
You seem to have incorporated several Asian elements along with the Maya and Mexican theme. In what ways do those cultures complement each other?
They both are very much related to the senses and that’s the basics of Aqua.
Are there elements you are still developing or things in the design that you would like to change?
We’ll be implementing the Shore Club right on the beach, which will reflect a rustic luxury ambiance with live music at night. We hope it will evoke a sensual retreat with barefoot luxury.
Will you be changing elements to keep a sense of surprise for returning guests?
Yes, especially with rituals and experiences like blind dining at Siete. Also, we hosted one of the best chefs in the world — Iron Chef Cat Cora — this Fourth of July and showed the best of her cuisine at MB [restaurant].
What did you have to do to incorporate the sense of a stylish boutique hotel while working with such a large property?
Aqua reflects that part of us that is always looking for beauty, art, culture, uniqueness and style. [The designers] Assouline and Fiorenza Cordero are indeed that, and they saw and felt the same in Aqua.
www.feel-aqua.com
