For several years now, Riviera Nayarit has been hailed by the media as Mexico’s next big tourism destination. Most of this attention has focused on the region’s luxury offerings in Punta Mita, as well as its ecotourism, small beachfront towns, seafood restaurants and indigenous Huichol culture. One element that hasn’t been showcased as much is Riviera Nayarit’s ability to host meetings and conventions. This will change when Bel Air Collection Resort & Spa Vallarta’s convention center opens in spring 2017.
“The new Bel Air Collection Resort & Spa convention center is the perfect response to the growing demand to host meetings in Riviera Nayarit,” said Richard Zarkin, public relations manager for Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We’ve seen an increase in business and convention travel from our key markets as a result of new direct flight options, and these new facilities will help support that increased demand.”
The Bel Air resort is located 40 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta and 20 minutes from Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR), as well as about 2 miles from Flamingos Golf Club and 3½ miles from waterpark Aquaventuras Park. The convention center will feature a total of 10,335 square feet, including 7,054 square feet of interior space for events. There will be six meetings rooms; the largest of these will be 4,593 square feet.
There are also two exterior spaces designed for meetings — the largest of these will be 2,460 square feet. These spaces are key, as one of the strengths of the resort is its ability to host everything from large events to small business meetings in an al fresco setting, with the beach as a backdrop.
The Bel Air resort has 480 rooms and a presidential suite.
All rooms have balconies, free Wi-Fi access and flat-screen televisions. There are three basic room categories: standard rooms, which have a kitchenette; junior suites, which have a kitchen; and superior suites, which have a Jacuzzi and a kitchen.
Meetings attendees will be able to dine at a variety of restaurants to suit different tastes. The four main restaurants will feature specific cuisines: Mexican, Asian and Italian, along with an international buffet. There will also be a selection of bars, lounges, beach bars, snack bars and a deli, and there’s also a room service option. The resort has a variation of the all-inclusive plan that it calls the “All Gourmet Experience,” where guests pay in advance and then have access to unlimited a la carte dining and drinks at all of the resort’s restaurants and bars.
The family-friendly resort, located on Nuevo Vallarta’s popular Flamingos Beach, has a fitness center, three pools, shops, a kids’ club and a club for teens. A variety of watersports are available, as well.
The property’s spa offers massage, hydrotherapy and yoga and also has a Maya temazcal, where guests can experience a traditional Maya steam lodge treatment.
Bel Air’s combination of top-notch accommodations and amenities, along with its state-of-the-art conference facilities, should be key to helping Riviera Nayarit finally find its place on the map for business travelers.
“Next year is our 10th anniversary as a destination, and we expect to see impressive new developments for the leisure and business sectors in our destination over the next two years,” Zarkin said.
The Details
Bel Air Collection Resort & Spa Vallartawww.belairvallarta.com
