After my first week spent in Tulum with Giorgio at Aqua Viva Hotel, it’s a second brand new experience that is awaiting for me in southern Mexico, just next to the border with Belize in Chetumal. Rosa and the Mayan Secret Ecoturismo Boutique Hotel greet me warmly. Again, just arrived, I’m already part of the family. The Hotel is in pre-opening and Rosa accomodate me in her house. I meet with her daughter Valentina, who is 17 years, almost the same age as my brothers and sisters 🙂 I have the chance to share their daily life for 5 days, and it’s a bit like being back at home! Curious to know more about this 2nd experience?
Transform a test of life in a new breath
It was in 2007 (7 years ago) that Rosa put the first stone of her eco-resort, the Mayan Secret. But let’s start the history from the beginning…
This field, “ranch” as they call it here, belonged to Rosa. She had set up nurseries plants, initially as a hobby, and then later also to sell. Rosa is a trained lawyer, she carries her profession successfully for several years. But Rosa is primarily a woman full of resources, she’s an entrepreneur. When she was younger, she dreamed of working in tourism, but her father insisted that she studies something to allow her have a safer and more “serious” (in his eyes) job. However, the idea is still there, in the corner of her head, and Rosa is not one to give up on an idea!
Shortly before 2007, a violent hurricane ravaged the region of Chetumal. The greenhouses and nurseries of Rosa’s Ranch were found devastated. She has to start from scratch … 🙁 The Federal Government then offers some support to finance innovative projects and help businesses who have suffered from the hurricane. That’s when Rosa presented her idea to create a small hotel within the ranch, next to the nursery. A “boutique” and “eco-tourism” hotel, which is both refined and in the middle of nature, respecting the beautiful flora and fauna of the place. The Government liked the idea, but it must choose not to fund two projects: it is either the nursery or the hotel … Rosa has chosen, it will be the hotel after a long uphill battle, she finally gets the confirmation of the support from the Federal Government: ash nursery and hurricane, Mayan Secret was born (2 videos: the Mayan Secret and the chapel)
Mayan Secret, a unique concept in the region
Rosa continued to practice her profession as a lawyer. This hotel project is her hobby, her treasure, her distraction. After seven years of tenacity and perseverance, discipline and work, it pays off. The Mayan Secret is now a small resort with 12 elegant rooms, a restaurant and spa, at the gateway to the city of Chetumal, and 20 minutes drive from the beautiful lagoon of seven colors of Bacalar (I made a small video : click here).
The hotel is quietly preparing for its official opening in September. A new website is being created, the restaurant team is being trained, spa landscape its last details. It is in this context that I get to Chetumal, and I am received by Rosa, who put me in a spare bedroom in her house, where I share the moments of the daily life at her side, and Valentina, her 17 years old daughter. I’m really “pampered”, I’m very lucky. Every breakfast, lunch or dinner is a culinary discovery with them. Isn’t this the best way to travel? Here I found myself welcomed by a family, it’s a bit like my usual couchsurfing experience, except the hostess here is the Director of the hotel that I provide help to 🙂
I contacted several tour operators, confirming the growing interest in this area of Mexico. In addition, the place is strategically located on the outskirts of Belize. I met many travelers who make the Cancun-Playa Carmen-Tulum-Bacalar and Belize, Guatemala loop and back to Cancun. It’s a formula that works well and the destination is booming, which is pretty good news for Rosa and the Mayan Secret.
I previously talked about the strong contrast between the resorts in Cancun hoteliers all-inclusive beachfront and the simplicity and richness of nature and Mayan culture, and the fact that I have a lot of hope for the development of eco features -nascent tourism. The Mayan Secret here illustrates beautifully the way, and I wish her much success (which I have no doubt)!
Find on Hopineo the video and article of good practice in sustainable development of the Mayan Secret I wanted to develop: Replant every tree cut down
Every day, one more step
During my stay, I help Rosa to develop a sort of “hotel management manual,” so she can organize and develop a strategic and coherent action plan. We develop the famous “4P”:
- Promotion: support communication
- Place: e-distribution and tour operators
- Price: revenue management
- Product: Customer Experience
It is management support what I will improve throughout the trip and my meetings with hoteliers. But I think I already like the structure and I will write an article soon in more detail about this manual marketing applied to hospitality.
As I write this article, I’m already in Belize in a hotel working in another concept. That’s what’s great about this project, although I have a clear guideline, each experience is unique and allows me to learn different aspects in terms of case study of hotel styles, but also to meet very different people and discover places of incredible diversity. I do all this taking my time, and gradually developing management support, like this manual, which can then be used for other hotels in the project.
How would the dear Confucius, and then also especially Rosa: “Do not be afraid of moving slowly, be afraid only of stopping”. The Hospitality Tour Adventure grows slowly but surely, and I grow up with it. The growth of the Chinese bamboo is running!
How about you?
Do you know the beautiful lagoon of Bacalar 7 colors?
Have you ever participated in the pre-opening of a hotel?
What do you think are the main actions to better prepare for the opening of a hotel?
