Acknowledgments & certifications that validate our commitment, quality, service, and evolution.
The Pulse of Innovation and the Magic of Personalization.
Darko Vasic
Acknowledgements:
LandShark Award
Good
Responsible
Certification
Index:
From the perspective of:
DarKo Vasic The Pulse of Innovation and the Magic of personalization.
Good News
LandShark Award
Good Housekeeping 2025
Responsible Actions
Certification Intertek Cristal Karisma Foundation
Acknowledgements
Organizational Changes The Best of the Best
From the perspective of:
Darko Vasic
Regional Spa & Wellness Director Europa
Darko Vasic
Regional Spa & Wellness Director
Europa
The Pulse of Innovation and the Magic of Personalization.
Darko Vasic, Regional Spa & Wellness Director of Karisma Hotels Adriatic, leads with determination and passion the Vassa Spa, located at the Bor Hotel by Karisma in Zlatibor, Serbia.
With a career marked by a commitment to health and wellness, Darko has dedicated his professional life to transforming the spa experience into a personalized and unforgettable journey.
From his beginnings as a therapist, complemented by studies in beauty therapy and management, Darko knew that his purpose was to improve people’s quality of life.
Under his leadership, Vassa Spa has established itself as a benchmark of luxury and excellence, achieving five international awards in less than a year.
These awards include “Best Hotel Spa in Eastern Europe”, “Best New Hotel Spa in Europe” and the prestigious global title of “Best Beauty Salon”, awarded by the World Luxury Spa Awards and the World Spa Awards. Vassa Spa’s success lies in its focus on personalization and attention to detail.
“Transforming the spa experience into a personalized and unforgettable journey.”
Each treatment includes additional time for prior consultation, allowing for the design of unique experiences tailored to the individual needs of guests.
Vassa Spa offers traditional techniques, such as Swedish massages, to innovative offerings such as the “Pine Tree Ritual,” inspired by the pine trees for which BOR Hotel is named.
Darko attributes these achievements to his team of 12 committed experts, who share his vision of exceeding every visitor’s expectations.
For him, the real challenge in the luxury hospitality industry is to understand each guest’s aspirations and achieve results that not only satisfy, but exceed their desires.
Looking ahead, Darko seeks to position Vassa Spa as a regional leader in luxury wellness. New projects are in the works, maintaining the philosophy of personalization that distinguishes Karisma Hotels & Resorts.
“Success is based on discipline, team care and an unwavering passion for delivering memorable experiences.”
Within a year of opening, Vassa Spa has not only redefined quality standards in Serbia, but has also left a profound mark on the global wellness industry.
Its story is a testament to the power of teamwork, innovation and love for what you do.
Good News
We have been recognized as winners
The Copa Cerveza Mx, founded in 2009 and supported by the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP), is the most prominent beer competition in Mexico, attracting national and international judges to evaluate beers through blind tastings. In its fifteenth edition, the Cup reaffirmed its relevance by convening 33 judges from nine countries, including Japan, Italy, the United States and Germany. This year nearly 600 beers participated, distributed in 36 categories.
LandShark Brewery Riviera Maya, under the direction of its Brew Master, Diego Balmori, entered three beers in different categories:
• LandShark Lager in American Lager
• Kleine Maus “Dark Lager” in International Lager
• Amber Lager in Czech Lager.
During the awards ceremony, each of these beers received an outstanding recognition:
• Gold Medal for Amber Lager
• Silver Medal for LandShark Lager
• Bronze Medal for Kleine Maus “Dark Lager”.
In addition, LandShark Brewery Riviera Maya was awarded as the Best Medium Brewery thanks to its outstanding performance, achieving 100% effectiveness.
This recognition underscores the commitment of Balmori and his team to quality and innovation in the brewing process, bringing unique and well-balanced flavors that strengthen the brewery’s position as a benchmark in Mexico.
This year also marked a milestone for Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya and LandShark Brewery, receiving the title of “Rookie of the Year,” awarded to the most outstanding emerging brewery.
Balmori expressed his gratitude for the support of Karisma Hotels & Resorts, noting that this win represents the greatest achievement of his career as a brewer. With his sights set on similar achievements in other countries, he reaffirmed his commitment to excellence and the expansion of the LandShark seal in the brewing sector.
Diego Balmori, Brew Master LandShark Brewery & Grecia López, General Manager Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya
Recognition winners “Good Housekeeping 2025 Family Travel Awards Winner”
Nickelodeon Punta Cana has been honored with the Good Housekeeping 2025 Family Travel Awards Winner, reaffirming its position as a leading destination for families worldwide.
This recognition, awarded by one of the world’s most influential lifestyle publications, celebrates excellence in services and experiences designed specifically to meet the needs of travelers of all ages.
Good Housekeeping rigorously evaluates the most outstanding destinations, considering criteria such as innovation, quality, safety and overall satisfaction.
Nickelodeon Punta Cana stood out for its unique proposal that combines entertainment, comfort and personalized attention, offering unforgettable memories to its guests.
This achievement is a reflection of the commitment and dedication of the team members, whose constant effort ensures that every detail exceeds expectations.
Their work has made the resort an international benchmark for family hospitality, consolidating its reputation in key markets and raising industry standards.
The award not only recognizes the resort’s operational excellence, but also its ability to inspire families to experience memorable moments.
This achievement drives the team to continue innovating and reaffirms Karisma Hotels & Resorts mission to create exceptional experiences for its guests.
Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana has received an important recognition for its outstanding commitment to the environment, energy transition and the creation of a greener tourism destination.
This award highlights the integration of innovative solutions, such as solar energy and electric mobility, into its daily operations.
The hotel plans to generate 38,476 MWh of clean energy over the next 15 years, which represents an important step towards sustainability.
In addition, it is estimated that it will avoid the emission of 21,970 tons of CO2 in this same period, consolidating its role as a leader in decarbonization practices in the tourism industry.
This recognition reflects Nickelodeon Punta Cana’s continuous effort to promote a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future.
Responsible Actions
Recognition of Sustainability and Decarbonization for:
Ing. Eduardo Carvajal Maintenance Manager
Nickelodeon Punta Cana
The RoomCheck, POSICheck, SpaCheck, SecurityCheck, SafetyCheck and FoodCheck certifications, granted by Intertek Cristal, a worldclass certifier, are of transcendental importance for the hotel sector.
Each of these distinctions guarantees that the highest standards of safety, hygiene and quality in operations are met, validating Karisma Hotels & Resorts’ commitment to excellence in every detail.
Karisma Hotels & Resorts Quality Management coordinated this initiative, guiding all teams to ensure that each of the processes met the rigorous requirements established by Intertek Cristal.
As a result, all certifications were achieved with extraordinary results, reflecting the tireless effort and dedication of each team member.
We congratulate the leaders and team members for their commitment and teamwork, which were fundamental to achieve this accomplishment.
This joint effort not only highlights the quality and safety of our facilities, but also reaffirms Karisma Hotels & Resorts’ position as a benchmark in the luxury hotel industry.
Tradition and Culture
In the Ktalent culture, commitment to traditions and respect for cultural roots are reflected in the Halloween and Day of the Dead celebrations.
With special activities, this holiday season not only promotes team building, but also celebrates diversity and enriches the work environment.
During Halloween, employees join in a series of activities including costume contests and decorated spaces with creativity and originality.
The initiative encourages participation and teamwork, allowing each work area to express its own identity and style in a fun environment.
The Day of the Dead, meanwhile, connects with the cultural richness of Mexico and its traditions.
At Ktalent, altars are organised to remember loved ones, respecting the essence of this holiday that honours the memory and legacy of the family.
The altars are decorated with cempasúchil flowers, calaveritas and photographs, providing a space for employees to share personal stories and traditions, strengthening the sense of belonging.
These celebrations demonstrate the value the company places on multiculturalism and respect for the customs of its employees, creating an inclusive and enriching environment that promotes the union and integration of the entire team.
We take care of them
Quintana Roo ranks second in the national breast cancer mortality rate. That is why, committed to this major national problem and within the framework of breast cancer prevention month, Fundación Karisma, A.C. carried out various actions to raise awareness among the population about the importance of timely detection. During this month, the foundation gave informative talks both in person and online, held training sessions on breast screening and provided 80 tokens for mastography and ultrasound studies in a unit specialised in oncological diagnosis.
The foundation’s actions aim to encourage women to make informed decisions about their health in order to reduce the incidence of this type of cancer and prevent mortality.
Emotional Well-being Campaign
For Karisma, mental health is an essential component of overall wellbeing. During the months of September, October and November, the foundation implemented a strategy to promote emotional wellbeing in the hotels with the delivery of four main workshops:
• It’s OK not to be OK Addictions and violence How does it affect emotions?
Tools to reduce anxiety
Who am I?, Working on my self-esteem. Through these approaches, we aim for the employee to identify risk factors for the prevention of serious disorders.
The aim is to promote healthy habits, foster resilience and create supportive environments.
One of the main strategies of Fundación Karisma, A.C. is to educate and raise awareness about the importance of taking care of mental health, eliminating the stigma associated with psychological disorders.
With many lives impacted, we will continue to build actions for the emotional wellbeing of our collaborators.
World Diabetes Day
As part of World Diabetes Day, on 14 November the Foundation held the first meeting of employees living with diabetes.
With the call to all business units in Mexico, we achieved a participation of 15 beneficiaries who received informative talks by the nutritionist María José Poot and the medical staff of the foundation.
In addition, comprehensive medical check-ups were carried out during the day, consisting of a general medical check-up of glucose, weight and blood pressure, blood chemistry, glycosylated haemoglobin, electrocardiogram and medical control.
The forum gave employees the opportunity to learn about their illness in order to prevent the development of complications that could compromise their quality of life.
Organizational Change
Israel Navarro
General Manager
Margaritaville Island Reserve
Riviera Cancun
We are pleased to announce that, after successfully leading the Azul Beach Riviera Cancun team, Israel Navarro joins us as General Manager of Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun.
With more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Israel has managed hotels and resorts in Mexico, Italy, England and Spain, achieving outstanding results thanks to his leadership, attention to detail and focus on results.
He is recognized for his ability to implement effective sales and human resources strategies, as well as for leading renovation projects aimed at optimizing profitability.
His experience managing multicultural teams and adapting to different cultures, along with his ability to enhance guest experience and satisfaction, will help the Fins Up! culture deliver on the value promise of the Margaritaville concept.
In this new phase, we are confident that Israel will achieve outstanding results in key areas such as rooms, food and beverage, and finance, contributing to the growth and prestige of Karisma Hotels & Resorts globally.
Much success, Israel, in this new role!
With more than seven years of experience at Prestige Travelers, she stands out for her professional and human development, her learning alongside exceptional leaders, and her ability to share knowledge and contribute to collective growth, and attributes her success to perseverance, tenacity and balance.
With a motivated spirit and full of enthusiasm to face new challenges. For him, working at Prestige means an opportunity for constant learning and professional growth, approaching each challenge as an experience to strengthen his path.
Diana Laura Juárez Cleaning Assistant
She has demonstrated consistent effort and a positive attitude in her role as a Cleaning Assistant. Her dedication and commitment to her daily work has
She consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership and dedication, effectively coordinates the team and maintains a high level of service in her daily work. Her commitment and proactive approach greatly enhances the guest experience and contributes to the overall success of our SPA centre.
Antonio Morales Telephone Operator
For his commitment, professionalism and positive attitude. In every interaction, she demonstrates a friendly and efficient manner, offering solutions promptly. His performance reflects dedication and brings significant value to the team.
