Mexico Dominican Republic Belize Jamaica Montenegro Serbia
Rafael Feliz Chairman of the Board
Karisma
Hotels & Resorts
The Evolution of Karisma Hotels & Resorts: An inspiring talk with Rafael Feliz
On May 13, at the Leadership Meeting event, Rafael Feliz, Chairman of the Board of KarismaHotels & Resorts, was in attendance. In a conversation with CEO Esteban Velásquez, some of the most challenging challenges faced by the company since its inception were discussed.
Mr. Feliz made a historical tour, sharing experiences full of challenges that have been crucial to achieve the dream of establishing Karisma Hotels & Resorts.
During this talk, it was highlighted how Karisma has been able to reinvent itself over time, adapting to the changing dynamics of the market.
The evolution in the management of the sales model, from tour operators to large online wholesalers, shows the company’s ability to innovate and stay relevant.
One of the most interesting topics was the transition from traditional hotel models to themed hotels, which have opened doors in several countries, demonstrating Karisma’s vision and creativity in the hotel industry.
In the question and answer session, the following questions were raised How to evaluate the types of risks to take as an entrepreneur?
Rafael Feliz’s answer was blunt: “It’s not as complicated as it seems, there is a very simple formula: First, don’t be afraid, second, understand what your risk tolerance level is and how comfortable you feel, and third, when you take the first step, don’t look back”.
These more than 20 years fill Rafael Feliz with pride, as an entrepreneur, partner, worker and director, he feels satisfied with the achievements, and with all the attitude for the new challenges; on a personal level, He expressed his pride in all the employees who have supported the company for years.
“We need to look ahead, in the next three years, we will be entering completely new destinations for us, both in operational, financial and marketing terms.
We are talking about the big leagues and we need to be prepared.
It is crucial that we are gathered today to understand and have a clear vision of where we are headed, charting a solid path to move forward firmly.”
Rafael Feliz Chairman of the Board Karisma Hotels & Resorts
Esteban
Velásquez CEO Karisma Hotels & Resorts
Once again, technology allows us all to connect. My message today is simple, but very important.
recently, the leaders of our different business units had the opportunity to gather at our annual leadership meeting, the “Karisma Hotels & Resorts Leadership Meeting”.
This event was held at the Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya, which just celebrated its first year of opening.
Esteban Velásquez
“Being together allows us align ourselves and have global vision of the business.”
us to have a business.”
Global vision building the future.
What is the objective of this type of meeting?
Basically, there are three main objectives that focus on a single purpose:
Team integration:
We are a diverse community, with employees in different countries and cultures, working in different business units. Being together allows us to align ourselves and have a global vision of the business.
Review of current status:
We analyze our current situation as a company, comparing the results of the first months of 2024 with our budget and expectations for last year. This helps us set priorities for the rest of the year.
Building the future:
We discussed how to continue building our future. We analyzed important announcements, identified key pillars, new destinations, new brands, and the innovations needed to remain successful. We evaluate what we should maintain, improve or stop doing.
Who are our customers? Obviously, our hotel guests and travel club members. Our clients are also the brands we represent and the investors who trust us to manage their businesses and properties.
Our success depends on our ability to not only meet, but exceed our customers’ expectations.
That’s why we get together once a year, and we will continue to do so, grateful for the positive energy of this three-day event, full of activities, which allows us to feel as one team, as the Karisma Hotels & Resorts family.
Esteban Velásquez CEO Karisma Hotels & Resorts
Work sessions
The recent “Leadership Meeting” brought together the leaders of the various business lines in a series of intense work sessions.
During the event, moderated by our CEO Esteban Velásquez, the current status of each area was presented, highlighting achievements as well as the challenges faced.
In addition, multiple opportunities were explored to continue developing memorable experiences and exceeding expectations.
This meeting allowed for a comprehensive and strategic vision, fostering collaboration and commitment to sustained growth.
Team integration
Leaders from six countries
Experts in transforming and improving the HOSPITALITY experience.
The Winners
Top Performer 2023
For the second consecutive year, Karisma Hotels & Resorts executives from different areas were honored at the Leaders Meeting 2024 event.
Two categories of recognition were awarded: Top Performer and Senior Leadership Recognition.
The Top Performer category was awarded by CEO Esteban Velásquez and the directors of each area: Mauricio Zárate (Operations), Mario Mathew (PMO), Miguel Ortiz Millán (IT and Sales & Marketing), David Coffey (Finance), Nemanja Kostic (Finance Europe), Blanca Guevara (Talent & Culture), and Laura Castaños (BRX).
The criteria were evaluated by the directors of the respective areas.
Erasmo Rodríguez 12 años
Read 13 años
Feliz Español 12 years
Fermin 14 años
16 years
16 years
The “Senior Leadership” recognition
The “Circle of Distinction” was awarded to all those who have supported the company for years. The “Circle of Distinction” was presented by Mr. Rafael Feliz, Chairman of the Board of Karisma, and its Founder Mr. Edilbrando Perez, who thanked with deep emotion the years of loyalty and professionalism of the awardees, amidst applause and ovations.
Salazar 21 years
Castro 21 years
years
15 years
Senior Leadership
Arlene
Víctor
Noemi Almonte 24 years
Grecia López 24 years
Rafael
Gabriel
Indhira
Sonia Plascencia 16 years
Mario Mathieu 12
Rafael
Alejandro Pérez
Ana María Silveiro
Mariel Hernández
Irene Barbosa 16 years
Juan Carlos Carrillo 18 years
Paulino Núñez 20 years
Exalting
Team Building
the values of purpose, pride, fun, profit and freedom.
Paulo Preciado, president of GPTW in the Caribbean, enthusiastically led a Team Building workshop with the participation of the leaders of the various business lines of Karisma Hotels & Resorts.
The workshop aimed to raise awareness and exalt the values of respect and trust.
The design of the workshop was based on the challenges faced by the 23,000 member companies, 20 million employees in 173 countries, and how the environment of trust can solve these challenges, including issues such as turnover and job dissatisfaction, as well as the current expectations of employees.
Through dynamics that promoted knowledge and collaboration among leaders from different languages, countries and lines of business.
We sought to encourage employees’ intention to remain in the organization, highlighting factors such as purpose, pride, fun, benefits and freedom.
Each dynamic had the purpose of raising awareness and putting into practice what was learned.
From the perspective of:
Daniel Cazarin
General Manager Margaritaville
Island Reserve Cap Cana
Daniel Cazarin General Manager
Margaritaville Island Reserve
Cap Cana
Daniel Cazarin began his career in hospitality driven by his facility with languages and his desire to travel.
Although he didn’t consider himself the smartest student, he was very astute.
He never imagined he would rise to the position he holds today.
Daniel describes his current job as complexly fun. He says that the day it stops, he will look for something else, but so far, he enjoys his work very much.
His career has been long and has always been linked to the room division, passing through roles such as bellboy, butler, receptionist, front desk assistant, front desk manager, room division manager, resident manager and finally, general manager.
Challenging complexly fun challenges
One of the challenges he has faced in the Caribbean, being a foreigner, is to get his team to follow him and achieve great results.
He knew the Dominican Republic well and always wanted to return.
Now that he lives there, he feels very happy and considers that it would be the ideal place for his retirement, even though it is still many years away.
Daniel believes he has formed a very solid executive and operating committee, to the point of considering it the best in the entire Karisma Hotels & Resorts chain. Although he admits that each general manager probably feels the same way about his own team.
Karisma Hotels & Resorts is committed to unique experiences and distinctive brands. Daniel points out that, although there are many all-inclusive hotels in the Dominican Republic, there is only one Margaritaville and one Nickelodeon, which makes us unique.
For Daniel, his family is the most important thing and he dedicates all his efforts to them. He considers them to be the key to his achievements.
He thanks the operating committee, the executive committee and the line staff of Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana, because thanks to them, the hotel is positioned where it is today, with extremely high quality metrics and guest satisfaction.
The hotel has received international awards, such as the AAA Four Diamonds and the World Travel Awards as the best resort in the Dominican Republic.
Daniel recognizes that, although they have clear objectives, the ones who execute them are the staff, and in the end, the merits go to them.
Quality Annual Awards
Quality Annual Awards | 2023
Quality Annual Awards by Karisma Hotels & Resorts 2023
On May 13, 2024, within the framework of the Leadership Meeting, the Quality Management of Karisma Hotels & Resorts, led by its director Mauricio Ramirez and presented by the Vice President of Operations, Mauricio Zarate, and the Director of Talent and Culture, Blanca Guevara, presented awards based on KPIs and evaluation results. The awards were divided into two categories:
Hotel Department
Emerald Level: Compliance with all KPIs.
Ruby Level: Compliance with all KPIs and one of them with at least 3% deviation.
Sapphire Level: Compliance with all CSQs and two of them with at least 3% deviation.
The second best departmental category to Entertainment department of
The best departmental category to Entertainment department of :
The second best departmental category to Front Desk & Concierge department of Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun
Mario Dorantes | General Manager
The Best Departmental category to Front Desk & Concierge department of:
Nickelodeon Riviera Maya
:
Nickelodeon Punta Cana
Greivin Rodriguez | General Manager
Nickelodeon Riviera Maya
Winners by category Department:
Entertainment Department:
Second Best:
Nickelodeon Punta Cana
The Best:
Nickelodeon Riviera Maya
Front Desk & Concierge Department:
Second Best:
Margaritaville Island Reserve
Riviera Cancun
The Best:
Nickelodeon Riviera Maya
Bars Department:
The Best:
Nickelodeon Riviera Maya
Food & Beverages Department:
The Best:
Margaritaville Island Reserve
Riviera Cancun
Resort Staff Department
The Best:
Margaritaville Beach Resort
Ambergris Caye, Belize
Quality Annual Awards | 2023
The “Sapphire Level” to the best compliance of Hotel Category to:
Margaritaville island Reserve Cap Cana | Daniel Cazarín General Manager
Winners Hotel Category:
Honorable Mention to the best Management Response
Azul Beach Resorts Riviera Cancun
The best NPS Of all Karisma properties:
Margaritaville Island Reserve CapCana
The “Sapphire Level” to the best compliance of Hotel Category to:
Azul Beach Resorts Negril
Margarita Island Reserve
CapCana
Nickelodeon Riviera Maya
Honorable Mention to the best Management
Response Azul Beach Resorts Riviera Cancun
Israel Navarro | General Manager
The Best Food & Beverages Department:
Margaritaville island Reserve Riviera Cancun
Mario Dorantes | General Manager
Transparency in the use and destination of the resources obtained.
During the “Leadership Meeting” event, the chronological growth of Fundación Karisma, A.C. was presented throughout the years from its incorporation to the consolidation of its operating model, which is aimed at addressing the main problems in the area of health.
In order to make transparent the use and destination of the resources obtained in the foundation in the face of the great leaders of the company, general aspects of the impact under the lines of action of the foundation were shared; health, disability and the mobile medical unit.
We care about women
EIn general, the foundation has transformed the lives of 20 women by financing the three stages of breast reconstruction, provides annual mastography studies to 100 women and performs breast examinations to 100 more. It follows up patients identified with lesions by financing biopsies.
This year we implemented a cervical cancer prevention campaign, identifying a high incidence of cases of high-risk HPV.
This project is in the process of being consolidated with the health sector to achieve greater reach.
We care about men
Under the global “Movember” movement, every year the foundation performs 150 prostate antigen tests, with a 10% incidence of positive cases for follow-up.
We care about children
Since the year 2022, the foundation promotes actions for the accreditation of the pediatric oncology area of the Cancun general hospital, financing its remodeling in order to comply with the guidelines established for the receipt of federal resources.
Starting in 2023, actions were initiated to respond to the high incidence of cases of children with cleft lip and palate, financing the first 7 surgeries to children.
with special emphasis on the incidence of:
Overweight and
obesity (75% of the collaborators are overweight and obese).
Diabetes (40 team members with diabetes and 53 with prediabetes).
Hypertension (424 employees with hypertension have been identified internally over the last few years).
In view of this sensitization of leaders, we asked for their collaboration to continue working together to improve the health of our workforce in the future.
For this reason, we gave them a small demonstration of the services we provide on a monthly basis to all our team members, managing to attend 31 leaders with timely detection, medical and nutritional guidance, glycosylated hemoglobin levels and bone densitometry.
The achievements of the Fundación Karisma A.C. are the result of the actions that each of these leaders take to achieve the success of the company.
Good News
News
From the moment you enter, the captivating ambiance offers a tantalizing preview of the extraordinary experience that awaits: a journey of culinary innovation that challenges traditional notions of fine dining.
Amid 435 spacious and luxurious suites, thoughtfully designed in contemporary Caribbean style.
Exciting news!
Le Chique, available exclusively as a premium experience at Azul Beach Riviera Cancun by Karisma and led by Chef Jonatan Gomez Luna, has been honored with a prestigious MICHELIN star, placing it among the elite few exclusive restaurants in the allinclusive resort space worldwide.
This remarkable achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to culinary excellence and enhancing the guest experience.” Recognized as one of the top 50 restaurants in Latin America, Le Chique is a must-visit culinary destination for foodies exploring the Riviera Maya.
Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun features Karisma’s renowned Gourmet Inclusive® concept, which combines spacious facilities with endless activities and services for the whole family, guaranteeing unforgettable memories for everyone.
What is it? is a virtual platform containing manuals and process standards for all areas of the company.
Who has access? All of us, especially as area leaders, must know the official and updated company information in order to provide guidance to our work teams.
Request your access: yalvarez@karismahotels.com.
Everyone should have access to
Intuitive and user-friendly DashboardTechnical Support
manual standards and processes
Karisma Hotels & Resorts announces the incorporation of Abraham Garza as Corporate Director of Revenue Management.
Abraham has more than 15 years of experience in the hotel and financial sector, specializing in the areas of revenue management, hotel supply and demand studies, economic and statistical analysis, annual and monthly budgets, revenue maximization strategies, competitive analysis, rate distribution, new hotel openings, transfer pricing, market research and financial consulting, with a degree in Economics and Finance from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM).
His work experience includes prominent positions in important luxury hotel chains.
In addition, he has participated in various leadership, strategic planning and change management
We are confident that, in this new stage, Abraham will apply his leadership and experience to enhance financial results, thus contributing to the continued success and expansion of the excellence for which Karisma Hotels & Resorts is recognized globally.
continuous learning in all areas of the sales floor.
The secret to success lies in the time and effort put in, and having clear ideas on both a work and personal level. The opportunity for growth and increased income keeps the motivation going.
Her secret to success has been to always trust in God, have patience for things to come to fruition in due time and work
Passion is what fuels their commitment to excellence.
We are not here simply to fulfill job duties,
with opportunities for growth.
He Always willing to learn, he does his best in all his tasks. His family is his greatest
Center, demonstrating professionalism, dedication and a consistent ability to provide top-notch service to our clients.
Her dedication and outstanding work make her an invaluable member of our team.
In Memoriam
November 18 Th 1952 - May 20 Th 2024
Thank you for your legacy!
Junior’s legacy shines brightly. Always working with dedication and love for the industry, he intertwined kindness and wisdom into every life he touched. His wisdom served as a shining light in good times and difficult times, and his passion for mentoring young minds by building bridges of knowledge and experience. Her memory lives on, as a testimony of a life lived with love and dedication to family.
Arlena Salazar
To say that Don leaves an indelible mark on every person who dealt with him is an understatement, Don was one of those beings of light that you only meet once in a lifetime.
Don had an innate talent for taking advantage of crises and transforming them into development and learning, he was that kind of leader that you could call and know that you would have his attention and support.
Don was frank and fair, he believed that the right way to do business was with honesty and service, he cared as much for his club members as he did for his team members, he was a visionary.
Don knew how to recognize the talents of the people around him, and he knew how to express it, those of us who were fortunate to work alongside him have memories of words of affirmation and affection, knowing that someone like Don believed in you was an encouragement to strive to conquer obstacles, Don saw the best in you, always.
His memory and legacy will be with us for many years to come, in every future success will be his imprint.
Hasta siempre JR.
Kenya Guzmán
Don loved what he did and showed it at all times, he was a very focused person in the projects he proposed and did not stop until they were carried out, with a global vision of how a Vacation Club should be, he knew every detail of the operation.
People who worked or worked with him expressed themselves impeccably making their day easy and pleasant, Don had the nature to defend his work teams, he always looked for ways to support and protect them so they could be focused on the operation.
Don had a warm and vibrant energy with a very open and easy way of talking to people, if someone needed to talk to him he always had the time to do so.
We will miss you Jr.!
Tomas Urrutia
As I reflect upon the countless moments that Don and I shared, I am reminded of his laughter that echoed through our life, the endless conversations that spanned the depths of the night, and the adventures that we embarked upon, exploring the beauty of life in its myriad hues. Our friendship was a kaleidoscope of beautiful moments, a symphony of laughter, love, and camaraderie that enriched our lives in ways that words cannot encapsulate.
Don’s generosity knew no bounds. He was always ready to extend a helping hand to those in need, his heart was a beacon of kindness and compassion in a world that sometimes forgot the essence of humanity.
Through Don’s actions, he taught me the true meaning of friendship, the value of being there for someone, even when the paths were rocky and the journey arduous.
Don’s zest for life was infectious, he approached life with a sense of wonder and curiosity, always eager to explore new horizons, to learn and to grow.
Don’s infectious enthusiasm was a source of inspiration, urging those around them to live life to the fullest, to embrace the beauty that each moment held.
As I bid farewell to my dear friend, I find comfort in the knowledge that Don’s spirit lives on, in the melodies that he created, in the lives that he touched, and in the hearts that loved them.
I take solace in the beautiful memories that we shared, memories that are now treasures of my heart.
Casey Owens
Magazine
Publicación Mensual | Junio 2024
Directory:
Esteban Velásquez
CEO | Chief Excecutive Officer
Karisma Hotels & Resorts.
Blanca Guevara Ramírez
Corporate Director of Talent and Culture
Realization:
Talent and Corporate Culture Karisma Hotels & Resorts
Blanca Guevara
Alinka Sandy
Dalia Martínez Portugal
Creative Direction:
Dalia Martínez Portugal
Talent and Culture Collaborations:
Mexico
Tomas Urrutia, Frida Vázquez
Elvis Puc, Azbel Rodríguez
Yesenia Velázquez
Antonio González
Dominican Republic
Yomara Sánchez, Myrna Castillo
Daritza Bocio
Jamaica
Renise Ramcharan-Virgo, Noelle Lawson
Montenegro
Ivana Bozanovic
Serbia
Jelena Rakita