Royal Resorts Life by Royal Resorts

COMPLIMENTARY COPY EJEMPLO DE CORTESÍA

Vol. 17 2011

ROYAL RESORTS LIFE Vol.17 2011

Wonders of the deep Close encounters with magnificent marine life

Get real on the Riviera

Discover Puerto Morelos, the exciting new destination

2011 resort budgets

Mexican beauty Places to see and things to do in the attractive, colorful city of Mérida

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G r a n d R e s i de n c e s by r oyal resortsÂŽ

Gracious Living Meets Barefoot Luxury

The Royal Resorts Experience. Friendly Faces, Beautiful Places. Vacation at any of the Royal Resorts and history will repeat itself. Impeccable service delivered by loyal staff members who become friends. Neighbors you see every year who become family. Comforting luxury delivered without pretense. Properties in gorgeous locations beautifully crafted and maintained to remain timeless. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a unique lifestyle honored by tradition that makes us partners for life, with a passionate cult following of more than 85,000 members.

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RIVIERA MAYA HAS BEEN WAITING FOR A BEACHFRONT RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITY THIS GRAND. This extraordinary tropical sanctuary is where you roll out your own red carpet. Impeccably designed, beautifully furnished, with a full array of world-class amenities – and all with breathtaking ocean views. Grand Residences is an evolution of the Royal Resorts reputation for standard-setting luxury, without an ounce of pretense. Residences are exceptionally spacious. Not the conﬁnement of a single hotel-like space, but several comfortable rooms compatible with how you live at home. Located in Puerto Morelos, the quaint ﬁshing village that inspired Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville” and nestled between a protective barrier reef and vast ecological preserve, Grand Residences is idyllic beachfront living. THIS IS MEXICO THE WAY IT SHOULD BE – THE WAY IT WILL ALWAYS BE HERE.

for information call ext. 66918 grandresidences@royalresorts.com www.grandresidencesbyroyalresorts.com Grand Residences DPS Ad RR2011.indd 2

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contents ROYAL RESORTS LIFE

Resort life

La Vida en los Resorts

All the latest news from Royal Resorts

Caribbean news Noticias caribeñas

El Guardián de la ﬂama

Share with us

Grandes atracciones, paseos de un día y actividades para hacer

Tome un nuevo camino

A day to remember: Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve and Ek Balam

A love affair with Mexico Amor por México

Meet Miguel Quintana Pali, the visionary behind Xcaret

Conozca a Miguel Quintana Pali, el visionario detrás de Xcaret

Meet the team

Editor Claire Hutchings Art Director Linda Elander Senior Designer Mark Fuller Designer Mathew John Chief Sub-Editor Kate Gilchrist Picture Researcher Millie Simpson AccountDirector Nathan Eaton-Baudains Account Executive Nick Hird Publishing Director Anthony Earley Chief Executive Lisa Barnard Royal Resorts Life is published on behalf of Royal Resorts by Illustrated London News Limited, 10 Fashion Street, London E1 6PX, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7426 1010 Fax: +44 (0)20 7426 1020 www.iln.co.uk Cover photograph: Corbis

Conozca al equipo

We introduce you to our sales and marketing staff

Le presentamos a nuestro staff de Ventas y Marketing

Financial report

Reporte Financiero

Advisory Council Reports for 2010/2011

Un día para recordar: La Reserva de la Biósfera de Río Lagartos y Ek Balam

Nuestros miembros comparten sus maravillosas experiencias

The latest attractions, day trips and activities to try

Walk this way

Consintiéndose en el paraíso

Disfrute un bien merecido tratamiento en uno de nuestros spas

Ponga a prueba sus habilidades en estos campos, además noticias de golf

Members remember their great vacation experiences

Lo nuevo

Fairways al cielo

Pampering in paradise Spoil yourself with a welldeserved treat at one of our spas

Fairways to heaven Test your skills on these stunning courses, plus golf news

Comparta con nosotros

23 What’s new

Únase a nuestro tour por la bella capital del estado de Yucatán

Royal Resorts Restaurants Manager on the new El Conquistador menu

El Gerente de restaurantes de Royal Resorts habla del nuevo menú de El Conquistador

Mérida Mágica

Encuentros en el arrecife

Explore las maravillas submarinas de la costa de Yucatán

Join our tour of the beautiful capital of the state of Yucatán

Un resumen desde nuestros resorts en Aruba, Curaçao y St Maarten

Keeper of the ﬂame

Magical Mérida

Reef encounters

Explore the underwater wonders of the Yucatán coast

Descubra el encanto de Puerto Morelos

A round-up from our resorts in Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten

La verdadera Riviera

Discover the charm of Puerto Morelos

Las noticias más recientes de Royal Resorts

The real Riviera

Vol. 17 2011

Reportes del Consejo Consultivo 2010/2011

A day in the life of... Un día en la vida de….

Guest Relations Manager Jorge López Gerente de Relaciones Públicas Jorge López

Editorial Committee Mark Carney, Luis Medina, Armando Millet, Javier Vales, Fernando López Communication Manager Joanna Green Project Coordinator Karla Moises Design Lorena Sebastian, Paola Puente, Felipe Miranda Advertising Sales Claudia López Advisory Council Reports Joann Poindexter. Royal Resorts/ Operadora Corporativa Miró, S.A. de C.V. Blvd. Kukulcán, Retorno Gucumatz, Lot 49 Int. 4 Edificio Royal Mayan 2da etapa, Zona Hotelera, Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico, 77500. Printed by Offset Multicolor. Origination by Altaimage, London, UK. ©2010/2011 Illustrated London News Limited www.iln.co.uk. Original articles and other contributions published in this journal may be reproduced only with permission from Royal Resorts and the publisher. Neither accepts responsibility for any views or statements made in the articles and other contributions reproduced from any other source. No responsibility is accepted for the claims made in advertisements appearing in this journal and the publishers reserve the right to accept or refuse advertisements at their discretion. Information may change after going to press.

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Enjoy the luxury of a yacht for the cost of a waverunner. The Royal Yacht Club For as little as $100 per person, experience the area’s naturally spectacular beauty from the cockpit of your own private yacht. Through the Royal Yacht Club, members can rent a magniﬁcent Sea Ray Sundancer yacht. Few – if any – marinas even offer this service and certainly not at these prices.

Fully equipped Sundancer 340 yacht Renowned for legendary performance Luxurious cabin, kitchenette and bathroom 33-35 foot length, space for 8 adults and 2 children Ideal for cruising, swimming, snorkeling Flat screen TV, DVD, X-box and Sirius Satellite Radio Royal Yacht crew will serve and guide you during the trip

Trips to: Isla Contoy / Isla Holbox / Isla Mujeres / Punta Maroma / Isla Blanca For reservations or more information call the Thomas More Travel desk at ext. 175 & 407 or your Personal Concierge at ext. 172 or email: naviera.cancun@performance.com.mx

The Royal Resorts Experience. Friendly Faces, Beautiful Places. Vacation at any of the Royal Resorts and history will repeat itself. Impeccable service delivered by loyal staff members who become friends. Neighbors you see every year who become family. Comforting luxury delivered without pretense. Properties in gorgeous locations beautifully crafted and maintained to remain timeless. It’s a unique lifestyle honored by tradition that makes us partners for life, with a passionate cult following of more than 85,000 members.

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w e l c o m e

Dear member

ALAMY

Estimado Socio

¿Cuántas veces ha estado una soleada tarde haciendo nada más que disfrutar el pasar del tiempo? En esta edición de Royal Resorts Life lo llevaremos a dos comunidades muy diversas donde podrá hacer justamente eso con la opción de muchas actividades más. Descubra los secretos de Puerto Morelos, arriba, la tranquila aldea de pescadores que inspiró la famosa canción “Margaritaville” de Jimmy Buffet. Camine unos pasos por la arena ﬁna a la espectacular ubicación de nuestro último proyecto, Grand Residences. Dicen que en Yucatán todos los caminos llevan a Mérida, arriba derecha, y tarde o temprano se encontrará en esta hermosa ciudad, conociendo todo sobre la historia y las tradiciones de la zona.

Conozca al hombre detrás del Parque Xcaret, Miguel Quintana Pali, un empresario visionario. Descubra nuestras maravillas submarinas; salga al fairway, abajo, o relájese como nunca en el fabuloso Spa. Encontrará las últimas noticias de los resorts, así como los reportes y estados ﬁnancieros de la Junta del Consejo Consultivo de Membresía del 2010. También podrá encontrar información adicional, fotos y videos en nuestra página de Internet, www. royalresorts.com, y en el blog de Royal Resorts, www.royalresortsnews. com y lo invitamos a leer nuestro boletín electrónico. Asegúrese de seguirnos en Facebook, así como Twitter para noticias interesantes e información al instante.

How many times have you spent a sundrenched afternoon doing nothing but watch the world go by? In this issue of Royal Resorts Life we’ll take you to two very different communities where you can do just that and much more besides. Unlock the secrets of Puerto Morelos, pictured left, the laid-back fishing village that inspired Jimmy Buffet’s most famous song, “Margaritaville”, just a stroll along the sand from the spectacular beach setting for our latest project, Grand Residences. They say in the Yucatán that all roads lead to Mérida, pictured below left, and sooner or later you’ll find yourself in this gracious city, soaking up the history and traditions of the area. Meet the man behind Xcaret Park, Miguel Quintana Pali, a visionary entrepreneur who has given us a glimpse of the Mexico he loves so much. Discover our underwater wonders; get out on the fairway, pictured bottom, and experience complete relaxation at the Spa. You’ll find the latest updates from the resorts, including the reports and financial statements of the 2010 Advisory Council meetings. Of course, you can find additional information, photographs and videos at www.royalresorts.com and on the Royal Resorts blog, www.royalresortsnews.com. We also invite you to read our regular round-up of Royal Resorts e-news. Finally, be sure to join our Facebook community, follow us on Twitter and check the Royal Resorts website for new widgets and fun apps. JOANNA GREEN, COMMUNICATION MANAGER R OYA L R E S O R T S L I F E \ \ \ 2 0 1 1

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The Royal Haciendas A S P EC TAC U L A R P L AC E C A L L E D HOME

nspired by the grand haciendas and estates of the Yucatán, our latest club resort is a tropical paradise.

With classic arches, terraces, gardens and fountains, The Royal Haciendas embraces authentic beauty with a

breathtaking beachfront set in the heart of the renowned Riviera Maya. With its gourmet dining and pampering spa, the unique lifestyle here offers instant history, enhancing the timeless mystique of the Caribbean tropics. Residences are breathtaking in design and exceptional in size. Unlike the knee-banging conﬁnement of a single hotel-like space, members enjoy several well-proportioned rooms compatible with the way you live at home. The Royal Haciendas - comforting luxury and leisure have rarely been this affordable.

The Royal Resorts Experience. Friendly Faces, Beautiful Places. Vacation at any of the Royal Resorts and history will repeat itself. Impeccable service delivered by loyal staff members who become friends. Neighbors you see every year who become family. Comforting luxury delivered without pretense. Properties in gorgeous locations beautifully crafted and maintained to remain timeless. It’s a unique lifestyle honored by tradition that makes us partners for life, with a passionate cult following of more than 85,000 members.

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BEAUTIFULLY APPOINTED TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATH VILLAS WITH FULLY EQUIPPED KITCHENS AND PRIVATE PATIOS

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latest news

caribbean news

An update on what’s happening on St Maarten, Curaçao and Aruba, from resort makeovers to sporting and cultural activities TODO LO NUEVO QUE ESTÁ SUCEDIENDO EN ST. MAARTEN, CURACAO Y ARUBA, DESDE REMODELACIONES DE LOS RESORTS HASTA ACTIVIDADES DEPORTIVAS Y CULTURALES

Take pleasure in all that the Dutch Caribbean has to offer on the tropical islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and St Maarten at your Royal Resorts Caribbean home away from home. 2010 was an exciting year at the Caribbean resorts. The villa renovations at the Costa Linda Beach Resort and the Royal Sea Aquarium are well under way. Pelican Resort and Pelican Marina Residences played host to free beach concerts, with John Cafferty, Mike Reno of Loverboy, Bobby Kimball of Toto, and Jimi Jamison of Survivor, while American Way magazine featured The Royal Sea Aquarium Resort and the amazing new Substation Curaçao. In 2011, watch out for Caribbean updates in the E-Notes from Paradise and pick the experience that suits you. The Caribbean is host to world-class sailing and ﬁshing competitions, music and ﬁlm festivals, sporting events, and of course, Carnival! Enticing new programs are available to introduce your friends and family to your Caribbean home, or simply to provide you with more of what you love already. Hurry home—your island paradise is waiting! Disfrute todo lo que el Caribe Holandés tiene que ofrecer en las islas tropicales de Aruba, Curacao y St. Maarten en su hogar lejos de casa en Royal Resorts Caribbean. 2010 fue un año muy emocionante en los destinos Caribeños. La remodelación de las villas en Costa Linda Beach Resort y The Royal Sea Aquarium ya va muy avanzada. Pelican Resort y Pelican Marina Residences fueron sede de conciertos gratuitos en la playa con intérpretes tales como John Cafferty, Mike Reno de “Loverboy”, Bobby Kimball de “Toto”, y Jimi Jamison de “Survivor”. La revista American Way

publicó un artículo de The Royal Sea Aquarium y la asombrosa Subestación Curacao. En 2011, esté pendiente de las novedades Caribeñas en E-Notes from Paradise y elija la experiencia que le venga mejor. El Caribe es sede de competencias de veleo y pesca de clase mundial, festivales de música y cinematográﬁcos, eventos deportivos y, desde luego, ¡el Carnaval! Tenemos nuevos programas muy atractivos para introducir a sus amigos y familiares a su hogar Caribeño, o simplemente para brindarle más oportunidades de venir a disfrutar. Regrese a casa, ¡su paraíso isleño lo está esperando!

ARUBA A resort under transformation

The Costa Linda Beach Resort sits on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Starting this summer, the 20-year-old resort embarked upon a much-anticipated makeover. The US$13.6 million renovation project is transforming the resort’s 155 two- and three-bedroom villas. From top-quality new tiles throughout, to an open kitchen design and a greatly enlarged luxurious master bath, new cabinets and granite countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms, brand new stainless-steel appliances, and a fresh new Caribbean-style decor, Costa Linda’s villas will seem like they’ve just been built. The multi-year remodeling project is being conducted in phases to minimize disruption and allow owners and guests to still enjoy their vacation weeks at the resort. When the newly renovated oceanfront restaurant and the resort’s villas are completed, Costa Linda’s fresh decor and its lovely Eagle Beach setting will be an unbeatable combination.

Un resort en renovación The Costa Linda Beach Resort se encuentra en una de las más hermosas playas de todo el mundo. Iniciando en el verano de 2010, este resort de 20 años comenzó una muy esperada restauración. El proyecto de remodelación de $13.6 millones de dólares va a transformar literalmente las 155 villas de dos y tres recámaras del desarrollo. Desde nuevo azulejo de la mejor calidad hasta un diseño de cocina abierto y un lujoso baño principal notablemente ampliado, nuevos gabinetes y mesetas de granito en la cocina y baños, electrodomésticos totalmente nuevos en

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CURAÇAO

Discover a world of wonders

ST MAARTEN The cosmopolitan island

The friendly island of St Maarten continues to entice as one of the most popular islands in the Caribbean. It plays host to a variety of social and cultural events, including the world-famous Heineken Regatta, pictured above, and a carnival celebration you must see to believe. St Maarten’s cosmopolitan scene has made it a hub for international art and music festivals, yacht shows, poker tournaments, and world-class sailing competitions. But one of its major advantages is that you don’t have to go far to explore new places. Within 36 miles, you will ﬁnd four other islands: Anguilla, Saba, St Barts and St Eustatius, also known as Statia. To get there, simply hop aboard Aqua Mania’s high-speed ferry. Frommer’s list of best beaches again includes St Maarten and nearby Anguilla and St. Barthélemy. Join us in the breathtaking tropics at Royal Resorts Caribbean.

La isla cosmopolita

acero inoxidable y una fresca decoración de estilo Caribeño; las villas de Costa Linda, van a brillar de nuevo. El proyecto de remodelación multi-anual se está haciendo por etapas para minimizar las molestias y permitir a los propietarios y huéspedes que sigan disfrutando sus semanas de vacaciones en el resort. Cuando se terminen el recientemente remodelado restaurante frente al mar y las villas del resort, el fresco decorado de Costa Linda y su precioso ambiente en la Playa Eagle serán una combinación sin rival.

La amigable isla de St. Maarten sigue atrayendo como una de las islas más populares en todo el Caribe. St. Maarten es sede de una variedad de eventos sociales y culturales incluyendo la mundialmente famosa Regata Heineken y una celebración del Carnaval que hay que ver para creer. La escena cosmopolita de St. Maarten la ha convertido en un centro de convergencia para el arte y la música internacional, exposiciones de yates, campeonatos de póker y competencias de veleo de clase mundial. Pero, una de las mayores ventajas de viajar a St. Maarten es que no tiene que ir muy lejos si quiere explorar nuevos lugares. Dentro de un radio de 60 kilómetros de la isla, se encuentran otras cuatro islas: Anguila, Saba, St. Barths y San Eustacio, conocida también como “Statia”. Para llegar a estas islas, sólo tendrá que abordar el ferry de alta velocidad Aqua Mania. La Lista de Mejores Playas de Frommer de nuevo incluye a St. Maarten, así como las cercanas playas de Anguila y St. Barthelemy. Únase a nosotros en el asombroso trópico de Royal Resorts Caribbean.

Submerge into the most unique underwater expedition of your life with Substation Curaçao, a deep-diving, one-atmosphere submersible. The spectacular Royal Sea Aquarium Resort setting is home to the most illustrious underwater adventure. Observe ﬁsh and shipwrecks at unsurpassed depths. This truly is an experience of a lifetime. Enjoy the exciting, unique and adventurous recreational submersible as you descend to the uncharted abyss of the Caribbean Sea to see a wide variety of underwater life and scenery rarely encountered by humans. Substation Curaçao, pictured below, was professionally designed and built by Nuytco Research of Canada. A world leader in the development and operation of undersea technology, it is rated and certiﬁed by Lloyd’s of London and the American Bureau of Shipping to dive to a maximum depth of 1,000 feet, exceeding the highest standards of safety and reliability in the marine world. This makes Substation Curaçao a one-ofa-kind deep-diving tourist and research submarine.

Descubra un mundo de maravillas Sumérjase en la expedición submarina más original de su vida en la Subestación Curacao, un sumergible de grandes profundidades con una atmósfera interior. La ambientación espectacular de The Royal Sea Aquarium es hogar de esta ilustre aventura submarina. Observe a los peces y naufragios de las profundidades. Experimente este emocionante y aventurado viaje submarino que desciende al abismo inexplorado del Mar Caribe donde encontrará una variedad impresionante de vida marina y un paisaje poco visitado por el ser humano.

La Subestación Curacao fue diseñada y construida profesionalmente por Nuytco Research Ltd. de Canadá, una empresa líder en el desarrollo y operación de tecnología submarina y está probado y certiﬁcado por Lloyd’s of London y por el Departamento Estadounidense de Navegación para descender a una profundidad de 305 metros, excediendo las más exigentes normas de seguridad y conﬁabilidad en el mundo submarino. Esto hace de la Subestación Curacao un submarino único en su género tanto para uso turístico como para investigación a grandes profundidades.

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The Royal Cancun.

Timeless charm classically captured. Does anything hold its value better than a classic? Especially one draped in charm, bathed in tropical warmth and nestled on soft,sugary white sand? This isThe Royal Cancun,our first family club. An escape from another time, it’s become a member favorite beloved for its sheltered beach, beautiful gardens, and breathtaking views of the north shore bay and Isla Mujeres. Thisisapersonalizedworldawayfrommegaresorts. Here, whilethestyleisrelaxed, thestandards are anything but. Walk into a residence and the spaciousness will amaze. Not the confinement of a single hotel-like space but several comfortable rooms compatible with how you live at home. All made even more attractive with pre-approved, guaranteed financing.

For information call ext. 172 www.royalresorts.com Royal Cancun DPS Ad RR2011.indd 2

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Share the love. Embrace the rewards. The Member Referral Program For our more than 85,000 passionate members we now offer a way to share the magic of a Royal Resorts vacation – and earn valuable Royal Resorts Points. It’s our exciting Resorts Member Referral Program and, for a limited time your family, friends and colleagues can each enjoy an exceptional offer: A 5-day 4-night vacation at either The Royal Haciendas or The Royal Cancun at a specially discounted rate.* For every referral that purchases a vacation week right away, you’ll receive up to 50,000 Royal Resorts Points. Redeem them and pay your Club Service Fee or Club Bill. It’s your chance to share a lifetime of vacations with friends and family. * Attendance at a 90-minute resort sales presentation is required.

To ﬁnd out more visit us at www.royalresortspoints.com and start referring today. When staying at the resorts visit us at the member referral ofﬁce for more information. Or call 888-387-4719 US Toll free.

The Royal Resorts Experience. Friendly Faces, Beautiful Places. Vacation at any of the Royal Resorts and history will repeat itself. Impeccable service delivered by loyal staff members who become friends. Neighbors you see every year who become family. Comforting luxury delivered without pretense. Properties in gorgeous locations beautifully crafted and maintained to remain timeless. It’s a unique lifestyle honored by tradition that makes us partners for life, with a passionate cult following of more than 85,000 members.

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eating out

Keeper of the flame

EL CONQUISTADOR AT THE ROYAL MAYAN IS CANCÚN’S BEST KEPT DINING SECRET. UNTIL NOW, THAT IS…

VINCENT RIBON/ZASILSTUDIO.COM

EL GUARDIÁN DE LA FLAMA EL CONQUISTADOR EN THE ROYAL MAYAN, ES UNO DE LOS SECRETOS MEJOR GUARDADOS DE CANCÚN. HASTA HOY…

AS THE FIRE licks up about a foot in the air, a chorus of “oohs” and “aahs” are heard around El Conquistador before David Toledo extinguishes the flames and serves his jumbo Caribbean shrimps flambéed with brandy. Preparing dishes tableside is just one skill this Royal Resorts restaurants manager has acquired in 35 years of working at the top hotels in the Americas. His understanding of fine dining has helped maintain El Conquistador’s unrivalled reputation in Cancún for exceptional gourmet dining. The restaurant has been a favorite with members and guests since opening in 1985. Now an exciting new menu, created by Royal Resorts’ executive chef Enrique García and El Conquistador’s chef Rafael Hernández, is set to raise the bar still further. The meticulous presentation of the new dishes is impressive, as is the depth of flavor. Duck breast is accompanied by a chipotle chilli demiglace sauce while lamb Wellington is complemented with truffle oil and foie gras. Snapper comes stuffed with lobster, shrimp and scallops, fresh salmon is served with a tomato vinaigrette, smoked Gouda cheese and a corn sauce, and Chilean sea bass is marinated in a mild teriyaki sauce. Meat-eaters are well served with beef dishes made using USDA prime graded steaks. Angus beef tournedos come with pepper, béarnaise and bordelaise sauces, and 16oz Angus beef fillets are prepared to order. “It’s all complemented by an ever-changing list of wines, selected by our certified sommelier,” says David. Tableside dining is a highlight of any visit to El Conquistador. David and his team will prepare Angus beef in a red wine sauce, flambé seafood in vodka and white wine, and flame shrimps with brandy or Tequila. “Diners love the new menu,” David says, adding that the food is great value, with a special affordable menu for early dining. Other draws include live music from guitarist Jorge Durán and the unique setting. “It’s very romantic— an ideal spot to watch the sun set over the lagoon.” El Conquistador, open Sunday-Friday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunset menu 4 p.m.-6 p.m.; Tuesday evening is Prime Rib Night. A children’s menu is available and special dietary needs can be accommodated with prior arrangement. To make a reservation, call ext. 165.

El Conquistador chef Rafael Hernández with David Toledo. Below, David ensures service is second to none El chef de El Conquistador, Rafael Hernández con David Toledo. Abajo, David se asegura de que el servicio sea excepcional

Al tiempo que el fuego se eleva, los coros de asombro se escuchan por todo El Conquistador antes de que David Toledo extinga la ﬂama y sirva sus camarones ﬂameados. Preparar los platillos en la mesa es solo una de las habilidades que el gerente de restaurantes de Royal Resorts ha adquirido durante los 35 años que ha trabajado para los hoteles más importantes de América. Su comprensión de la comida gourmet ha sido clave para mantener la buena reputación de El Conquistador en Cancún. El restaurante ha sido uno de los favoritos

de nuestros miembros y huéspedes desde que abrió en 1985. Ahora, un nuevo menú emocionante, creado por el chef exclusivo de Royal Resorts Enrique García y el chef de El Conquistador Rafael Hernández, promete llevarlo al siguiente nivel. La meticulosa presentación de los platillos es impresionante además de tener un sabor inigualable. La pechuga de pato está acompañada de una salsa demi-glace de chipotle y el cordero Wellington con foie gras. El pargo está relleno de langosta y mariscos y el salmón fresco se sirve con una vinagreta de tomate y queso gouda ahumado. Quienes preﬁeren la carne son bien agasajados con los mejores cortes de carne USDA. Los medallones de carne Angus se sirven con pimienta, salsa bernesa y bordelesa, mientras que los ﬁletes de 16oz se preparan en el momento. “Todo se acompaña de una lista

de vinos siempre versátil, seleccionados por nuestro sommelier certiﬁcado,” dice David. La cena preparada en la mesa es siempre un acontecimiento en El Conquistador. David y su equipo prepararán carne Angus en salsa de vino tinto y camarones ﬂameados con brandy o tequila. “A los comensales les encanta el nuevo menú,” dice David, agregando que la comida realmente vale lo que cuesta y que cuentan con un menú más accesible para cenar más temprano. Otro de sus encantos incluye la música en vivo de Jorge Durán y el ambiente. “Es muy romántico, un lugar ideal para ver la puesta del sol sobre la laguna.” El Conquistador, abre domingo a viernes, 5pm-10pm. Menú de atardecer 4pm-6pm; el martes es la noche de Prime Rib. También está disponible un menú para niños y las dietas especiales pueden solicitarse con anticipación. Para reservar, marque ext. 165.

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vacation tales

Share with us

rclay Maggie and Lee Ba y de Maggie y Lee Barcla

ncún on vacation in Ca

cún vacaciones en Can

The Meyers’ da ughter, Jocelyn Rose, left, havin g fun with her long-t ime friend Bryn La hija de los Meyer, Jocelyn

ROYAL RESORTS MEMBERS REMEMBER THE GOOD TIMES ON VACATION COMPARTA CON NOSOTROS LOS MIEMBROS DE ROYAL RESORTS EVOCAN LOS MEJORES RECUERDOS DE SUS VACACIONES

LEE AND MAGGIE BARCLAY Maggie Barclay and her husband Lee, from Michigan, have been visiting Royal Resorts for nearly 20 years and have been members at The Royal Sands since 1999. “I get plenty of opportunity to put my feet up during our annual stay at The Royal Sands, but I also love the resort’s activity program, and always join in the aerobics, pool aerobics and salsa dance classes. “My husband, Lee, is very happy to sit by the pool and relax. He also enjoys bocce ball, horseshoes and watching football at the Sidelines Bar. And we both love the spa treatments. The facials are wonderful and I’ll be booking myself another Lomi-Lomi massage this year. “We started coming down with our teenage kids in the mid-1990s and they loved it because there is so much to do. Our children still join us when they can. In 2012, we’re hoping they’ll all come to The Royal Sands for a big family reunion to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary.” Maggie Barclay y su esposo Lee, de Michigan, se han hospedado en Royal Resorts por casi 20 años y son miembros de The Royal Sands desde 1999. “Tengo muchas oportunidades de relajarme durante nuestra estancia anual en The Royal Sands, pero también me encanta el programa de actividades del resort y siempre participo en los aerobics y las clases de salsa. “Mi esposo Lee, preﬁere sentarse junto a la piscina y relajarse. A él le gusta el boliche, las herraduras y ver

el fútbol en el bar Sidelines. Y a los dos nos encantan los tratamientos del Spa. Los faciales son magníﬁcos y voy a apuntarme para otro masaje Lomi-Lomi este año. “Empezamos a venir con nuestros hijos a mediados de los noventas y les encantó porque siempre hay mucho que hacer. Nuestros hijos aún nos acompañan cuando pueden. En el 2012, tenemos la esperanza de que vengan todos a The Royal Sands para celebrar nuestro vigésimo aniversario.”

Rose, izquierd a, divirtiéndose con su amiga de hace much os años Bryn

“A base in Mexico has given our children the chance to learn about the local culture” “Tener una base en México le ha permitido a nuestos hijos conocer la cultura local” GEORGE AND JAYNE MEYER George Meyer, who is an executive director from Wisconsin, and his wife Jayne, a trainee nurse, have been members of Royal Resorts since 1983. “Except for a few exchanges we’ve done to resorts in Hawaii and the Caribbean, we’ve been going to The Royal Mayan almost every year for the past 27 years. Our son and daughter have virtually grown up there, particularly my youngest, Jocelyn Rose, who was just five months old on her first Royal Resorts vacation, and is now 24. “The Royal Mayan has been a great place to bring up a family—it’s clean and safe and the staff have always been incredibly welcoming and kind to our kids. Jocelyn Rose, who still comes on vacation with us, now refers to her ‘Mexican family’ and her home away from home. Some of her favorite childhood memories are of playing in the resort pool and fountain. She has built up some very close relationships and keeps in contact with many of the kids she played with on her annual Mexican vacations. We still meet up with some of them and their families from time to time in Cancún or Wisconsin. “Having a base in Mexico has offered our children a wonderful education, giving them a unique opportunity to get to know the local history and culture, particularly as we’ve always made a point of hiring a car and exploring the Riviera Maya and further afield. Our son Andrew even went on to study Spanish at university.” George Meyer, un director ejecutivo de Wisconsin, y su esposa Jayne, una enfermera en entrenamiento, han sido miembros de Royal

Resorts desde 1983. “Con la excepción de algunas ocasiones en que hemos ido a Hawái y el Caribe, hemos visitado The Royal Mayan casi

cada año desde hace 27 años. Nuestros hijos han virtualmente crecido allí, particularmente la más pequeña, Jocelyn Rose, que tenía cinco meses en su primer visita y ahora 24. “The Royal Mayan ha sido un gran lugar para traer a nuestra familia, es limpio y seguro y el staff siempre ha sido increíblemente amable y atento con nuestros hijos. Jocelyn Rose, que aún viene con nosotros, se reﬁere a The Royal Mayan como su ‘familia Mexicana’ y su casa lejos de casa. Sus recuerdos favoritos de la infancia tienen que ver con la alberca y la fuente del resort. Ha logrado establecer relaciones muy cercanas y se mantiene en contacto con muchos de los niños que jugaban con ella en sus vacaciones anuales en México. Todavía nos reunimos con algunos de ellos y sus familias en Cancún o Wisconsin. “Tener una base en México le ha ofrecido a nuestros hijos una gran educación, dándoles la oportunidad de conocer la historia y la cultura local, particularmente porque siempre hemos rentado un auto para explorar la Riviera Maya y sus alrededores. Nuestro hijo Andrew incluso entró a tomar clases de español en la Universidad.”

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things to do

what’s new

Be an Akumal explorer

New attractions, recommended day trips and great activities to try on vacation

LO NUEVO NUEVAS ATRACCIONES,TOURS E INCREÍBLES ACTIVIDADES PARA SUS VACACIONES

25 years of conservation crusaders

Royal Resorts is proud to support Amigos de Sian Ka’an as it prepares to celebrate its 25th year of conservation campaigning. The charity was founded in 1986 and oversees the protection of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, featured in last year’s Royal Resorts Life. Working closely with wildlife experts, it is constantly looking to create new wildlife reserves and to campaign for better environmental policies. For more information, see www.amigosdesiankaan.org.

An ocelot at the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

In the Marine National Park off the west coast of Isla Mujeres, and stretching south to Punta Nizuc, lies one of Cancún’s most spectacular treasures. The Cancún Underwater Sculpture Museum, created by the British sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor, is the largest of its kind in the world. Dive into Cancún’s blue waters and swim among more than 400 life-size sculptures, each resembling someone from the local community. Exhibits are located at four sites around the park for an eco marine adventure that will attract divers and snorkelers. The statues (above) act as artiﬁcial reefs, providing a habitat for sponges, sea fans, coral, algae and other creatures. The park authorities expect them to alleviate visitor pressure on the most popular reefs in the bay. For more details, contact the Thomas More Travel desk, see below.

Un ocelote en la Reserva de

Maravillas submarinas

25 años luchando por la conservación Royal Resorts está orgulloso de apoyar a Amigos de Sian Ka’an, quien se prepara para celebrar 25 años trabajando a favor de la conservación. Esta organización se fundó en 1986 y vigila la protección de la Reserva de la Biósfera de Sian Ka’an, que se presentó en la edición

anterior de Royal Resorts Life. Trabajando muy de cerca con los expertos en vida silvestre, esta organización busca crear nuevas reservas y promover mejoras en la política ambiental. Para mayor información visite www. amigosdesiankaan.org.

la Biósfera de Sian Ka’an

TOP: JASON DE CAIRES TAYLOR

UNDERWATER WONDER

En el Parque Marino Nacional en la costa oeste de Isla Mujeres, y al sur de Punta Nizuc, está uno de los grandes tesoros de Cancún, el Museo de Escultura Submarina creado por el escultor británico Jason de Caires Taylor es el más grande del mundo en su tipo. Bucee en las aguas azules de Cancún entre más de 400 esculturas de tamaño natural, cada una representando a alguien de la comunidad local. Las

exhibiciones se encuentran en cuatro sitios diferentes alrededor del parque y ofrecen una aventura eco marina inigualable. Las esculturas (arriba) son arrecifes artiﬁciales que proveen un habitat para las criaturas marinas. Las autoridades del parque esperan desahogar la aﬂuencia de visitantes a los arrecifes naturales más importantes de la bahía. Para más detalles contacte el módulo de Thomas More Travel, abajo.

Go on a snorkeling trip through the sacred Mayan pools of Akumal in the Riviera Maya and discover three ecosystems in a day. Akumal, “the place of the turtles”, is peaceful and unhurried, just like the locals. Visit a jungle cenote before exploring the wondrous Aktun Chen cave, set in a 400-hectare reserve of tropical forest, and rich in stalactite formations. Final stop is the coral reef kingdom, one of nature’s marvels. For details of the guided Akumal Explorer tour, contact the Thomas More Travel desk, see below.

Explore Akumal Haga un paseo de snorkeling a los pozos mayas sagrados de Akumal en la Riviera Maya y descubra tres ecosistemas en un solo día. Akumal, “lugar de las tortugas”, es pacíﬁco y tranquilo. Visite un cenote en la selva antes de explorar la magníﬁca cueva Aktun Chen, que se encuentra en medio de 400 hectáreas de bosque tropical y es rica en estalactitas. La última parada es el enorme arrecife de coral, una maravilla mundial. Para más detalles del tour Akumal Explorer, contacte al módulo de Thomas More, abajo.

For details of the trips on this page, contact the Thomas More Travel desk at your resort, call ext. 175 or 407, or visit www.thomasmoretravel.com. Para más detalles de los tours, contacte al módulo de Thomas More Travel en su resort, llame a ext. 175 o 407, o visite www.thomasmoretravel.com.

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The real Riviera

BEAUTIFUL PUERTO MORELOS IS THE PERFECT SPOT TO SWIM, DIVE, FISH, OR WATCH THE WORLD GO BY. CATHERINE GORDON SAMPLES LIFE IN THE RIVIERAN VILLAGE LA VERDADERA RIVIERA EL BELLO PUERTO MORELOS ES EL MEJOR LUGAR PARA NADAR, BUCEAR, PESCAR O VER PASAR AL MUNDO. CATHERINE GORDON PRUEBA LA VIDA EN ESTE PUEBLO DE LA RIVIERA

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“The shimmering white sandy beaches of Puerto Morelos are stunning; the inviting azure ocean irresistible” “Las playas de arena brillante de Puerto Morelos son impresionantes; el fascinante mar azul es irresistible” R OYA L R E S O R T S L I F E \ \ \ 2 0 1 1

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Members, start saving money now with Royal Resorts Points

$"* .,# &"' '-( &"'/ !"%#+-) ! 0!!6 D'<A3 #;@=<? ! 2DD6(% AD#<3(? ! >3% %!:A /(:$ 0;(( 3< <=D D#F !B %!:A ?<3% ! >3% %!:A 3##:3( /(:$ 7DA*;"D 9DD 536D 3F*3#<3@D !B <=;? &D&$DA?-!#(% $D#DB;< <!F3%+ 7;@# :E #!) !A "=D"6 %!:A 3""!:#< !#(;#D 3< ''',/2$05/)-2/+-12"3+-,*24 3#F FD";FD =!) <! 3EE(% %!:A 8!%3( 8D?!A<? >!;#<?, /3(( :? 3#F !#D !B !:A *3"3<;!# "!:#?D(!A? );(( $D =3EE% <! 3#?)DA %!:A C:D?<;!#?, (.677.7%8.#!!& 5!(( 9ADD 471 ! /3#3F3 BA!& . 3,&, <! . E,&, F3;(% /75

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destination

TAXI DRIVERS sit in the shade of the palm trees gossiping, locals drift into church while children linger outside to play, a handful of tourists sip coffee outside the brightly painted cafés, while fishermen hunch over to mend their nets. Seagulls hover above in the sea breeze, the only sound coming from the waves breaking gently on the nearby beach. Welcome to the main square in Puerto Morelos. Halfway between Cancún and Playa del Carmen, the former fishing village of Puerto Morelos offers something quite unique on the Mayan Riviera: a real Mexican town that has managed to retain its distinct character and intimate flavor. Beloved equally by its local residents, expat community and vacationers, Puerto Morelos has so much more to offer than belies its sleepy reputation. Of course, it is impossible to ignore the town’s most obvious charms. Its shimmering sandy beaches, dotted with fishing boats and palm-leaf umbrellas, are stunning; the inviting azure ocean irresistible. The lighthouse, which sits at a jaunty angle thanks to hurricane Beulah, in 1967, provides a perennial photo opportunity. But stray beyond the main square of Puerto Morelos and the town begins to reveal its gems. The Artisan’s Market is filled with colorful handcrafted hammocks, ceramics, rugs and seashell mobiles. The quiet streets are filled with restaurants, bakeries, cafés and bars serving cold beer and steaming chunky lobster soup. Indeed, eating is one of the biggest pleasures in Puerto Morelos, including sampling »

LOS TAXISTAS esperan bajo la sombra de una palmera, los pobladores entran a la iglesia mientras los niños juegan afuera, un puñado de turistas beben café afuera de los coloridos establecimientos, mientras los pescadores acomodan sus redes. Las gaviotas revolotean en la brisa marina, el único sonido viene de las olas rompiendo en la playa. Bienvenidos a la plaza

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central de Puerto Morelos. A la mitad del camino entre Cancún y Playa del Carmen, la antigua villa de pescadores, Puerto Morelos, ofrece algo único en la Riviera Maya: un pueblo mexicano real que se ha mantenido con su carácter distintivo y su sabor íntimo. Querido del mismo modo por sus residentes, su comunidad de expatriados y los turistas, Puerto Morelos tiene mucho más que ofrecer que su reputación de pueblo tranquilo. Es imposible ignorar los obvios encantos de este pueblito. Sus hermosas Above, stroll down to the pier to watch ﬁshermen bringing in their catch. Left, one of the many colorful houses in Puerto Morelos Arriba, visite el muelle para ver a los

Cozumel

pescadores sacar la pesca del día. Izquierda, una de las muchas casas

Tulúm

coloridas en Puerto Morelos

playas salpicadas de pescadores y palapas son impresionantes: su fascinante mar azul es irresistible. El faro, que está situado en una cresta de playa gracias al huracán Beluah, en 1967, provee una permanente oportunidad para una fotografía. Pero más allá de la plaza central de Puerto Morelos el resto del pueblo muestra sus joyas. El Mercado de Artesanos está repleto de coloridas hamacas hechas a mano, cerámica, tapetes y adornos de conchas marinas. Las tranquilas calles están llenas de restaurantes, panaderías, cafés y bares que sirven cerveza fría y sopa de langosta. De hecho, comer es uno de los grandes placeres de Puerto Morelos, incluyendo la tradicional barbacoa, el lechón, el borrego o el cabrito cocinados durante toda la noche que se »

Grand Residences by Royal Resorts

Grand Residences by Royal Resorts Grand Residences es la mezcla del esplendor de la historia colonial de México y la belleza natural de Yucatán. El equipo visionario de Royal Resorts, con 33 años de experiencia, ha creado algo verdaderamente espectacular. Grand Residences (izquierda*), ubicado en una de las playas más hermosas de la Riviera Maya y muy cerca del Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún, le ofrece lujo al natural y propiedad fraccional a la colección Royal Resorts. Puerto Morelos ofrece el perfecto ambiente exclusivo para este espacioso y elegante resort. Una residencia de muestra está abierta ahora en The Royal Sands, así que mientras dure su estancia ¿por qué no agenda una visita para que conozca la forma en la que Royal Resorts define el lujo?

*Artistic rendering of Grand Residences. Final designs are subject to change.

* La atmósfera artística de Grand Residences. Los detalles finales están sujetos a cambio.

What happens when you blend the splendor of Mexico’s colonial past with the culture and natural beauty of the Yucatán? With over 33 years’ experience, the visionary team at Royal Resorts has created something spectacular for Members. Set on one of the finest, white-sand beaches in the Riviera Maya, just over 18km south of Cancún International Airport, Grand Residences (left *) brings barefoot luxury and fractional ownership to the Royal Resorts Collection. Puerto Morelos, Riviera Maya’s last quaint fishing village provides the perfect setting for this spacious and elegant resort. A full-size model residence is now open at The Royal Sands so why not schedule a visit and see for yourself how Royal Resorts is defining the standard of luxury.

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the traditional barbacoa, slow-cooked pork, lamb or goat prepared overnight and sold every Sunday morning for the past 25 years from a street trolley opposite the taxi stand. If you want to master the local cuisine, head to The Little Mexican Cooking School and spend the day learning to cook such dishes as panuchos with shredded chicken and cochinita pibil. The school’s co-founder, Catriona Brown, has been here for eight years. “I like the small-town atmosphere of Puerto Morelos,” she says. “I like being able to walk down the street and say hello to everybody.” When she’s not in the kitchen, Catriona heads to El Rey, a polo club in the unlikely setting of the jungle, 10 minutes from Puerto Morelos, where you can get lessons from a pro or watch a polo tournament. In May, Puerto Morelos hosts an annual fishing tournament, with boats competing to catch the biggest marlin, wahoo and dorado. For those looking for a more leisurely day at sea, fishing trips can be arranged and if you reel in a sizeable barracuda, it can be cooked for you on your return to dry land. Puerto Morelos also offers great snorkeling and diving in its own protected national marine park, where you can see turtles, lobster, octopus, rays and squid as well as colorful reef fish, such as parrotfish. Crescent Barrat, who runs Aquanaut Dive Adventures and has lived in Puerto Morelos for three years, says: “Puerto Morelos is quiet and relaxing. It doesn’t have the glitz of Cancún, the parties of Playa del Carmen or the hippy thing down in Tulúm.” If it is freshwater fun you are after, Crescent recommends a swim in the nearby cenotes. The ancient underground swimming holes at Boca del Puma or Siete Bocas offer refreshing crystalline waters. At the Yaax Che Jardín Botánico, you can stroll around the nature trails beneath trees teeming with spider

venden desde hace 25 años en un camión frente al sitio de taxis. Si lo que desea es probar la cocina local, vaya a The Little Mexican Cooking School y pase todo el día aprendiendo a hacer panuchos con pollo deshebrado o cochinita pibil. La co-fundadora de la escuela, Catriona Brown, ha estado allí ocho años. “Me gusta la atmósfera de pueblo pequeño que tiene Puerto Morelos,” dice. “Me gusta ir caminando por la calle y saludar a todos.” Cuando no está en la cocina Catriona va a El Rey, un club de polo enclavado en la selva, a 10 minutos de Puerto Morelos, donde puede tomar clases con un profesional o disfrutar de un torneo. Durante el mes de mayo, Puerto Morelos es el anfitrión de un torneo anual de pesca de marlin, dorado y peto. Para quienes buscan pasar un día más tranquilo en la playa, los paseos de pesca están disponibles y si captura una barracuda ésta puede ser cocinada para usted a su regreso a tierra firme. Puerto Morelos también ofrece una buena experiencia de snorkeling y de buceo en su propio parque marino donde podrá ver tortugas, langostas, pulpos, rayas, calamares y peces de colores. Crescent Barrat, quien maneja Aquanaut Dive Adventures y que ha vivido en Puerto Morelos durante tres años dice: “Puerto Morelos es silencioso y relajante. No tiene el destello de Cancún, las fiestas de Playa del Carmen o el ambiente hippie de Tulúm.” Si lo que busca es diversión Get your Day of the Dead fancy-dress outfit, and assorted handcrafted souvenirs, from one of the many local artisanal stores Consiga su disfraz de Día de Muertos, y una gran variedad de recuerdos artesanales en una de las muchas tiendas de artesanías

“

en el agua Crescent recomienda una visita a los cenotes. Estos antiguos agujeros bajo tierra en Boca del Puma o Siete Bocas ofrecen agua fresca y cristalina para nadar. En Yaax Che Jardín Botánico, usted podrá pasear por los sinuosos caminos entre los árboles conviviendo con los monos araña. Con 60 hectáreas, este es el jardín botánico más grande de México y está repleto de manglares, jardines de bambú, palmas, cactus, ruinas mayas y jardines de plantas medicinales. Durante marzo y abril todos los jardines se llenan de ﬂores. Con cerca de 20,000 habitantes, Puerto Morelos está dividido en dos partes: el viejo Puerto Morelos, el pueblo pesquero en la playa con sus hoteles, restaurantes y tiendas; y el área residencial llamada La Colonia que está en el otro lado de la carretera 307. La vibrante comunidad está compuesta por mexicanos, americanos, canadienses, europeos y sudamericanos. “Los folletos para turistas dicen que es un pueblo de pescadores muy tranquilo y relajado, pero en realidad no lo es,” dice Catriona Brown. “La gente si va a pescar, pero también hay millonarios que viven aquí.” Aunque se ha expandido, Puerto Morelos ha mantenido una atmósfera de auténtico pueblo pequeño. Con la ayuda de las donaciones de la caridad El Mundo para Puerto Morelos, los residentes han mejorado las escuelas locales y organizado talleres de

Things to do in Puerto Morelos

Crocodile smile Go wild at Croco Cun Zoo where you can touch, hold and feed crocodiles, snakes, guacamayas or macaws as well as deer and spider monkeys. Jungle adventure Thrillseekers can try a canopy zip line, take a dip in a cenote, go off-road in a 4x4 car, pictured above, or even try a parachute jump. Pedal power Meandering around the quiet streets of Puerto Morelos on a bicycle is the perfect way to see the town; explore at your own pace and stop off anywhere that takes your fancy. Hire bikes in the main square. Organize tours with Thomas More Travel on ext 175 and 407 or by visiting www. thomasmoretravel.com Cosas que hacer en Puerto Morelos Conviva con los cocodrilos en Croco Cun Zoo donde podrá tocar, sujetar y alimentar cocodrilos, serpientes, guacamayas, venados y monos. Aventura salvaje Quienes buscan una sacudida pueden lograrlo con un paseo en tirolesa, nadando en un cenote, recorriendo un sinuoso camino en un 4x4, en la imagen arriba, o incluso brincar en paracaídas. El poder del pedal Recorrer las tranquilas calles de Puerto Morelos en una bicicleta es la forma perfecta de ver el pueblo; explore a su propio paso y deténgase donde más le guste. Puede rentar una bicicleta en la plaza central. Organice un tour con Thomas More Travel en la ext. 175 o 407 o en www.thomasmoretravel.com

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“Puerto Morelos really comes to life at the weekend when the locals come into town to hit the beach” “Puerto Morelos se llena de vida el ﬁn de semana cuando los residentes van a sus playas” Below, the iconic leaning lighthouse at Puerto Morelos Abajo, el representativo faro de Puerto Morelos

medicina y muchos otros proyectos. Crescent Barrat dice que Puerto Morelos es un lugar pequeño con gran corazón: “Su comunidad se preocupa por el turismo y el turismo se preocupa por su comunidad”. La Casa de la Cultura del pueblo, mantenida por donaciones también, ofrece clases de todo desde salsa hasta escultura. Los eventos anuales incluyen el popular Festival Anual de Música, que se realiza en la plaza central desde enero hasta marzo; y la doble celebración de Halloween y Día de Muertos tiene un desﬁle de disfraces con baile y música. En Navidad algo mágico sucede, José lleva a María montada en un burro alrededor de la plaza central mientras los niños representan una

escena del nacimiento. Si lo que busca es relajarse, vaya a la librería Alma Libre en la plaza central. Es la librería más grande en inglés de Yucatán, abierta entre noviembre y abril, ofrece una ecléctica colección que tiene desde cultura maya hasta comida mexicana y lecturas para la playa. Manejada por una pareja de canadienses que ha vivido en Puerto Morelos cerca de 10 años, la tienda es un caudal de información acerca del área. Como otra alternativa, ¿por qué no dedicarse a observar aves? Con más de 220 especies identiﬁcadas en los manglares y la selva, éste es el lugar ideal para hacerlo. Camine entre los manglares y podrá ver una espátula rosada

(ajaia ajaja), una garza o un Martín pescador. Si se aventura entre la selva podrá ver carpinteros, loros y hasta tucanes. Puerto Morelos se llena de vida durante los ﬁnes de semana, cuando los locales vienen a pasar el día en la playa. Al caer la noche, el lugar se llena de ruido, pero aún cuando está más lleno siempre podrá encontrar una mesa para cenar. Un poco más tarde, un puñado de bares ofrecen música en vivo y DJs para quienes quieren pasar la noche bailando. O súmese a los locales y disfrute de un helado mientras camina frente a la playa. Puerto Morelos, después de todo, es uno de los mejores lugares para relajarse en la Riviera Maya.

ALAMY; KEN REDDING

monkeys. At 60 hectares, this is the largest botanical garden in Mexico, and is filled with mangroves, oriental bamboo gardens, palms, cacti, Mayan ruins, and herb and medicinal gardens. During March and April, the gardens flourish as the flowers come into bloom. With around 20,000 residents, Puerto Morelos is divided into two parts: old Puerto Morelos, the fishing village on the coast with its hotels, restaurants and shops; and the residential area known as La Colonia, which is on the other side of Highway 307. The vibrant community is made up of Mexicans as well as Americans, Canadians, Europeans and South Americans. “The tourist brochures say it is a quiet laid-back fishing village, but it’s not really,” says Catriona Brown. “People do go fishing, but there are millionaires who live here, too.” Even though it has expanded, Puerto Morelos has preserved an authentic small-town atmosphere. With the aid of donations through the El Mundo para Puerto Morelos charity, the residents have improved local schools and organized medical workshops and many other projects. Crescent Barrat says Puerto Morelos is a thriving town with a big heart: “Its community cares about its tourists and the tourists care about the community.” The town’s Casa de la Cultura, also supported by donations, offers everything from salsa to sculpture lessons. Annual events include the popular annual Festival de Música, which takes place in the main square from January to March; and the double celebration of Hallowe’en and the Day of the Dead has a costume parade with singing and dancing. At Christmas, a magical affair, Joseph leads Mary on a donkey around the main square while the local children re-enact the nativity scene. If it is relaxation you are after, head to Alma Libre—the largest English bookstore in the Yucatán—on the main square. Open between November and April, it offers an eclectic collection covering everything from Mayan culture to Mexican cooking and beach reads. Run by a Canadian couple who have lived in Puerto Morelos for nearly 10 years, the store is a hub of information about the local area. Alternatively, why not try a spot of bird watching? With more than 220 identified species in the mangroves and forest, this is the place to do it. Take one of the nature walks through the mangroves and you could spot a roseate spoonbill, heron or a kingfisher. Venture into the jungle and you could see woodpeckers, parrots or even a toucan. Puerto Morelos really comes to life at the weekend when the locals come into town to hit the beach. By nightfall, the place is buzzing, but even at its busiest you can always find a table for dinner. Later in the evening, a handful of bars might offer live music and DJs for those who want to dance the night away. Or join the locals in the delights of a lime sorbet from the ice-cream shop in the main square and a walk along the beachfront. Puerto Morelos, after all, is one of the best places to unwind on the Mayan Riviera. R OYA L R E S O R T S L I F E \\\ 2 0 1 1

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destination

Magical Mérida

WITH ITS SWEEPING BOULEVARDS AND NEOCLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE, MÉRIDA IS THE UNRIVALLED COLONIAL JEWEL IN MEXICO’S CROWN,AS CHRIS HOOKER DISCOVERS

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Top, alfresco live music plays a big part in Mérida’s nightlife. Right, the embroidered huipil dress is a remnant of Mayan culture Superior, la música en vivo al fresco juega un importante papel en la vida nocturna de Mérida. Derecha, el tradicional hipil bordado, remanente de la Cultura Maya

“YOU’RE GOING TO love the dancing,” said the man at reception as I headed out into the Mérida night. From the palm-filled Zócalo, the city’s main square also known as Plaza Mayor or Parque Central, I could hear salsa music and followed the sound to nearby Calle 60 (Street 60). I was soon in the thick of downtown Mérida’s nightlife. It is a feature of Mérida’s historic city center that, on Friday and Saturday nights, a few blocks of Calle 60 are closed to cars while the bars and restaurants near the Iglesia de Jesús and Plaza Hidalgo become open-air venues with live music filling the air. Here, locals and enthusiastic visitors move to the rhythms of merengue, salsa, cumbia and trova. This meeting of Mexican and Caribbean cultures is completed by the ubiquitous mojito cocktails and wandering vendors of contraband Cuban cigars. The colonial heart of the Yucatán peninsula also works its magic by day; Cancún may be only a few hours’ drive to the east, but in Mérida the vacationer will find a very different Yucatán and gain a new outlook on Mexico. The historic center is the focus for any visitor. The city is big, but most of its highlights are within the few blocks that radiate from the main square. Just south and east is the bustling produce market district, where locals sell their wares, and by the northeast corner stands the oldest cathedral in Latin America, the striking San Ildefonso, which dates from 1561 (completed in 1598). One of the most interesting buildings is the late 19thcentury Palacio de Gobierno (the Yucatán state legislature) where the murals of Fernando Castro Pacheco depict the struggle of the Maya under Spanish rule. The tourism office here provides information on upcoming events. Also look out for the 17th-century churches—notably Jesús and San Cristóbal—and the restored mansions, such as Casa Montejo on the main square. The area is undergoing further restoration as colonial buildings are snapped up and returned to their former glory. Many of the city’s historical and architectural gems are a legacy of the Spanish. Mérida was founded by Francisco de Montejo, in 1542, on the site of the abandoned Mayan city of T’ho. From the outset, it took orders from »

“TE VA A encantar el baile” dijo el hombre de la recepción cuando quise salir de noche. Desde el Zócalo lleno de palmeras, el cuadro principal de la ciudad, conocido también como Plaza Mayor o Parque Central, podía escuchar la música y seguí el ritmo de la salsa hasta la Calle 60. Es un hecho que en el centro de Mérida los viernes y sábados por la noche se cierran a la circulación varias calles alrededor de la Calle 60 mientras que los bares y los restaurantes cercanos a la Iglesia de Jesús en la Plaza Hidalgo se convierten en escenarios de música en vivo al aire libre. Aquí, la gente local y los visitantes se mueven al ritmo del merengue, salsa, cumbia y trova. El corazón colonial de la Península de Yucatán también es mágico durante el día; Cancún podrá estar a sólo unas horas por carretera, pero en Mérida el vacacionista encuentra un Yucatán diferente y obtiene un nuevo panorama de México. El centro histórico es lo principal para cualquier visitante. La ciudad es grande, pero la mayor parte de sus atractivos está alrededor del cuadro central. Al sur y este está el bullicioso distrito comercial donde la gente local vende productos, y en la esquina noreste está la catedral más antigua de América Latina, la impresionante catedral de San Ildefonso, que data de 1561 (completada en 1598). Uno de los ediﬁcios más interesantes es el Palacio

de Gobierno construido a finales del Siglo XIX donde los murales de Fernando Castro Pacheco muestran la lucha de los mayas bajo el régimen español. La oficina turística ofrece información sobre los próximos eventos. También resultan interesantes las iglesias del Siglo XVII, principalmente la de Jesús y San Cristóbal, así como las mansiones restauradas como Casa Montejo en el cuadro principal. Toda el área está siendo restaurada para devolverle su gloria a los edificios coloniales. Muchas de las joyas históricas y arquitectónicas de la ciudad son un legado español. Mérida fue fundada por Francisco de Montejo en 1542, en el lugar donde se encontraba el sitio maya abandonado de T’ho. Desde el principio, siguió órdenes españolas y su evolución reflejó el aislamiento geográfico de la península del resto de México dándole a la ciudad una identidad política y cultural diferente. Para finales del Siglo XIX, la ciudad se beneficiaba de la abundancia que generaba el henequén usado para fabricar cuerdas y tapetes. Se dice que la exportación de henequén a Europa al inicio del Siglo XX hizo que Mérida se convirtiera en el hogar de muchos millonarios, muchos más que en cualquier otra ciudad del mundo. La influencia europea sobre los barones henequeneros de Mérida, que mandaban a sus hijos a estudiar en universidades del otro »

ALAMY; CAMERA PRESS

MÉRIDA MÁGICA CON SU ARQUITECTURA NEOCLÁSICA Y SUS AMPLIOS BULEVARES, MÉRIDA ES LA JOYA DE LA CORONA COLONIAL EN MÉXICO, DESCUBRE CHRIS HOOKER

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destination TOP THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MÉRIDA and the main square on Colonial Mérida

•Catedral de San Ildefonso Dress appropriately. Likewise for Mérida’s other fascinating churches. •Palacio de Gobierno, in the northeast corner of the Zócalo, has impressive murals around the patio.

Sundays, by City Hall on Mondays, and in the beautiful Santa Lucía square (with trova music) on Thursdays. On Friday and Saturday nights, Calle 60 is closed to traffic for café dining and Caribbeanflavored music and dance. The celebrated Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán performs regularly at Teatro Peón Contreras on Calle 60 with Calle 57.

Restaurants & bars Above, the Palacio Municipal. Right, Mérida’s historic center is easy to negotiate Arriba, el Palacio Municipal. Derecha, el centro histórico de Mérida es fácil de recorrer Plaza Santa Ana

Santa Lucía

Mérida Teatro Peón Contreras Iglesia de Jesús

Palacio de Gobierno Palacio Municipal

Plaza Mayor

Catedral

Casa Montejo

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Market

Spain and its evolution has reﬂected the peninsula’s geographical isolation from the rest of Mexico, giving the city a distinct political and cultural identity. By the late 19th century, huge wealth was being generated in the city by the cultivation of henequén (sisal), which was used to manufacture rope and mats. It is said that the export of sisal to Europe at the turn of the 20th century made Mérida home to more millionaires than any other city in the world. The Europeanization of Mérida’s henequén barons, who would send their sons across the Atlantic to attend European universities, can be seen today in the imposing neoclassical mansions they built along Paseo de Montejo, just a few blocks north of the centro. »

lado del Atlántico, puede verse ahora con las imponentes mansiones neoclásicas que construyeron a lo largo del Paseo Montejo, a pocas cuadras del centro. El legado del prolongado aislamiento de Mérida es una cultura mixta con una marcada inﬂuencia caribeña y fuertes remanentes de la Cultura Maya, que es muy evidente a lo largo de toda la ciudad. Sigue existiendo la lengua maya y el tradicional hipil bordado que visten principalmente, pero no exclusivamente, las mujeres mayores de Mérida. Entre los platillos tradicionales de Mérida están la cochinita pibil hecha de carne de cerdo marinada con achiote y naranja agria que se envuelve en una hoja de plátano para cocinarla, y la sopa de lima, un delicioso caldo de pollo, con jugo de lima y tiras de tortilla bien frita. Los deliciosos aromas que se desprenden de los restaurantes son suﬁcientes para que entre antes de darse cuenta. No olvide que Mérida tiene un clima aun más cálido que Cancún y a media tarde la ciudad se encuentra en reposo al subir la temperatura. Si se mantiene en la sombra, podrá disfrutar de un agradable paseo deteniéndose en alguna ocasión para comer o tomar algo en cualquiera de los bares al aire libre del Parque Hidalgo, junto a la Iglesia de Jesús en la Calle 60, o alrededor de la »

Above, one of Fernando Castro Pacheco’s mural at Mérida’s Palacio Gobierno Arriba, un mural de Fernando Castro Pacheco en el Palacio de Gobierno de Mérida

•Museo Macay, on the east side of the main square, features local artists. •Casa Montejo, the restored 16th-century mansion of the city’s founders is on the south side of the Plaza Mayor. •Museo de Antropología e Historia, Paseo de Montejo 485, offers an excellent overview of Mayan history. Closed Mondays. •Pinacoteca Juan Gamboa Guzmán, Calle 59 between 58 and 60, shows old and contemporary paintings and sculpture. Closed Mondays. •Casa Catherwood, on Calle 59, between 72 and 74, includes great 19thcentury color lithographs of Mayan sites. •Quinta Montes Molina, Paseo de Montejo, a restored mansion with all its original furnishings.

Live music & dance Mérida has free open-air music and dance events, including superb traditional dance at Plaza Santa Lucía

•Amaro, Calle 59, between 60 and 62, has a spacious patio and live music. •Peregrino’s, Calle 57, between 60 and 62, has a pleasant shady courtyard. •La Bella Epoca, Calle 60, has balconies overlooking Plaza Hidalgo. •Habana, corner of Calle 62 and 59, is a 24-hour café and restaurant offering good breakfasts. •Pancho’s, Calle 59, between 60 and 62, is a Mexican-revolution-themed restaurant-bar. •Maya Pub, Calle 62, between 55 and 57, has a garden, imaginative menu and occasional live music. •Los Almendros, Calle 50A, specialises in Yucatecan food. •Plaza Santa Ana, Calle 60, between 45 and 47, has several open-air restaurants. Offers local snacks and excellent fruit drinks.

Shopping

Quality Yucatecan produce is sold in the handicraft shops on Calles 60, 62, 64, 61, 59, 57 and 55. Fine work by disabled local artisans is sold at Casa de las Artesanías, Calle 63, between 64 and 66, and Artesanaria, Calle 60 and corner of 55. Indulge at “chocolate boutique” Ki-xocolatl, on Calle 55, between 60 and 62.

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destination COSAS QUE HACER Y VER EN MÉRIDA Municipal los lunes y en la Mérida Colonial •Catedral de San Ildefonso, vístase apropiadamente, así como para las otras fascinantes iglesias. •Palacio de Gobierno, en la esquina noreste del Zócalo, tiene impresionantes murales alrededor del patio. •Museo Macay, en el lado este de la plaza central, cuenta con artistas locales •Casa Montejo, la mansión restaurada del Siglo XVI propiedad de los fundadores de la ciudad en el lado sur de la Plaza Mayor. The legacy of Mérida’s prolonged isolation is a unique, mixed culture with a marked Caribbean inﬂuence and strong remnants of the Mayan culture, which are evident all around the city. There is the Maya language and the traditional embroidered huipil dress, worn mainly, but not exclusively, by older Mayan women. Yucatán’s many regional dishes include cochinita pibil, a pork dish marinated in the native achiote spice with bitter orange, then wrapped in banana leaf and roasted, and sopa de lima, a delicious broth of chicken, lime juice and deep-fried tortilla strips. The delicious aromas wafting from restaurants are often enough to get you inside before you even notice. Bear in mind that Mérida is a few degrees warmer than Cancún, and mid-afternoon ﬁnds the city in repose as temperatures rise. If you stick to the shade, though, it’s a good time to explore, with a break for lunch or a cold drink at one of many open-air bars and cafés by the Parque Hidalgo, beside the Iglesia de Jesús on Calle 60, or on the west or north side of the main square. A pit stop is also the perfect opportunity to observe the people in this great melting pot of a city. They seem at ease with life. And why wouldn’t they be? With a great climate, relaxed pace of life and beautiful architecture, what’s not to like?

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Book your Mérida city tour now

Thomas More offers a one-day excursion to Mérida, which includes a visit to an old henequén hacienda, a swim in a cenote (underground spring) and a city tour after lunch. A two-day excursion includes an overnight stay at El Castellano Hotel in Mérida, a city tour, a visit to the ancient Mayan city of Uxmal for the light and sound show, with additional time for shopping and sightseeing in Mérida, plus a stop-off at the colonial town of Izamal en route to Cancún. Private trips can also be organized for longer stays and Thomas More will be happy to make travel arrangements and room reservations if you prefer to explore at your own pace. Contact the Thomas More Travel desk at your resort on ext. 175 or 407, or visit www.thomasmoretravel.com.

Above, the 16th-century Catedral de San Idelfonso on Plaza Mayor Arriba, la Catedral de San Ildefonso Siglo XVI en la Plaza Mayor

plaza central. Parece que la vida aquí es apacible. ¿Y por qué no sería así? Con un gran clima, el paso tranquilo de la vida y la hermosa arquitectura, ¿qué no podría gustarles?

Reserve su viaje a Mérida ahora mismo

Thomas More ofrece una excursión de un día a Mérida, que incluye una visita a una hacienda henequenera, una inmersión en un cenote y un paseo por la ciudad después de la comida. Un paseo de dos días incluye la estancia en el hotel El Castellano en Mérida, un paseo por la ciudad, una excursión al sitio maya de Uxmal para el show de luz y sonido, con tiempo adicional para hacer compras en Mérida más una escala en Izamal de regreso a Cancún. Los paseos privados para una mayor estancia también pueden organizarse con Thomas More que gustosamente hará reservaciones y los arreglos necesarios si preﬁere explorar a su propio ritmo. Contacte al mostrador de Thomas More Travel en su resort ext. 175 o 407, o visite www. thomasmoretravel.com.

Above, Mérida’s Museo de Antropología e Historia Arriba, Museo de Antropología e Historia de Mérida

•Museo de Antropología e Historia, Paseo de Montejo 485, ofrece un excelente panorama de la Historia Maya. Cerrado los lunes. •Pinacoteca Juan Gamboa Guzmán, Calle 59 entre 58 y 60, expone pinturas y esculturas contemporáneas y antiguas. Cerrado los lunes. •Casa Catherwood, en Calle 59, entre 72 y 74, incluye magníficas litografías a color de los sitios mayas del Siglo XIX. •Quinta Montes Molina, Paseo de Montejo, una mansión restaurada con todo su mobiliario original.

Música viva y baile

Mérida ofrece música gratis al aire libre y eventos de danza, incluyendo bailes tradicionales en la Plaza Santa Lucía y la Plaza Central los domingos, en Palacio

bella plaza de Santa Lucía los jueves. Las noches de viernes y sábado, la Calle 60 se cierra al tráfico para gozar del baile y la música estilo caribeño. La celebrada Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán se presenta regularmente en el Teatro Peón Contreras en la Calle 60 y 57.

Restaurantes y bares •Amaro, Calle 59, entre 60 y 62, tiene un patio espacioso y música en vivo. •Peregrino’s, Calle 57, entre 60 y 62, tiene un agradable patio con sombra. •La Bella Época, Calle 60, tiene balcones con vista a la Plaza Hidalgo. •Habana, esquina entre Calle 62 y 59, es un café 24 horas y restaurante que ofrece desayunos. •Pancho’s, Calle 59, entre 60 y 62, es un restaurantebar mexicano con estilo revolucionario. •Maya Pub, Calle 62, entre 55 y 57, tiene un jardín, un menú imaginativo y eventualmente música en vivo. •Los Almendros, Calle 50A, se especializa en comida yucateca. •Plaza Santa Ana, Calle 60, entre 45 y 47, tiene varios restaurantes al aire libre. Ofrece bocadillos locales y excelentes bebidas de frutas.

Compras

Productos yucatecos de alta calidad se venden en las tiendas de artesanías en las Calles 60, 62, 64, 61, 59, 57 y 55. Artesanía fina hecha por artesanos discapacitados se vende en Casa de las Artesanías, Calle 63, entre 64 y 66, y Artesanaria, Calle 60 esquina con 55. Consiéntase en la “boutique del chocolate” Ki-xocolatl, en Calle 55, entre 60 y 62.

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sports

Fairways to heaven

CANCÚN AND THE RIVIERA MAYA BOAST GOLF COURSES WITH STUNNING SCENERY AND CHALLENGING DESIGNS. HERE ARE FOUR TO PLAY, SAYS WILL TIDEY FAIRWAYS AL CIELO CANCÚN Y LA RIVIERA MAYA CUENTAN CON CAMPOS DE GOLF CON UN PANORAMA IMPRESIONANTE Y DISEÑOS RETADORES, COMO ESTOS CUATRO, DICE WILL TIDEY

El Camaleón at the Mayakoba Resort

Greg Norman’s signature course at Mayakoba, pictured above, was the ﬁrst location outside the US and Canada to be awarded a PGA Tour event—and the Mayakoba Golf Classic is now an annual tournament on the circuit. The course plays 7,039 yards from the championship tees and takes in a heady mix of jungle, thick mangroves and an oceanfront stretch that runs along brilliant white sand. “The fairways are lined with sand dunes and mangroves, and there are distinctive hazards, such as cenotes, crystal-clear lagoons, and greens on the edge of the Caribbean Sea,” says sales manager Roberto Molina. The greens are fast, the fairways tight, and it’s not unusual to be pitted against testing winds. As for the standout holes, Molina says the par threes are unforgettable. “The 7th and 15th play right up to the edge of the Caribbean Sea. In the distance, you can see the world’s second-largest coral reef and the island of Cozumel. The 10th is another short hole that is long on memories. The ﬁgure-eight green is lined with drama.” »

El Camaleón en Mayakoba Resort El campo en Mayakoba con la ﬁrma de Greg Norman, arriba, ha sido el primero fuera de los EU y Canadá en ser otorgado un evento PGA Tour, y el Mayakoba Golf Classic ya es un evento anual en el circuito. El campo tiene 7,039 yardas de juego en los tees de campeonato que se internan en la selva y los manglares y se extienden hasta la orilla del mar. “Los fairways están bordeados con dunas de arena y manglares, y existen desafíos que son distintivos como los cenotes, lagunas y greens a la orilla del Caribe,” dice el Gerente de Ventas Roberto Molina. Los greens son rápidos, los fairways estrechos y no es poco inusual ser retado por el viento. Con respecto

a los hoyos, Molina dice que los par tres son inolvidables. “El 7 y el 15 se juegan hacia el Caribe. A lo lejos se puede ver Cozumel. El 10 es otro hoyo corto de distancia pero amplio en recuerdos. La ﬁgura del ocho en el green está delineada dramáticamente.” Kukulcan Golf Club en el Hilton Cancun Golf and Spa Resort El campo del Hilton Cancún Golf and Spa Resort está rodeado de 60 hectáreas de vegetación tropical. La Laguna Nichupté le provee muchos desafíos acuáticos, y las ruinas de El Rey le ofrecen un inigualable paisaje de fondo. “Es un campo plano, pero es muy retador con tanta agua rodeando los hoyos,” dice el Gerente de Ventas Antonio Gallegos. »

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outdoor sports

Kukulcan Golf Club at the Hilton Cancún Golf and Spa Resort

The course at the Hilton Cancún Golf and Spa Resort is surrounded by 60 hectares of tropical vegetation. The Nichupte Lagoon provides water hazards aplenty, and the ancient Mayan ruins of El Rey offer an incredible backdrop to the closing holes. “It’s a ﬂat course, but it’s very challenging with water along all the holes,” says sales manager Antonio Gallegos. “Although some holes demand a straight tee shot, our course is very friendly and forgiving. Players of all levels can play, have fun and enjoy Mother Nature.” Gallegos says the par-four 10th is among the most testing and enjoyable holes on the course. “You have a very narrow fairway to land on because there is water on the right and jungle to the left. It’s essential to hit a straight shot from the tee if you want to par this hole.”

“Aunque algunos hoyos exigen un tiro directo desde el tee, nuestro campo es muy amigable. Jugadores de cualquier nivel pueden jugar, divertirse y disfrutar de la Madre Naturaleza.” Gallegos dice que el par-cuatro 10 está entre los hoyos más difíciles y divertidos del campo. “Tiene un fairway muy estrecho donde aterrizar porque hay agua a la

derecha y selva a la izquierda. Es esencial que haga un golpe directo desde el tee si quiere hacer par en este hoyo.” Playa Mujeres Golf Club El diseño de Greg Norman en Playa Mujeres es una obra que deja sin aliento por su belleza. Nueve hoyos tienen vista al Caribe, mientras que los otros nueve trazan un campo a través de

Water hazards present players with extra challenges at Kukulcan Golf Club at the Hilton Cancún Golf and Spa Resort Los desafíos acuáticos le presentan mayores retos a los jugadores en Kukulcan Golf Club en Hilton Cancún Golf and Spa Resort

Playa Mujeres Golf Club

Greg Norman’s signature design at Playa Mujeres is a work of breathtaking beauty. Nine holes take in the Caribbean Sea, while the other nine plot a course through a tropical lagoon. The 7,218-yard course is ideally situated just ﬁve kilometers north of Cancún and offers some of the best practice facilities in the area. “Playa Mujeres is a great resort course with daily trade winds that demand pinpoint accuracy,” says manager Roberto Delgado. “Not only does this course offer great vistas, but it also provides strategic challenges for everyone who has an opportunity to play it. It’s a challenge for even the most experienced players.” While the course is a serious test, players of all abilities are welcome and guaranteed to enjoy the experience. “The 16th is spectacular,” says Delgado. “It’s the most beautiful hole on the course; a par four with an ocean view and the perfect photo opportunity.”

Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club

Designed by PB Dye, son of legendary course architect Pete Dye, Playa Paraíso has a memorable championship layout that winds through Mayan jungle. The 6,800-yard track has hosted the Iberostar Riviera Maya Open Canadian Tour, but is suitable for players of all abilities thanks to a wide array of tee positions that can reduce the distance to under 5,000 yards. The greens at Playa Paraíso are in immaculate shape, while the breathtaking backdrop for golf is a match for anywhere in Mexico. “My favorite stretch runs from the 7th to the 12th,” says club professional Glenn Preciado. “After a gentle start, the course bares its teeth and you’re treated to views of the magnificent architecture of the Iberostar complex. A driveable par four follows, then a par five you can reach in two, before a challenging cross wind makes for a testing finish.”

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Expected to open in summer 2011, the Grand Coral Golf Course has been designed by PGA champion Nick Price to be challenging and enjoyable for players of all levels.With views of immaculate fairways framed by the jungle, and several lakes, this course also promises to be one of the area’s most beautiful. ● Join us for the Royal Open weekly tournament. Play at El Camaleón Mayakoba on Monday and/or Playa Mujeres on Tuesday (weather permitting). For details, ask your Concierge on ext. 172 or call the Golf & Restaurant Reservations Center on ext. 165. ● Ask your Concierge about booking Natural Golf classes with the Golf Pro during the week. Developed by golf legend Moe Norman, the swing has helped thousands of golfers. ●

Todas las noticias más recientes de golf Planeado para abrir en verano del 2011, el Grand Coral Golf Course fue diseñado por el campeón PGA Nick Price para ser un reto y un placer para jugadores de todos los niveles. Con vistas de fairways inmaculados enmarcados por la selva y varios lagos, este campo promete ser uno de los más bellos. ● Lo esperamos en el torneo semanal Royal Open. Juegue en El Camaleón Mayakoba los lunes o Playa Mujeres los martes (si el clima lo permite). Para más detalles pregunte a su Concierge en la ext. 172 o llame a Reservaciones de Golf y Restaurantes a la ext. 165. ● Pregunte a su Concierge sobre los clases de Natural Golf con el Pro de golf durante la semana. Moe Norman, legendario golfista, desarrolló este swing que ha ayudado a miles de jugadores alrededor del mundo. ●

una laguna tropical. El campo de 7,218 yardas está ubicado muy cerca de Cancún y ofrece algunas de las mejores instalaciones para práctica de la zona. “Playa Mujeres es un magnífico campo con vientos diarios que exigen una gran precisión,” dice el Gerente Roberto Delgado. “Este campo no sólo ofrece vistas hermosas, también provee desafíos estratégicos para quien quiera que tenga una oportunidad de jugarlo. Es un reto incluso para los más experimentados.” Mientras que el campo es una prueba complicada, todos los jugadores son bienvenidos con la garantía de que disfrutarán la experiencia. “El 16 es espectacular,” dice Delgado. “Es el hoyo más hermoso en el campo; un par cuatro con vista al mar y la oportunidad de una foto perfecta.” Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club Diseñado por PB Dye, hijo del legendario arquitecto de campos Peter Dye, Playa Paraíso tiene un campo memorable que se extiende por la selva maya. El campo de 6,800 yardas fue anfitrión del Iberostar Riviera Maya Open Canadian Tour, pero se adapta a las necesidades de todo tipo de jugadores gracias a su amplia gama de posiciones de tees que pueden reducir la distancia a 5,000 yardas. Los greens en Playa Paraíso están perfectamente en forma, mientras que el hermoso paisaje para el golf está a la altura de cualquier parte de México. “Mi franja favorita es del 7 al 12,” dice el profesional del club Glenn Preciado. “Después de un inicio suave, el campo muestra los dientes y entonces eres invitado a disfrutar de las vistas de la magnífica arquitectura del complejo Iberostar. Sigue un par cuatro manejable y después un par cinco que puede hacerse dos, antes de que un retador cruce de viento te ponga a prueba para terminar.”

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Walk this way

TEAR YOURSELF AWAY FROM THE BEACH BAR AND TAKE A TOUR TO RIO LAGARTOS AND THE ANCIENT CITY OF EK BALAM, SAYS ELIZABETH MISTRY TOME UN NUEVO CAMINO OLVÍDESE DEL BAR DE PLAYA Y HAGA UN TOUR A RÍO LAGARTOS Y A LA ANTIGUA CIUDAD DE EK BALAM, SUGIERE ELIZABETH MISTRY

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR an adventure off the beaten track—but don’t want to stray too far from the comfort of your resort—a day trip to the lagoon and wetlands of the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve is a marvellous introduction to the unique wildlife that Mexico has to offer. A decade ago, when I ﬁrst attempted to drive from the nearest large town, the friendly agricultural center of Tizimín, it was impossible to take the single-track road, as it had been completely washed away. Today, small tour groups can arrive in air-conditioned luxury before boarding a boat. Reputable tour operators like Thomas More provide life jackets for guests before taking them out to see the huge ﬂamingo colony—and maybe a spider monkey or two as well. Located on the north coast of the Yucatán peninsula, just three hours from Cancún, Rio Lagartos is a dreamy place, still far from well known and relatively unspoilt. Rio Lagartos

Isla Holbox Contoy

Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve Tizimín YUCATÁN PENINSULA

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Ek Balam

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SI ESTÁ BUSCANDO una aventura fuera de lo acostumbrado, pero no quiere alejarse demasiado de las comodidades de su resort, un paseo de un día a la laguna y humedales de la Biósfera de Rio Lagartos es una maravillosa introducción a la vida silvestre de México. Hace una década, cuando intenté manejar por primera vez desde el pueblo más cercano, el amistoso centro agricultor de Tizimín, era imposible recorrer la estrecha carretera completamente llena de agua. Ahora, pequeños grupos llegan hasta allí con el lujo y la comodidad deseada antes de abordar una embarcación. Los operadores de tours, como la respetable agencia Thomas More, les proporcionan chalecos salvavidas a los clientes antes de llevarlos a ver la enorme colonia de ﬂamencos y a los monos araña. Ubicado en la costa norte de la Península de Yucatán, a sólo tres horas de Cancún, Río Lagartos es un lugar de ensueño, lo suﬁcientemente alejado y desconocido para seguir siendo salvaje.

El Gobierno de México la ha declarado reserva de la biósfera por ser uno de los lugares más importantes en el mundo donde anida el flamenco rosa. Un guía entrenado se asegurará de llevarlo lo más cerca posible sin molestar a los flamencos o su hábitat entre los manglares. La mejor forma de hacerlo es tomar un paseo en lancha: una embarcación pequeña con un techo de lona para proteger del sol a los visitantes. Dependiendo de la época del año, podrá ver cualquier número de las 350 especies de aves, incluyendo garzas y al halcón peregrino. Para quienes prefieren permanecer en tierra firme, un paseo por la orilla de la laguna o por el pequeño pueblo de Río Lagartos, son buenas opciones antes de comer o de disfrutar un pescado fresco o mariscos recién sacados por pescadores locales. Hay una infinidad de posibilidades para fotografiarse, pero cualquiera que disfrute de estar en contacto con la naturaleza valorará la oportunidad de caminar

por playas solitarias donde las tortugas blancas ponen sus huevos de mayo a septiembre. De hecho, Río Lagartos es el único lugar de la costa norte de Yucatán donde podrá verlas. Este lugar es el más importante a nivel mundial donde la tortuga de carey anida desde abril hasta noviembre. Las tortugas y los tapires eran especies importantes para los habitantes del sitio arqueológico de Ek Balam, uno de los sitios mayas más pequeños pero más interesantes en la región y que ha sido explorado apenas hace 15 años. Esta ciudad maya, cuyo nombre signiﬁca “jaguar estrella” tiene una bien preservada colección de más de 40 estructuras, incluyendo una impresionante pirámide y unos arcos con ﬁguras aladas, muy diferentes a todo lo que hay en Yucatán. Los arqueólogos consideran que esta ciudad tenía una importancia mayor para los mayas. Su impresionante arquitectura proviene mayormente del periodo Post-Clásico, años 600 a 800 DC, pero probablemente el sitio estuvo poblado desde el

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The ﬂamingo colony at Rio Lagartos, on the Yucatán’s north coast, is world famous. Left, Ek Balam, 30 kilometers north of Valladolid, is a Mayan site with more than 40 structures La colonia de ﬂamingos en Río Lagartos, en la costa norte de Yucatán, es mundialmente famosa. Izquierda, Ek Balam, 30 kilometros al norte de Valladolid, es un sitio maya con más de 40 estructuras

It is also an area of special interest: the Mexican government has declared it a biosphere reserve, as it is reputed to be one of the most important flamingo nesting grounds on earth. A trained guide will make sure you get as close as possible without disturbing the flamingos or their habitat among the mangroves. The best way is to take a trip out on a lancha: a small boat with a canvas roof to protect visitors from the sun. Depending on the time of year, you might see any number of the 350 species of birds here, including egrets, herons, ospreys and peregrine falcons. For those who prefer to remain on dry land, you can wander along the empty shore of the lagoon or explore the tiny village of Rio Lagartos before enjoying a lunch of fresh fish or seafood caught by local fisherman. There are endless photo opportunities, but everyone who enjoys getting close to nature will relish the chance to walk along the empty beaches where white turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, from May to September. In fact, Rio Lagartos is the only spot on the Yucatán coast you’ll see these rare creatures breed. The area is also the world’s most important breeding ground for the rare hawksbill turtle, which lays its eggs from April to November. Turtles and tapirs were important to the original inhabitants of the nearby archaeological site of Ek Balam— one of the smaller but most interesting Mayan cities in the region, which has only been explored in the past 15 years. This striking Mayan city (its name means “star jaguar” in

the local Mayan language) has a well-preserved collection of more than 40 structures, including an impressive pyramid and an archway with curious winged ﬁgures, quite unlike anything else in the Yucatán region. Archaeologists now believe that the city was of major importance to the Mayans. Its impressive architecture mostly comes from the Late Classic period of 600 to 800AD, the height of the Mayan civilization, but the site was probably inhabited from as early as 100BC to the time of the Spanish conquest. It outlasted many other similar sites, which were often used only as ceremonial centers or were populated for a short time before being abandoned. It is well worth exploring the buildings, many of which remain unexcavated. The views from the steep pyramid can stretch as far as Chichén Itzá, the largest and best-known Mayan city in the Yucatán, but it is the tranquillity of Ek Balam that makes it special. The pace is slow and there’s a feeling of calm that some of the busier sites have lost. Take time to wander among the ruins and try not to upset the aluxes—the little Yucatán spirits who the Maya believe guard the site and who have their own house at the entrance.

Book your tour now

Our in-house travel agency Thomas More runs trips to Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve and Ek Balam (recommended for age six and above). For further details, contact the Thomas More Travel Desk at your resort, call ext. 175 or 407, or visit www.thomasmoretravel.com.

año 100 AC hasta el tiempo de la conquista. Sobrevivió durante más tiempo que otros sitios similares. Vale la pena explorar las ediﬁcaciones, muchas de las cuales permanecen sin excavar. Las vistas desde la empinada pirámide alcanzan hasta Chichén Itzá, el más grande y reconocido sitio maya de Yucatán, pero es la tranquilidad de Ek Balam lo que lo hace especial. El paso es lento y tiene una sensación de calma que muchos de los sitios más concurridos han perdido. Tómese el tiempo de maravillarse entre las ruinas y procure no molestar a los aluxes, los pequeños espíritus que los mayas creían que cuidaban el sitio y que tienen su propia casa en la entrada.

Reserve su tour ahora

Nuestra agencia de viajes Thomas More ofrece paseos a la reserva de la biósfera Río Lagartos y Ek Balam (recomendados para mayores de 6 años). Para más detalles, contacte el mostrador de Thomas More en su resort, llame a la ext. 175 o 407, o visite www.thomasmoretravel.com.

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or come back again soonâ&#x20AC;Ś Let us help you plan another great vacation today. Call:

01 800 272-0724 â&#x20AC;˘ 888 840-1098 Dial ext. 161 when calling directly from your room.

reservations@royalresorts.com www.royalclubvacations.com

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Exchanging your unit has never been easier! No enrollment fees, pay only upon making a successful match! As a member/owner of your home resort, you have exchange privileges with your own resort and other spectacular destinations in Mexico, Curacao,Aruba and St. Maarten. Visit www.IntervalServicing.com for complete details and see the demonstration video on how to enroll, check the status and search for an Instant Match in the Online Internal Exchange Program. INTERVAL SERVICING is your complete Membership Services center. We can answer and assist with any inquiries regarding your membership including: ! Contract Processing (Contact Information Changes, Contract Replacement, Membership Cards) ! Payment Processing (Club Service/Annual Maintenance Fees & Membership Loans) ! Accounts Receivable Management ! Resale Listing Program ! Guest Certificates ! Title Transfers,Title Changes and Escrow Services ! Rental Program Inquiries

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destination

A love affair with Mexico

WHEN MIGUEL QUINTANA PALI SET EYES ON XCARET, HE DECIDED TO BUILD THE HOME OF HIS DREAMS THERE, BUT THE SITE’S OVERWHELMING BEAUTY COMPELLED HIM TO SHARE THE LOVE INSTEAD

AMOR POR MÉXICO CUANDO MIGUEL QUINTANA PALI DESCUBRIÓ XCARET, QUISO HACERLO SU HOGAR PERO ANTE SU INMENSA BELLEZA DECIDIÓ COMPARTIRLO CON EL MUNDO

Above, kids love interacting with the macaws at Xcaret. Right, Miguel Quintana Pali Arriba, a los niños les encanta convivir con las guacamayas en Xcaret. Derecha, Miguel Quintana Pali

WITH ONE million visitors a year, a collection of awards and a reputation for environmental and cultural stewardship, Xcaret Park is one of Mexico’s most famous attractions. Its success is down to its director, Miguel Quintana Pali, a visionary who has given travelers to Cancún and the Mayan Riviera a glimpse of the history and traditions of the vast country he loves so much. Born in 1946 in Boston, Massachusetts, to a Mexican father and Hawaiian mother, Quintana Pali spent his childhood in Chile before moving to Mexico at the age of 14. After studying chemical engineering and architecture at university, Miguel turned his hand to designing furniture and home décor. He opened his ﬁrst shop in 1971 and soon had a chain of stores, called Decoración Pali. It was on a business trip to the Mexican Caribbean

CON UN MILLÓN de visitas al año, una colección de premios y el prestigio resultado de los años de apoyo a la cultura y medio ambiente, el Parque Xcaret es uno de los atractivos más famosos de México. Su éxito se debe a su director, Miguel Quintana Pali, un visionario que ha ofrecido a los visitantes de Cancún y la Riviera Maya un hermoso lugar donde pueden vislumbrar la historia y tradiciones del gran país que tanto aprecia. Nacido en 1946 en Boston, Massachusetts de padre mexicano y madre

hawaiana, Quintana Pali vivió su niñez en Chile y se mudó a México a los 14 años. Después de estudiar ingeniería química y arquitectura en la universidad, Miguel emprendió en el negocio de diseño de muebles e interiores. Abrió su primera tienda en 1971 y pronto tenía una cadena de tiendas llamadas Decoración Pali. Fue durante un viaje de negocios al Caribe Mexicano que Miguel fue cautivado por un rancho llamado Xcaret, en el sitio de un antiguo puerto »

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that Miguel became captivated by a ranch called Xcaret, on the site of a Mayan port, known as Pole, in the jungle south of Playa del Carmen. He bought five hectares with the intention of building the house of his dreams, but “when I really explored the plot and discovered all its wonders—the cove, underground rivers, wildlife and Mayan temples—I decided it was far too beautiful to remain a secret. That’s when I came up with the idea of a park.” Miguel joined forces with local brothers Carlos, Marcos and Oscar Constandse Madrazo, who owned 60 hectares nearby, and the park began to take shape. Xcaret opened in 1990 as an eco-archaeological park and has evolved over the years to showcase Mexico and its flora and fauna, history, culture and people. Visitors can combine beach fun with a visit to a Mayan village, where they can see craftsmen at work, witness ancient rituals, sample the cuisine and watch a thrilling music and dance show with 300 performers presenting Mexico through the ages. Miguel is proud of the park’s many wildlife breeding, environmental education and reforestation programs and the recognition it has gained for sustainable park management. “We’ve been successful in raising dolphins in captivity and our turtle program goes beyond the park’s boundaries through our community organization Flora, Fauna y Cultura de México A.C.,” he says. “We have living coral colonies and are propagating 136 of the 140 orchid species native to the Yucatán. Our flamingo colony started from a clutch of eggs from Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, but our biggest success story is our flock of macaws: 800 to date from four original breeding pairs.” Whether it is rescuing age-old traditions or working with indigenous communities to preserve ancient languages, arts and music, Xcaret’s cultural role is huge. It has revived the Sacred Mayan Crossing, a canoe-borne pilgrimage in May to the shrines of Ixchel on the island of Cozumel, and the Festival of Life and Death, on 1 and 2 November, which showcases the traditions associated with the Day of the Dead. “I am proud of my country and I have sought to instill this pride in our staff and transmit the message that they are ambassadors for their people and should be proud of their roots and heritage,” Miguel says. Xcaret is the flagship in a trio of parks in the Riviera Maya developed by Miguel and his partners. Xel-Há is the world’s largest natural aquarium, and Xplor offers adventure on zip lines, amphibious vehicles and rafts along underground rivers. The group also recently launched the Xperiencias tour collection, which includes a new trip to Chichén Itzá and colonial Valladolid. Cobá-Xel-Há and Ek Balam will follow soon. More attractions are on the way, Miguel hints. “I travel abroad frequently and the best part is returning home and experiencing everything this great country has to offer. I will never stop looking for ways to help our visitors discover Mexico’s many facets.”

Mexico’s rich heritage is brought to life at Xcaret El rico patrimonio de México cobra vida en Xcaret

“When I discovered the wonders of Xcaret, it was too beautiful to keep secret” “Cuando descubrí las maravillas de Xcaret, supe que era demasiado hermoso para permanecer en secreto” Maya, conocido como Pole, en la selva al sur de Playa del Carmen. Compró cinco hectáreas con la intención de construir ahí el hogar de sus sueños, pero “cuando realmente exploré el terreno y descubrí todas sus maravillas—la ensenada, ríos subterráneos, vida silvestre y templos Mayas —supe que era demasiado hermoso para permanecer en secreto. Fue en ese momento cuando se me ocurrió la idea de construir un parque.” Miguel se asoció con los hermanos Carlos, Marcos y Oscar Constandse Madrazo, empresarios locales, quienes ya tenían 60 hectáreas más y el parque comenzó a tomar forma. Xcaret abrió sus puertas en 1990 como un parque eco-arqueológico y se ha convertido en una gran exhibición de la ﬂora, fauna, historia, cultura y gente de México. Sus visitantes pueden combinar la diversión de un día de playa con un recorrido a una aldea Maya, donde pueden ver artesanos trabajando, presenciar antiguas ceremonias Mayas, probar la cocina local y ver el maravilloso show de música y baile donde 300 artistas toman escena para llevarlo a través de la historia de México. Miguel está orgulloso

de los muchos proyectos del parque tales como crianza de animales y aves silvestres, educación ambiental, reforestación, así como del reconocimiento que ha logrado por su manejo sustentable. “Hemos tenido éxito criando delﬁnes en cautiverio y nuestro programa de tortugas va más allá de los límites del parque por medio de nuestra asociación civil Flora, Fauna y Cultura de México, A.C.,” comenta. “Tenemos colonias vivas de coral y estamos propagando 136 de las 140 especies de orquídeas nativas de Yucatán. Nuestra colonia de ﬂamencos comenzó con unos cuantos huevos de la Reserva de la Biósfera de Río Lagartos, pero nuestro mayor éxito es nuestra parvada de guacamayas: a la fecha son 800 que provienen de nuestras cuatro parejas originales.” Ya sea rescatando antiguas tradiciones o trabajando con comunidades indígenas para preservar la lengua, el arte y la música tradicional, la responsabilidad cultural de Xcaret es inmensa. Ha revivido la Sagrada Travesía Maya, un peregrinaje en canoa que se celebra en mayo en los santuarios de Ixchel en la isla de Cozumel,

y el Festival de Vida y Muerte que presenta las tradiciones del Día de Muertos y se celebra del 1º al 2 de noviembre. “Estoy orgulloso de mi país y busco inculcar este orgullo en nuestro personal y transmitir el mensaje de que ellos son embajadores de nuestro país y nuestra gente y debemos estar orgullosos de nuestras raíces y patrimonio,” dice Miguel. Xcaret es el principal de tres parques en la Riviera Maya desarrollados por Miguel y sus socios. Xel-Há es el acuario natural más grande del mundo y Xplor ofrece una aventura con tirolesas, vehículos anﬁbios y balsas para navegar ríos subterráneos. Miguel insinúa que hay más actividades por agregarse en ambos parques. Xperiencias, el nuevo proyecto de Xcaret, es una colección de tours que incluye un viaje a Chichén Itzá y Valladolid. Pronto se sumará a colección un viaje a Cobá-Xel-Há y a Ek Balam y Quintana Pali promete más sorpresas por venir. “Viajo con frecuencia y lo que más disfruto a mi regreso es presenciar todo lo hermoso que este gran país ofrece. Nunca dejaré de buscar nuevas formas de que nuestros visitantes descubran las muchas facetas de México.”

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underwater

Reef encounters THE YUCATÁN IS TEEMING WITH MARINE LIFE, SO WHY NOT TAKE THE PLUNGE AND EXPLORE IT, SAYS CATALINA PAT HOIL

WITH SO MUCH marine life to explore on the Yucatán’s Caribbean coast, there’s no reason to confine yourself to your beach towel. The indigo depths are home to some of the world’s most exciting sea creatures and there’s something to discover all year round, whether you’re an experienced scuba diver or you just want to snorkel and swim. Read on to find out the best times and places to discover five wildlife wonders of the ocean.

CORBIS

Whale sharks By far the biggest underwater attraction in the Mexican Caribbean is the annual whale shark season, from May until September. These gentle giants, known to reach up to 12 meters in length, are found around Isla Mujeres, Contoy and Holbox. Each one has its own unique set of spots and stripes and can live for up to 70 years. Whale sharks are an unforgettable sight as they glide along the surface, their mouths opening up to 1.5-meters wide to feed on plankton. Sea turtles You can spot green sea turtles, loggerheads and hawksbills at any time of year while snorkeling or scuba diving on the coral reefs of the Mayan Riviera. But the best time to see these endangered species is during the nesting and hatching season, from May until November, when turtles come on to the beaches at night to lay their eggs. At Royal Resorts, we move the eggs into a corral until they are ready to be hatched and released into the sea by our guests at twilight turtle release events. For an even closer look at turtles, visit Xcaret, where a variety of species at different life stages are on display.

Dolphins Sightings of dolphins on the horizon or when scuba diving are common in the waters around Cancún, but if you don’t want to leave it to chance, pay a visit to a marine park. Dolphin Discovery on Isla Mujeres has a 10,000 square-meter ocean area—the perfect haven to swim with bottlenose dolphins. Highlights include a dorsal fin tow, fin shake and even a dolphin kiss. Rays For scuba divers, the chance to see a spotted eagle is irresistible. These majestic fish—with a wingspan of nearly 2.5 meters—travel in large groups near the bottom of the ocean. The shipwrecks near Cancún provide an exciting setting to view eagle rays between November and April. Manta rays are even larger than eagle rays and can often be seen around coral reefs during August and September. Sailfish The rush of catching an Atlantic sailfish is the ultimate anglers’ prize. Between December and March, fishing trips leave Cancún in search of the sailfish that congregate to feed in schools of up to 100. They reach speeds of nearly 40kmh and weigh up to 45 kilograms. The fish also perform incredible leaps above the surface as they’re reeled in, before they are humanely released back into the ocean as part of the “catch and release” policy. Guests can book diving, fishing and snorkeling trips through Thomas More Travel at the tour desk of the resort. Alternatively, call ext. 175 or 407. There are two on-site dive centers at Royal Resorts: Solo Buceo at The Royal Sands and Dive Balam at The Royal Haciendas.

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ENCUENTROS EN EL ARRECIFE YUCATÁN ESTÁ LLENO DE VIDA MARINA,ASÍ QUE ¿POR QUÉ NO SUMERGIRSE Y EXPLORARLO?, DICE CATALINA PAT HOIL Con tanta vida marina que explorar en la costa caribeña de Yucatán, no existe razón alguna para que se resigne a su toalla de playa. Las profundidades azules son el hogar de algunas de las criaturas marinas más emocionantes del mundo y siempre hay algo que descubrir durante todo el año, ya sea que usted sea un buzo experimentado o sólo quiera usar snorkel y nadar. Siga leyendo para descubrir el mejor tiempo y lugar para conocer cinco maravillas naturales del océano. Tiburón ballena La mayor atracción marina del Caribe Mexicano es la temporada anual del tiburón ballena de mayo hasta septiembre. Estos amistosos gigantes se encuentran alrededor de Isla Mujeres, Contoy y Holbox. Cada uno tiene su propio juego de manchas y rayas y puede vivir hasta 70 años. Los tiburones ballena son un espectáculo inolvidable mientras se les ve nadar en la superﬁcie abriendo la boca hasta 1,5 metros de ancho para alimentarse de plancton.

Swim with whale sharks on the Yucatán’s Caribbean coast, and with dolphins at Dolphin Discovery on Isla Mujeres Nade con tiburones ballena en la costa caribeña de Yucatán, y con delﬁnes en Dolphin Discovery en Isla Mujeres

Tortugas marinas Usted podrá ver tortugas marinas, Caguamas o Carey durante todo el año mientras explora los arrecifes de coral de la Riviera Maya. Pero la mejor época para ver a esta especie en peligro de extinción es durante el período de desove e incubación desde mayo hasta noviembre cuando las tortugas llegan a la playa para hacer sus nidos. En Royal Resorts movemos los huevos y los ponemos dentro de un corral para cuidarlos y liberar en el mar a las pequeñas tortugas con la ayuda de nuestros huéspedes. Pero si quiere verlas más de cerca visite Xcaret, donde podrá ver una gran variedad en diferentes etapas de desarrollo.

Delfines Ver delfines en el horizonte o mientras bucea es una experiencia común en los alrededores de Cancún, pero si no quiere dejarlo al azar reserve una visita a un parque marino. Dolphin Discovery en Isla Mujeres tiene una extensión de 10,000 metros cuadrados de océano, el lugar perfecto para nadar con los delfines. Rayas para los buzos, la oportunidad de ver a la moteada raya águila es irresistible. Este majestuoso pez viaja en grupos grandes cerca del fondo del océano. Los barcos hundidos cerca de Cancún ofrecen el escenario perfecto para verlas entre noviembre y abril. Las manta rayas son más grandes que las rayas águila y pueden ser vistas alrededor del arrecife durante agosto y septiembre. Pez vela La emoción de capturar un pez vela del Atlántico es el mejor premio para los pescadores. Entre diciembre y marzo, los viajes de pesca salen de Cancún en la búsqueda del pez vela que alcanza una velocidad de hasta 40kmh y pesa hasta 45 kilos. El pez incluso realiza movimientos impresionantes sobre la superficie cuando es capturado. Después es liberado nuevamente en el océano como parte de la política “pesca y liberación”. Nuestros huéspedes pueden reservar viajes de pesca, buceo y snorkel a través de Thomas More Travel en el mostrador de tour del resort. Alternativamente puede llamar a la ext. 175 o 407. Hay dos centros de buceo internos en Royal Resorts: Solo Buceo en The Royal Sands y Dive Balam en The Royal Haciendas.

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Pampering in paradise IT DIDN’T TAKE MUCH TO PERSUADE CATHERINE GORDON TO TRY OUT THE LOMI-LOMI MASSAGE OFFERED AT THE SPA AT THE ROYAL SANDS. HERE’S WHAT SHE THOUGHT…

CONSINTIÉNDOSE EN EL PARAÍSO NO FUE NADA DIFÍCIL PERSUADIR A CATHERINE GORDON PARA QUE PROBARA EL MASAJE LOMI-LOMI EN EL SPA EN THE ROYAL SANDS

WALKING THROUGH the doors of The Spa at The Royal Sands, I am welcomed into an oasis of calm. The bright sunshine outside is replaced by gentle lighting and, after donning a robe and slippers, I follow the scent of burning aromatic oils into the spa. The surroundings are luxurious, decorated in coffee tones with soft music and tropical flowers. I am here to experience the Hawaiian art of Lomi-Lomi massage, one of the many relaxing treatments at this state-of-the-art spa, but before that I must complete a circuit of the hydrotherapy suite. It’s a hard life. First port of call is the inhalation room, which is filled with a minty aroma. After a few minutes, I pluck up the courage to move into the sauna, where I melt into a state of immediate relaxation. Luckily, there are cold showers and face towels with crushed ice to revive me when I stagger out. Once I cool down, it’s into the steam room, where I can feel my pores popping open. Then I collapse into the invigorating Jacuzzi and a sea of bubbles. Emerging from the depths, I grab one of the fluffy magnolia towels, dry off and float into the relaxation area. Here I find a group of serene ladies sitting with their feet up, smiling contentedly. I try one of the Zen mango

AL CRUZAR LA PUERTA del Spa en The Royal Sands, soy bienvenida por un oasis de calma. La luz brillante de afuera es reemplazada por luces tenues y, después de vestir una bata y calzar pantuﬂas, sigo el perfume de los aceites esenciales ardiendo dentro del spa. El entorno es lujoso, con música suave y ﬂores tropicales. Estoy aquí para experimentar el arte hawaiano del masaje LomiLomi, uno de los muchos tratamientos relajantes de este spa fuera de serie, pero antes de eso debo completar un circuito en la suite de hidroterapia. La primera escala es el cuarto de inhalación que está lleno de un aroma mentolado. Pocos minutos después, logro reunir las fuerzas para ir al sauna, donde me derrito en un estado de relajación.

The Spa at the Royal Sands, ﬁlled with the scent of aromatic oils and candles, offers an oasis of calm The Spa en The Royal Sands, lleno de aromáticos aceites esenciales y velas, ofrece un oasis de tranquilidad

Afortunadamente, hay duchas frías y toallas faciales con hielo quebrado para revivirme. Una vez que logro refrescarme, dentro del cuarto de vapor siento cómo se abren mis poros antes de colapsarse cuando me sumerjo en el jacuzzi. Saliendo de las profundidades, tomo una de las esponjadas toallas de magnolia, me seco y ﬂoto hasta el área de relajación. Aquí encuentro un grupo de serenas damas sentadas con los pies en alto sonriendo tranquilamente. Pruebo uno de los tés Zen de mango que me ofrecen, mientras las demás disfrutan del agua de limón o saborean frutas. No pasa mucho tiempo antes de que mi terapista Magy me guíe a través del laberinto de suites de tratamiento donde recibiré mi masaje.

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teas on offer, while others enjoy the fresh lemon water or munch on bananas from the fruit bowl. It’s not long before my therapist Magy leads me deeper into the labyrinth of treatment suites where I will have my massage. I enter the Imix room, filled with flickering amber lights and adorned with bamboo and starfish. I disrobe and recline on the wooden bed, swaddled in fresh sheets and towels. Magy places her reassuring hands on my back and gently rubs oil into my skin. The Lomi-Lomi is the traditional massage of Hawaii, offering a holistic treatment for the body and mind. Practitioners use their palms, forearms and elbows in slow, firm, rotating movements to release tension from deep inside the muscles. I choose the champagne massage oil, from a selection that includes cinnamon, sandalwood and bamboo.

“Magy whispers that the massage is complete. I’m more relaxed than I’ve felt in years” I am in experienced hands—Magy has been giving massages for nearly 10 years. She is soon working her magic on my tense shoulders. Her thumbs move up and down my spine, then she uses her elbows to get rid of any knots. She interlinks her hands and uses the weight of her upper body to deliver ﬁrm, circular movements. My arms are already hanging loosely over the sides of the bed as Magy attends to the palms of my hands. My arms are gently but ﬁrmly pulled and stretched, my legs raised and my head rotated from side to side. The only sound I hear is the pump of the massage oil bottle, as the soles of my feet are pummelled back into life. The LomiLomi is like no other massage I have experienced; I feel myself sinking into the bed and falling into a deep sleep. Magy softly asks me to turn over. She pushes her arms beneath my back, using the weight of my body to deliver pressure. I feel her hands making soothing circles around my belly. My hand is being held and rotated and my body has given up all resistance. After an hour and 20 minutes, Magy picks up my entire upper body and stretches it one way, then the other. I feel like all my muscles have been revived—all the usual aches and pains have been erased. Magy tiptoes around me and whispers that the massage is complete. It’s several minutes before I can even think about rising from the bed and returning to reality. I feel more relaxed than I’ve felt in years and ready for anything. To book a massage or beauty treatment at The Spa at The Royal Sands, The Royal Haciendas or The Royal Caribbean, call ext. 179. Beach and villa massages are available at all six resorts. For details of the full menu of relaxing, rejuvenating and revitalising services, please visit our website at www.royalresorts.com.

The Lomi-Lomi is the traditional massage of Hawaii, offering a holistic treatment for the body and mind El Lomi-Lomi es el masaje tradicional de Hawái, ofrece un tratamiento holístico para el cuerpo y la mente

Entro en el salón Imix, iluminado con tenues luces y adornado con bambú y estrellas de mar. Me quito la bata y me recuesto sobre la cama de madera rodeada de sábanas y toallas frescas. Magy pone sus manos expertas sobre mi espalda para llenar de aceite mi piel. El Lomi-Lomi es el masaje tradicional de Hawái, y ofrece un tratamiento holístico para el cuerpo y la mente. Quienes lo practican usan las palmas de las manos, los antebrazos y los codos en rotaciones ﬁrmes y lentas para liberar la tensión muscular. Yo elegí el aceite para masaje de champaña, de una selección que incluye canela, sándalo y bambú. Estoy en manos experimentadas, Magy ha sido masajista por casi 10 años. Sus pulgares suben y bajan por mi espalda, entonces ella usa sus codos para asegurarse de que no queden nudos. Mis brazos ya cuelgan suavemente mientras Magy se concentra en la palma de mis manos. Mis brazos son estirados suavemente pero con ﬁrmeza, mis piernas elevadas y mi cabeza girada de lado

a lado. Lo único que oigo es la bomba de la botella del aceite mientras las plantas de mis pies vuelven a la vida. El Lomi-Lomi no es como ningún masaje que haya experimentado antes; siento que me hundo en la cama y que caigo en un sueño profundo.

suavemente que el masaje ha terminado. Tienen que pasar varios minutos para que empiece a pensar en levantarme de la cama y volver a la realidad. Me siento más relajada de lo que me he sentido en años y estoy lista para cualquier cosa.

“Magy me susurra al oído que el masaje ha terminado. Estoy más relajada de lo que he estado en años” Magy me pide amablemente que me dé la vuelta. Ella empuja sus brazos bajo mi espalda, usando el peso de mi cuerpo para obtener presión. Siento sus manos hacer círculos relajantes alrededor de mi ombligo. Mi mano es sostenida en el aire y girada; mi cuerpo ya no se resiste. Después de una hora y 20 minutos, Magy levanta toda la parte superior de mi cuerpo y la estira hacia un lado y hacia otro. Siento como si todos mis músculos hubieran sido revividos, todos los dolores han sido borrados. Magy camina de puntillas y me dice

Para reservar un masaje o un tratamiento de belleza en The Spa de The Royal Sands, The Royal Haciendas o The Royal Caribbean, llame a la ext. 179. Los masajes en las villas y en la playa están disponibles en los 6 resorts. Para más información sobre el menú de servicios relajantes, rejuvenecedores o revitalizantes por favor visite nuestro sitio web www.royalresorts.com

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our people

Meet the team THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD TO ENSURE THAT YOUR ROYAL RESORTS VACATION IS UNFORGETTABLE YEAR AFTER YEAR, FROM THE MOMENT YOU MAKE YOUR BOOKING THROUGH TO YOUR ARRIVAL AND THE TIME YOU HAVE TO GO HOME LE PRESENTAMOS AL EQUIPO QUE SE ASEGURA DE QUE SUS VACACIONES EN ROYAL RESORTS SEAN INOLVIDABLES AÑO TRAS AÑO, DESDE QUE HACE SU RESERVACIÓN HASTA SU LLEGADA,ASÍ COMO DURANTE SU ESTANCIA HASTA EL MOMENTO QUE REGRESA A CASA

4 3

7 6

VINCENT RIBON/ZASILSTUDIO.COM

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Marketing and Sales Management Team El equipo de Gerentes de Ventas y Marketing 1 David Vázquez Santiago, Grand Residences Sales Specialist

6 Rafael “Fayo” Pardiño, Personal Concierge Team Leader

11 Laurel Jean Gonyaw, Advance Concierge Program Manager

16 Jorge López, Guest Relations Manager

Not pictured: Franklin Williams, Marketing

2 Yuri Parra, Sales Manager

7 Enrique Adame, Personal Concierge Team Leader

12 Christine Leigh Jewkes, Personal Concierge Team Leader

17 Rafael “Martin” Alcalá, Sales Manager, The Royal Cancun–Club Internacional de Cancun

Diane Zanuzoski, Grand Residences Sales Specialist

8 Nathan Bracho, Sales Manager

13 Hada Onofre, Sales Administrator

9 Roger Sherman, Executive Team Sales Manager

14 Jorge Portillo, Administration Manager

10 Mark Carney, Marketing and Sales Director

15 Victor Rivera, Personal Concierge Team Leader Manager

3 Jose Antonio “Pepe” Chulim, Personal Concierge Team Leader 4 Salvador Román, Sales Manager 5 David Christopher “Justin” García, Personal Concierge Team Leader

18 Joel Pinero, Sales Training Manager 19 Joanna Hill, Sales Human Resources Manager

19 11 12

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finances

General Introduction ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETINGS 18-22 OCTOBER, 2010 Advisory Council members for The Royal Mayan, The Royal Caribbean, The Royal Islander and The Royal Sands attended a general meeting on Monday, October 28, 2010 in the conference room at The Royal Mayan. They were welcomed by Royal Resorts’ Corporate Operations Manager Armando Millet, Jr., with a special welcome to new Council members, Directors Richard Sutton, Armando Millet, Sr. and Norman Carpenter, and returning Council member Mary Lou Patel who was unable to attend the 2009 session. Chief Financial Officer Fernando López addressed the combined effect of a strong peso and rising inflation and their adverse impact on 2010 expenses. He explained the selection of the exchange rate and inflation percentage used to prepare the 2011 budgets, the two most important variables affecting the cost of resort operations. He emphasized that the increases in Royal Resorts Club Service Fees remain approximately 9% below the cumulative five-year timeshare industry average. He announced that the Employee Emergency Relief Fund, established five

years ago to assist needy employees, has grown to $771,378. Mr. López introduced the guest speaker, Carolina Cárdenas Sosa, most recently Undersecretary for Tourism Planning in Mexico. Señora Cárdenas’ achievements include serving as Secretary of Tourism for the State of the Yucatán; creation of the 2007-2012 Tourism Sector Program for FONATUR, SECTUR and the Council of Tourism Promotion of Mexico; and responsibility for transforming Puerto Progreso into a cruise ship port. She has also founded several charities to aid children with life-threatening illnesses. Sra. Cárdenas gave a compelling presentation reassuring Council members that Cancún is a safe travel destination despite media coverage of drug-related incidents in other parts of Mexico. Using Brookings Institute data, she stated that although Mexico has an annual homicide rate of 11.5 per 100,000 people, Washington, DC has 31/100,000 and New Orleans 95/100,000. Using maps of Mexico and the United States, she pointed out that distances between the border towns of Mexico and Cancún are almost

identical to those between Los Angeles - Miami and San Francisco - New York. She asked whether anyone would cancel a trip to Miami or New York if homicide rates rose on the other side of the country. Assuming a negative response, the question became would one cancel a trip to Cancún because of violence in Tijuana. Mexico is the No. 1 foreign destination for US tourists – 19.5M/year (source: US Dept of Commerce). From 19892007, a total of 1,033,029 vacation units were purchased in Mexico and airline passengers arriving in Cancún climbed from 500,000 in 1988 to 4.5M in 2008. Currently, 19 US airlines offer non-stop ﬂights to Cancún from 39 cities. In conclusion, Sra Cárdenas linked the end of the US recession in 2009 to increased US travel to Mexico and in particular Cancún. Mark Carney, Marketing and Sales Director, afﬁrmed that statistics show Cancún to be one of the safest cities in the world. He also mentioned that the website www.tripadvisor.com ranks The Royal Sands as the No. 1 Family Hotel in Cancún, in the Caribbean & Mexico category.

NOTES RELATING TO THE ADVISORY REPORTS Budget Assumptions Based on economic forecasts prepared by various Mexican and US financial sources, assumptions used to prepare the 2011 budgets were an inflation rate of 3.9% and an average exchange rate of $12.45/US$1. Mandatory wage increases for union employees are also taken into account in budget preparation. Water and Sewage Budgets for 2010 were based on anticipated metered water and sewage charges. Meters were partially installed but the local water board reverted to charging a percentage of consumption. As a result, the water costs paid in 2010 were less than budgeted. The cost of water was further reduced by the efficiency of the reverse osmosis plants, which have saved $2.4M since their installation in 2004.The water and

sewage budget for 2011 is based on a percentage of consumption. Electricity The cost of electricity continues to rise. Non-negotiable rates are set by the Mexican government. Energy saving measures are being used extensively throughout the resorts. For budgeting purposes, the cost of electricity reflects anticipated rate increases. Taxes One percent increases in both the occupancy tax and value added tax (VAT) effective since January 2010, coupled with a strong peso and inflation, resulted in a higher than anticipated tax burden. Property taxes have also increased; however, there is a potential savings if a discount for early payment is permitted.

Advisory Councils Although The Royal Haciendas and The Royal Cancun do not yet have Advisory Councils, the financial statements for the two resorts are included in this section for the benefit of members. If you are interested in serving on one of the Councils, please check the Members Area of www.royalresorts.com for further information.

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finances

Introducción General REUNIONES DEL CONSEJO CONSULTIVO, 18 AL 22 DE OCTUBRE DE 2010 Miembros del Consejo Consultivo de The Royal Mayan, The Royal Caribbean, The Royal Islander y The Royal Sands asistieron a la junta general el lunes, 28 de octubre del 2010 en la sala de juntas de The Royal Mayan. Armando Millet Vales, Gerente Corporativo de Operaciones, les dio la bienvenida, en especial a los nuevos miembros, Richard Sutton, Armando Millet Molina y Norman Carpenter, también directores de le empresa, así como a Mary Lou Patel, quien no pudo asistir a la sesión en 2009. Fernando López, Director de Finanzas, habló sobre el efecto combinado de la fuerza del peso y el incremento en la inﬂación y su impacto adverso en los gastos del 2010. Explicó el motivo por el cual se eligieron el tipo de cambio y porcentaje de inﬂación que se utilizaron para preparar los presupuestos del 2011, ya que éstas fueron las variables más importantes que afectaron el costo de operaciones de los desarrollos. Enfatizó que los incrementos en las Cuotas de Mantenimiento de Royal Resorts siguen

estando aproximadamente un 9% por debajo del acumulado promedio en la industria del tiempo compartido en los últimos cinco años. Anunció que el Fondo de Emergencia para Empleados, que se estableció hace cinco años para ayudar a los empleados necesitados, es de $771,378. El Lic. López presentó a Carolina Cárdenas Sosa, conferencista invitada que fue Subsecretaria de Planeación de Turismo en México. Sus logros también incluyen haber sido Secretaria de Turismo para el estado de Yucatán; la creación del Programa del Sector Turístico de FONATUR, SECTUR y el Consejo de Promoción Turística en México de 2007 al 2012; y la responsabilidad de transformar el puerto de Progreso en un puerto para cruceros. También fundó varias asociaciones de caridad para ayudar a niños con enfermedades terminales.

compradas en México y se registraron 4.5M de llegadas de pasajeros aéreos a Cancún en 2008 comparados con sólo 500,000 en 1988. Actualmente, 19 líneas aéreas estadounidenses ofrecen vuelos sin escala a Cancún desde 39 distintas ciudades. En conclusión, la Sra. Cárdenas relacionó el fin de la recesión en Estados Unidos en 2009 con el incremento de viajeros de ese país hacia México, particularmente a Cancún. Mark Carney, Director de Ventas y Marketing, afirmó que las estadísticas muestran que Cancún es una de las ciudades más seguras del mundo. También menciono que el sitio www. tripadvisor.com califica a The Royal Sands como uno de los mejores hoteles para familias en Cancún en la categoría de México y el Caribe.

México es el destino extranjero más popular entre los turistas estadounidenses – 19.5M/año (fuente: Depto. de Comercio de EU). De 1989 a 2007, un total de 1,033,029 unidades vacacionales fueron

NOTAS RELACIONADAS CON LOS REPORTES Supuestos del presupuesto En base a pronósticos económicos de varias fuentes financieras de México y los Estados Unidos, los supuestos que se utilizaron para preparar los presupuestos del 2011 son: una tasa de inflación del 3.9% y un tipo de cambio promedio de $12.45/US$1. El aumento salarial obligatorio para empleados sindicalizados también está contemplado dentro del presupuesto. Agua y tratamiento de aguas negras Los presupuestos del 2010 se basaron en los cargos anticipados por consumo de agua y tratamiento de aguas negras. Se instalaron una parte de los medidores pero la comisión de agua optó por cobrar un porcentaje del consumo. Como resultado, los costos de consumo de agua en 2010 fueron menores a los presupuestados. El costo del agua se redujo aún más por la

eficiencia de las plantas de ósmosis inversa, que han ahorrado $2.4M desde que se comenzaron a usar en el 2004. El presupuesto de agua y tratamiento de aguas negras del 2011 se basa en un porcentaje de consumo.

impuestos mayor a la anticipada. El impuesto predial también incrementó, sin embargo hay una oportunidad de ahorro en caso de que se ofrezca un descuento por pronto pago.

Electricidad El costo de electricidad continúa incrementando. El gobierno mexicano establece tarifas nonegociables. Se están tomando medidas para ahorro de energía en todos los desarrollos. Para efectos del presupuesto, el costo de electricidad refleja el incremento esperado en tarifas.

Consejos Consultivos Aunque The Royal Haciendas y The Royal Cancun aún no cuentan con Consejos Consultivos, los reportes financieros de ambos desarrollos se incluyen en esta sección para el conocimiento de sus Miembros. Si está interesado en ser parte de los Consejos, por favor consulte la sección de Miembros de www.royalresorts.com para más información.

Impuestos El incremento del 1% en el impuesto a la ocupación y el IVA, efectivo desde enero de 2010, aunado a la fuerza del peso y la inflación, resultó en una carga por concepto de

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finances ANNUAL MEETING REPORT OF ADVISORY COUNCIL 22 October, 2010.

THE ROYAL MAYAN

Advisory Council Members: Barbara Kniff,William Krumrey, Clyde Lawnicki, Dewey Lockwood and George Marczewski

The annual meeting of the Advisory Council for The Royal Mayan was held in Cancún on Friday, October 22, 2010. All Council members were present. Corporate Operations Manager (COM) Armando Millet took Council members on a brief tour of the resort which included the laundry and the machine house to see the boilers that provide hot water for the pools and villas and the reverse osmosis equipment. Council members visited a villa to see items that were approved for 2010, including newly upholstered dining room chairs, new artwork, the 37” LCD TV in the master bedroom; new stove, dishwasher and microwave; and larger bar refrigerator, microwave and cabinet for the villa B-side. After the resort tour, Council members met with Chief Financial Officer Fernando López, COM Millet and members of their staff in the conference room at The Royal Mayan. CFO López explained the 2011 financial statements in detail. The Income Statement Comparison accompanying this summary shows budgeted and actual (forecast) income and expenses as of September 30, 2010 with estimates to the end of the year. The 2011 budget unanimously approved by the Advisory Council is also shown. In 2010 the combination of a strong peso, inflation and increases in taxes negatively impacted the expenses of resort operations. These variables are outside the control of resort management; however, conservative use of resources has resulted in completion of all the improvements approved by Council in 2009 with the exception of the walkway tile floor installation on level 6 of 11. The budget compilation process begins with preliminary budgets denominated in pesos submitted by each department to COM Millet. Once approved, a collective budget is prepared and converted to US dollars using a projected average exchange rate. The 2010 budget was based on a projected average exchange rate of $13.54/US$1. However, the actual average is approximately $12.52/US$1 resulting in a currency exchange loss of $472,118 US. Repairs and replacement items approved by Council in 2009 and completed in 2010 include: COMPLETED IN 2010 Resort Improvements

• Excavation and construction of the trench to eliminate leaks – Building F (part 1 of 2) • Change one set of PVC ﬁll and ﬁberglass casing for cooling tower • Install heat interchange for chiller #3 • Change two electromagnetic switches • Repair cosmetic cracks in buildings and public areas

Villa Improvements

• Upgrade all entry door locks with proximity card reader microchips (RFID) (Still pending due to vendor supply problems)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Reupholster 150 dining room chairs Purchase 81 37” LCD TVs Purchase 73 sets of art work Replace marble ﬂoors in 10 villas with ceramic tile and perform corrective maintenance on those villas Purchase 50 refrigerators Purchase 50 dishwashers Purchase 50 kitchen stoves Purchase 50 microwave ovens Purchase 40 microwave ovens for villa B-sides Replace 61 safes Purchase 84 sets of lamps for penthouses Change 10 false ceiling tees Replace fan and coil sets in three villas Repair cosmetic cracks in walls in ﬁve villas Corrective maintenance in 20 villas Replace aluminum sliding doors in 10 villas Repair 12 villa balconies

Hurricane Related Items

• • • • • •

Purchase 44 living room sofas Purchase 22 small bedroom tables Purchase 10 small living room tables Install roof tiles on sections of buildings J & K Obtain resort hurricane shelter certiﬁcate Purchase Lexan window protection panels for the upper lobby area

APPROVED FOR 2011 Resort Improvements

• • • • • • •

Excavate trench for Building F (part 2 of 2) Install ozone equipment for swimming pools Repair service elevator motor Reverse osmosis plant repairs Repair cosmetic cracks in buildings and public areas Replace an electric motor in the cooling tower Install security cameras to cover various resort areas and sections of the beach (shared expense)

Villa Improvements • • • • • •

• • • • •

Corrective maintenance in 30 villas Purchase 65 LCD 37” TVs (part 2 of 3) Replace 10 marble ﬂoors with ceramic tile Replace 10 aluminum sliding doors Change 10 false ceiling tees Purchase 160 cabinets for microwave ovens and bar refrigerators for villa B sides Repair wall cracks in 10 villas Purchase 75 curtain sets Replace fan and coil sets in three villas Repair 7 villa balconies Replace tile on 4 villa terraces

Hurricane Related Items

On the accompanying budget comparison, water and sewage, electricity and taxes show significant increases (see General Notes p. 62). Other notable increases include Housekeeping Services – Hiring of stewards to assist supervisors so additional time can be devoted to inspection and supervision. Many replacement items were reassigned from the Fixed Assets & Major Repairs account to the Housekeeping Services account, this is why you will note a significant decrease in Major Repairs and a significant increase in Housekeeping Services. Laundry – Shared cost of replacing a 26-year-old commercial washer. Sports Services – New equipment: Catalina sailboats and kayaks. As shown on the accompanying statement,The Royal Mayan receives income from sources other than Club Service Fees. Interest earned on bank accounts, guest laundry services, late checkout fees, kitchen cleaning fee and other fees, and commissions on telephone use are credited to income accounts. The Royal Mayan is in an excellent financial position with a predicted Club Cash Reserve of US$2,120,382 and a Hurricane Cash Reserve of US$1,461,305 at the end of 2010. The resort’s net worth was $3,250,034 as of 30 September, 2010. With a goal of maintaining a US$1.5M cash reserve and continuing to upgrade service in keeping with five-star standards, the Advisory Council unanimously approved the budget as presented with a nominal 4% increase in the Club Service Fee for 2011. Statements sent to Members will show the following breakdown:

CSF Taxes

Standard US$893.17 40.83 US$934.00

Presidential US$1,432.17 40.83 US$1,473.00

In private session, the Advisory Council selected Larry Hildebrandt as the new Advisory Council member to succeed retiring member Barbara Kniff. In closing, the Advisory Council thanked management for maintaining The Royal Mayan at the highest levels of excellence while keeping the Club Service Fee lower than similar resorts in Cancún and elsewhere. Council is confident that 2011 will be another successful year for The Royal Mayan and Royal Resorts.

• Obtain hurricane shelter permit from Civil Defense Agency • Repair beach palapas • Purchase of Lexan window protection panels for the Social Activities area • Install roof tiles – Buildings H, L and M • Install hurricane protection for the electrical substation

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THE ROYAL MAYAN 2010

10,200

NUMBER OF INTERVALS

INCOME STATEMENT COMPARISON BETWEEN 2010 AND 2011 (US$) % DIF.

DESCRIPTION

Cost Interval Std & Presid.

$919

2011

% DIF. VS

BUDGET

FORECAST â&#x20AC;&#x2122;10

VERTICAL

BUDGET

FORECAST

9,120,913 61,200 9,909 9,192,022

9,120,913 61,200 6,303 9,188,416

0.0% 0.0% -36.4% 0.0%

18,617 13,298 31,915 9,223,937

18,618 14,490 33,108 9,221,524

0.0% 9.0% 3.7% 0.0%

909,837 480,451 924,419 823,353 343,573 245,599 269,313 210,269 957,789 100,065 66,893 55,117 83,782 39,409 134,617 58,093 5,702,578

906,250 527,616 915,395 885,676 249,053 261,453 289,550 176,286 972,071 107,261 61,978 48,663 74,802 39,335 175,007 46,871 5,737,268

-0.4% 9.8% -1.0% 7.6% -27.5% 6.5% 7.5% -16.2% 1.5% 7.2% -7.3% -11.7% -10.7% -0.2% 30.0% -19.3% 0.6%

829,174 388,398 177,682 100,008 40,945 62,008 25,903 21,970 10,000 266,231 1,922,318 1,599,041

829,174 396,454 162,787 98,209 42,009 63,617 25,441 20,411 11,499 270,080 1,919,682 1,564,574

0.0% 2.1% -8.4% -1.8% 2.6% 2.6% -1.8% -7.1% 15.0% 1.4% -0.1% -2.2%

(21,304) 115,000 93,695 1,505,346

(19,552) 97,233 77,682 1,486,893

-8.2% -15.4% -17.1% -1.2%

153,000 458,859 89,453 91,772 793,083 712,263 712,263

174,279 531,350 83,483 144,914 934,026 552,866 (472,118) 1,024,984

13.9% 15.8% -6.7% 57.9% 17.8% -22.4% 0.0% 43.9%

(464,000) 248,263

(234,000) 318,866

Non cash provision for Uncollectible Accounts Net Income After Provision

(360,000) 165,618

2,983,015 825,439 2,304,578

2,944,809 1,461,305 2,120,382

Accounting Reserves Hurricane Reserve Club Cash Reserve

3,110,428 1,476,246 1,737,556

$1458 $/INTVAL.

GENERAL REVENUE Dues Income Taxes Other Subtotal RESORT REVENUE Guest Laundry Other Income Subtotal Total Revenue RESORT OPERATING EXPENSES Housekeeping Services Housekeeping Maintenance Electricity Maintenance & Machine House Water & Sewage Security Front desk Int. & Guest Laundry Fixed Assets & Major Repairs Landscaping Sport Services Telephone (Net Result) Social Activities Operational Services Resort Insurance Courtesy Shuttle Total Operating Expenses GENERAL & ADMIN EXPENSES Management Fee Corporate Services Accounting Administration Training Human Resources Other Expenses Auditing Printing & Miscellaneous Payments Membership Services Total General & Admin Expenses Operating Income FINANCIAL EXPENSES/INCOME Interest Earned Credit Card Commission CSF Total Financial Expenses/Income Income Before Taxes TAXES Taxes V. A. Tax Non recoverable Property Tax & Other Exp. Occupancy Tax Total Taxes Net Income Peso Exchange Adjustment Net Income Operation

9,401,289 153,000 6,555 9,560,844

3.1% 150.0% 4.0% 4.1%

98.0% 1.6% 0.1% 99.7%

921.70 15.00 0.64 937.34

19,272 9,636 28,907 9,589,751

3.5% -33.5% -12.7% 4.0%

0.2% 0.1% 0.3% 100.0%

1.89 0.94 2.83 940.17

993,770 640,941 1,009,242 940,983 278,077 289,708 322,620 234,927 712,012 126,625 76,581 45,589 85,895 41,537 177,048 49,383 6,024,939

9.7% 21.5% 10.3% 6.2% 11.7% 10.8% 11.4% 33.3% -26.8% 18.1% 23.6% -6.3% 14.8% 5.6% 1.2% 5.4% 5.0%

10.4% 6.7% 10.5% 9.8% 2.9% 3.0% 3.4% 2.4% 7.4% 1.3% 0.8% 0.5% 0.9% 0.4% 1.8% 0.5% 62.8%

97.43 62.84 98.95 92.25 27.26 28.40 31.63 23.03 69.81 12.41 7.51 4.47 8.42 4.07 17.36 4.84 590.68

854,663 403,780 167,337 106,966 43,250 65,416 25,339 21,076 12,900 288,115 1,988,841 1,575,972

3.1% 1.8% 2.8% 8.9% 3.0% 2.8% -0.4% 3.3% 12.2% 6.7% 3.6% 0.7%

8.9% 4.2% 1.7% 1.1% 0.5% 0.7% 0.3% 0.2% 0.1% 3.0% 20.7% 16.4%

83.79 39.59 16.41 10.49 4.24 6.41 2.48 2.07 1.26 28.25 194.98 154.51

(23,298) 97,953 74,656 1,501,316

19.2% 0.7% -3.9% 1.0%

-0.2% 1.0% 0.8% 15.7%

-2.28 9.60 7.32 147.19

153,000 559,219 110,965 152,514 975,698 525,618

-12.2% 5.2% 32.9% 5.2% 4.5% -4.9% 100.0% -48.7%

1.6% 5.8% 1.2% 1.6% 10.2% 5.5% 0.0% 5.5%

15.00 54.83 10.88 14.95 95.66 51.53 0.00 51.53

525,618

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finances ANNUAL MEETING REPORT OF ADVISORY COUNCIL 21 October, 2010.

THE ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Advisory Council Members: Leslie Bowman, Brenda Harrington, Merv Odenbaugh,Tom Sexton and Alternate Dr.William Nitch.

The annual meeting of the Advisory Council for The Royal Caribbean was held in Cancún on Thursday, October 21, 2010. All Council members were present. Corporate Operations Manager (COM) Armando Millet took Council members on a brief tour of the resort including the machine house to see the boilers that provide hot water for the pools and villas and the reverse osmosis equipment. Council members visited a villa to see items that were approved for 2010, including a new center wall unit with a 37” LCD TV in the living room; new stove, dishwasher and microwave; and larger bar refrigerator, microwave and drawer for the lock off. The balcony furniture has been weighted for protection from the wind. After the resort tour, Council members met with Chief Financial Officer Fernando López, COM Millet and members of their staff in the conference room at The Royal Mayan. CFO López explained the 2011 financial statements in detail. The Income Statement Comparison accompanying this summary shows budgeted and actual (forecast) income and expenses as of September 30, 2010 with estimates to the end of the year. The 2011 budget unanimously approved by the Advisory Council is also shown. In 2010 the combination of a strong peso, inflation and increases in taxes negatively impacted the expenses of resort operations. These variables are outside the control of resort management; however, conservative use of resources has resulted in completion of all the improvements approved by Council in 2009 with the exception of wall mounts for the master bedroom and lock off televisions. The budget compilation process begins with preliminary budgets denominated in pesos submitted by each department to COM Millet. Once approved, a collective budget is prepared and converted to US dollars using a projected average exchange rate. The 2010 budget was based on a projected average exchange rate of $13.54/US$1. However, the actual average is approximately $12.52/US$1 resulting in a currency exchange loss of $472,023 US. Repairs and replacement items approved by Council in 2009 and completed in 2010 include: COMPLETED IN 2010 Resort Improvements • • • • • •

Construct a bridge connecting the pool area and sundeck Install heat interchange in chiller #3 Purchase two metal tanks for hot water storage Repair cosmetic cracks in various buildings and public areas Tile the Level 8 walkway (phase 8 of 12) Construction of a ramp for handicapped access from the restaurant and pool deck to the lobby

Villa Improvements

• Purchase 138 center wall units with a larger section to accommodate a 37" LCD TV (part 2 of 2) • Purchase 207 37” LCD TVs for living rooms • Purchase 207 32” LCD TVs for the master bedrooms

• Change tees in false ceilings in 10 villas • Replace tile on terrace of four villas

Hurricane Related Items

• Obtain hurricane shelter permit from Civil Defense Agency • Install Lexan window protection panels for the Social Activities area • Install hurricane protection curtains for electrical substations B, C and F • Repair of beach palapas

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Purchase 207 32” LCD TVs for the lock offs Replace marble ﬂoors with ceramic tile in 10 villas Purchase curved shower rods for all villas Purchase 30 art work sets Purchase 25 dishwashers, 25 stoves and 25 refrigerators Purchase 75 microwave ovens for kitchens and 215 microwave ovens for lock offs Purchase 230 irons and ironing boards for lock offs Purchase 90 replacement safes Purchase 100 MP3 sound systems Replace aluminum sliding door in 10 villas Corrective maintenance in 20 villas Repair cosmetic cracks in villa walls Replace fan and coil sets in three villas Change 10 false ceiling tees

Hurricane Related Items

• Obtain hurricane shelter permit from Civil Defense Agency • Purchase 44 side tables • Purchase Lexan window protection panels for gym and basement windows

APPROVED FOR 2011 Resort Improvements

• • • • • • • • • •

Replace one cooling tower Replace all electrical wiring in service elevators Reverse osmosis plant repairs Installation of ozone equipment for the swimming pools Repair cosmetic cracks in buildings and public areas Apply water seal to sundeck and replace sundeck ﬂoor covering Install Level 9 walkway tile Partial lobby renovation Excavate trench between buildings D and E Install security cameras to cover various resort areas and sections of the beach (shared expense)

Villa Improvements

• • • • • • • •

Corrective maintenance in 30 villas Remodel bathrooms in 10 villas Replace aluminum sliding doors in 10 villas Replace marble ﬂoors in ten villas with ceramic tile Repair cosmetic cracks in walls of 10 villas Purchase 75 curtain sets for living rooms Purchase 50 table lamp sets (7 per set) Replace fan and coil sets in six villas

On the accompanying budget comparison, water and sewage, electricity and taxes show significant increases (see General Notes, p. 62). Other notable increases include Sports Services – Purchase of a Catalina sailboat and kayaks. Housekeeping Services – Hiring of stewards to assist supervisors so additional time can be devoted to inspection and supervision. Many replacement items were reassigned from the Fixed Assets & Major Repairs account to the Housekeeping Services account, this is why you will note a significant decrease in Major Repairs and a significant increase in Housekeeping Services. Laundry – Shared cost of replacing a 26-year-old commercial washer. As shown on the accompanying statement,The Royal Caribbean receives income from sources other than Club Service Fees. Interest earned on bank accounts, guest laundry services, late checkout fees, kitchen cleaning fee and other fees, and commissions on telephone use are credited to income accounts. The Royal Caribbean is in an excellent financial position with a predicted Club Cash Reserve of US$2,392, 108 and a Hurricane Cash Reserve of US$2,038,369 at the end of 2010. The resort’s net worth was $3,225,774 of 30 September, 2010. With a goal of maintaining a US$1.5M cash reserve and continuing to upgrade service in keeping with five-star standards, the Advisory Council unanimously approved the budget as presented with a nominal 4.7% increase in the Club Service Fee for 2011, the first increase in two years. Statements sent to Members will show the following breakdown: CSF Taxes

US$858.39 50.61 US$909.00

In private session, the Advisory Council selected Dr. William Nitch as the new Advisory Council member. In closing, the Advisory Council thanked management for maintaining The Royal Caribbean at the highest levels of excellence while keeping the Club Service Fee lower than similar resorts in Cancún and elsewhere. Council is confident that 2011 will be another successful year for The Royal Caribbean and Royal Resorts.

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THE ROYAL CARIBBEAN 2010

10,557

NUMBER OF INTERVALS

INCOME STATEMENT COMPARISON BETWEEN 2010 AND 2011 (US$) % DIF.

DESCRIPTION

Cost Interval Std

$885

2011

% DIF. VS

BUDGET

FORECAST â&#x20AC;&#x2122;10

VERTICAL

BUDGET

FORECAST

9,095,806 63,342 15,148 9,174,296

9,095,806 63,342 8,867 9,168,015

0.0% 0.0% -41.5% -0.1%

22,163 15,071 37,235 9,211,530

22,743 16,344 39,088 9,207,102

2.6% 8.4% 5.0% 0.0%

892,348 458,926 934,971 853,400 348,831 251,881 277,988 220,882 1,332,312 138,556 68,659 52,901 65,506 39,409 37,846 55,327 6,029,742

908,613 480,072 976,545 934,155 257,189 262,048 296,052 197,199 1,220,965 147,399 64,740 51,454 62,994 39,383 50,187 47,893 5,996,890

1.8% 4.6% 4.4% 9.5% -26.3% 4.0% 6.5% -10.7% -8.4% 6.4% -5.7% -2.7% -3.8% -0.1% 32.6% -13.4% -0.5%

826,891 376,948 152,428 95,745 47,335 71,504 23,332 20,707 10,000 278,998 1,903,889 1,277,899

826,891 384,594 157,682 93,671 47,967 67,749 22,718 19,462 17,131 282,888 1,920,753 1,289,459

0.0% 2.0% 3.4% -2.2% 1.3% -5.3% -2.6% -6.0% 71.3% 1.4% 0.9% 0.9%

-27,344 116,335 88,991 1,188,908

-21,307 102,187 80,881 1,208,578

-22.1% -12.2% -9.1% 1.7%

63,342 466,391 113,653 93,278 736,664 452,244 452,244

171,204 522,236 106,123 137,993 937,557 271,022 (472,023) 743,045

170.3% 12.0% -6.6% 47.9% 27.3% -40.1% 0.0% 64.3%

(460,000) (7,756)

(180,000) 91,022

Non cash provision for Uncollectible Accounts Net Income After Provision

(270,000) (72,244)

3,029,259 2,000,484 2,090,945

3,220,186 2,038,369 2,392,108

Accounting Reserves Hurricane Reserve Club Cash Reserve

3,147,942 2,004,620 1,843,600

$/INTVAL.

GENERAL REVENUE Dues Income Taxes Other Subtotal RESORT REVENUE Guest Laundry Other Income Subtotal Total Revenue RESORT OPERATING EXPENSES Housekeeping Services Housekeeping Maintenance Electricity Maintenance & Machine House Water & Sewage Security Front desk Int. & Guest Laundry Fixed Assets & Major Repairs Landscaping Sport Services Telephone (Net Result) Social Activities Operational Services Resort Insurance Courtesy Shuttle Total Operating Expenses GENERAL & ADMIN EXPENSES Management Fee Corporate Services Accounting Administration Training Human Resources Other Expenses Auditing Printing & Miscellaneous Payments Membership Services Total General & Admin Expenses Operating Income FINANCIAL EXPENSES/INCOME Interest Earned Credit Card Commission CSF Total Financial Expenses/Income Income Before Taxes TAXES Taxes V. A.Tax Non recoverable Property Tax & Other Exp. Occupancy Tax Total Taxes Net Income Peso Exchange Adjustment Net Income Operation

9,343,042 253,368 9,222 9,605,632

2.7% 300.0% 4.0% 4.8%

96.9% 2.6% 0.1% 99.6%

885.01 24.00 0.87 909.88

26,980 7,709 34,689 9,640,321

18.6% -52.8% -11.3% 4.7%

0.3% 0.1% 0.4% 100.0%

2.56 0.73 3.29 913.17

986,186 751,133 1,080,169 994,476 304,837 293,539 320,841 230,480 831,240 155,989 78,447 60,824 69,436 41,537 20,731 48,179 6,268,043

8.5% 56.5% 10.6% 6.5% 18.5% 12.0% 8.4% 16.9% -31.9% 5.8% 21.2% 18.2% 10.2% 5.5% -58.7% 0.6% 4.5%

10.2% 7.8% 11.2% 10.3% 3.2% 3.0% 3.3% 2.4% 8.6% 1.6% 0.8% 0.6% 0.7% 0.4% 0.2% 0.5% 65.0%

93.42 71.15 102.32 94.20 28.88 27.81 30.39 21.83 78.74 14.78 7.43 5.76 6.58 3.93 1.96 4.56 593.73

849,367 391,663 161,276 109,979 48,818 68,983 22,562 19,756 15,400 291,370 1,979,175 1,393,103

2.7% 1.8% 2.3% 17.4% 1.8% 1.8% -0.7% 1.5% -10.1% 3.0% 3.0% 8.0%

8.8% 4.1% 1.7% 1.1% 0.5% 0.7% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 3.0% 20.5% 14.5%

80.46 37.10 15.28 10.42 4.62 6.53 2.14 1.87 1.46 27.60 187.48 131.96

-22,269 105,669 83,400 1,309,703

4.5% 3.4% 3.1% 8.4%

-0.2% 1.1% 0.9% 13.6%

-2.11 10.01 7.90 124.06

253,368 577,614 123,434 157,531 1,111,947 197,756

48.0% 10.6% 16.3% 14.2% 18.6% -27.0% 100.0% -73.4%

2.6% 6.0% 1.3% 1.6% 11.5% 2.1% 0.0% 2.1%

24.00 54.71 11.69 14.92 105.33 18.73 0.00 18.73

197,756

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finances ANNUAL MEETING REPORT OF ADVISORY COUNCIL 20 October, 2010.

THE ROYAL ISLANDER

Advisory Council Members: Jong Lee, Ronald McGee, Edward McHenry, Jeffrey Rawson and Donald Wray

The annual meeting of the Advisory Council for The Royal Islander was held in Cancún on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. All Council members were present. Corporate Operations Manager (COM) Armando Millet took Council members on a brief tour of the resort including the Employee Training Department, canteen, machine room, laundry and commissary where all food supplies are received and the resort bakery is located. Council members visited a villa to see items that were approved for 2010, including a new center wall unit with a 37” LCD TV in the living room; new stove, dishwasher and microwave; and larger bar refrigerator for the lock off.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

After the resort tour, Council members met with Chief Financial Officer Fernando López, COM Millet and members of their staff in the conference room at The Royal Mayan. CFO López explained the 2011 financial statements in detail. The Income Statement Comparison accompanying this summary shows budgeted and actual (forecast) income and expenses as of September 30, 2010 with estimates to the end of the year. The 2011 budget unanimously approved by the Advisory Council is also shown. In 2010 the combination of a strong peso, inflation and increases in taxes negatively impacted the expenses of resort operations. These variables are outside the control of resort management; however, conservative use of resources has resulted in completion of all the improvements approved by Council in 2009 with the exception of wall mounts for the master bedroom televisions.

• Obtain hurricane shelter permit from Civil Defense Agency • Purchase Lexan window protection panels for the motor lobby

The budget compilation process begins with preliminary budgets denominated in pesos submitted by each department to COM Millet. Once approved, a collective budget is prepared and converted to US dollars using a projected average exchange rate. The 2010 budget was based on a projected average exchange rate of $13.54/US$1. However, the actual average is approximately $12.52/ US$1 resulting in a currency exchange loss of $408,292 US.

Purchase 30 MP3 sound systems Purchase 58 art work sets Purchase 15 kitchen stoves and 15 dishwashers Purchase 40 microwave ovens Purchase 179 microwave ovens for lock offs Purchase 179 ironing boards and irons for lock offs Purchase 74 safes (part 5 of 5) Replace aluminum sliding doors in 10 villas Replace fan and coil sets in three villas Change five false ceiling tees Perform corrective maintenance in 20 villas Repair cosmetic cracks in walls of five villas Replace marble floors with ceramic tile in 10 villas

Hurricane Related Items

APPROVED FOR 2011 Resort Improvements

• • • • • • • •

Replace one cooling tower Replace electrical wiring in service elevators Reverse osmosis plant major repairs Installation of ozone equipment for the swimming pools Install high efﬁciency hot water heat exchanger Repair cracks in buildings and public areas Replace two irrigation pumps Install security cameras to cover various resort areas and sections of the beach (shared expense)

Villa Improvements

• Corrective maintenance in 25 villas • Purchase of 92 LCD 37” TVs including 3 spares (part 2 of 2) • Replace 89 center wall units with a larger section to accommodate a 37” LCD TV • Replace aluminum sliding doors in 10 villas • Replace marble ﬂoors in eight villas with ceramic tile • Repair cosmetic cracks in walls of 10 villas • Change tees in false ceilings in 10 villas • Purchase 70 curtain rods (for sheer curtains) • Replace fan and coil sets in three villas • Replace tile on terrace of four villas

• Obtain hurricane shelter permit from Civil Defense Agency • Repair of beach palapas

COMPLETED IN 2010 Resort Improvements

On the accompanying budget comparison, water and sewage, electricity and taxes show significant increases (see General Notes, p. 62). Other notable increases include Sports Services – Purchase of a Catalina sailboat, kayaks and bikes. Security – Reallocation of cost of security personnel who work exclusively at The Royal Islander. Housekeeping Services – Hiring of stewards to assist supervisors so additional time can be devoted to inspection and supervision. Many replacement items were reassigned from the Fixed Assets & Major Repairs account to the Housekeeping Services account, this is why you will note a significant decrease in Major

Repair cosmetic cracks in buildings and public areas Purchase a high efﬁciency hot water heat exchanger Replace pipe duct supports (part 2 of 3) Change one set of PVC ﬁll for cooling tower

Villa Improvements

• Replace 90 center wall units with a larger section to accommodate a 37” LCD TV (part 1 of 2) • Purchase 90 37” LCD TVs (part 1 of 2) • Purchase 179 32” LCD TVs for the master bedrooms (part 1 of 2)

The Royal Islander is in an excellent financial position with a predicted Club Cash Reserve of US$1,742,646 and a fully vested Hurricane Cash Reserve of US$2,018,158 at the end of 2010. The resort’s net worth was $3,884,380 of 30 September, 2010. With a goal of maintaining a US$1.2M cash reserve and continuing to upgrade service in keeping with five-star standards, the Advisory Council unanimously approved the budget as presented with a nominal 4% increase in the Club Service Fee for 2011. Statements sent to Members will show the following breakdown: CSF Taxes

US$871.53 62.47 US$934.00

In private session, the Advisory Council chose Robert Fisher to succeed retiring member Jeffrey Rawson. In closing, the Advisory Council thanked management for maintaining The Royal Islander at the highest levels of excellence while keeping the Club Service Fee lower than similar resorts in Cancún and elsewhere. Council is confident that 2011 will be another successful year for The Royal Islander and Royal Resorts.

Hurricane Related Items

Repairs and replacement items approved by Council in 2009 and completed in 2010 include:

• • • •

Repairs and a significant increase in Housekeeping Services. As shown on the accompanying statement,The Royal Islander receives income from sources other than Club Service Fees. Interest earned on bank accounts, guest laundry services, late checkout fees, kitchen cleaning fee and other fees, and commissions on telephone use are credited to income accounts.

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THE ROYAL ISLANDER 2010

9,129

NUMBER OF INTERVALS

INCOME STATEMENT COMPARISON BETWEEN 2010 AND 2011 (US$) % DIF.

DESCRIPTION

Cost Interval Std

$899

2011

% DIF. VS

BUDGET

FORECAST â&#x20AC;&#x2122;10

VERTICAL

BUDGET

FORECAST

8,143,022 54,774 14,741 8,212,538

8,143,022 54,774 8,583 8,206,379

0.0% 0.0% -41.8% -0.1%

17,731 13,298 31,029 8,243,566

18,982 15,325 34,307 8,240,687

7.1% 15.2% 10.6% 0.0%

843,376 450,038 795,042 715,101 285,123 231,352 268,861 128,870 804,809 138,556 48,424 36,685 79,116 36,501 33,224 55,327 4,950,406

857,843 470,086 815,249 792,089 245,540 245,757 287,617 126,325 816,685 147,399 46,835 36,475 75,933 36,413 25,469 47,893 5,073,607

1.7% 4.5% 2.5% 10.8% -13.9% 6.2% 7.0% -2.0% 1.5% 6.4% -3.3% -0.6% -4.0% -0.2% -23.3% -13.4% 2.5%

740,275 356,327 150,979 96,730 25,222 54,721 19,003 20,288 10,500 244,077 1,718,122 1,575,038

740,275 364,604 153,248 94,352 26,020 56,233 21,648 19,065 12,245 247,435 1,735,125 1,431,955

0.0% 2.3% 1.5% -2.5% 3.2% 2.8% 13.9% -6.0% 16.6% 1.4% 1.0% -9.1%

-23,216 113,521 90,305 1,484,733

-20,860 94,302 73,442 1,358,513

-10.1% -16.9% -18.7% -8.5%

255,612 429,042 103,733 85,808 874,196 610,537 610,537

332,490 529,508 96,049 144,411 1,102,458 256,055 (408,292) 664,347

30.1% 23.4% -7.4% 68.3% 26.1% -58.1% 0.0% 8.8%

(424,000) 186,537

(150,000) 106,055

Non cash provision for Uncollectible Accounts Net Income After Provision

(150,000) 163,593

3,442,226 2,000,841 1,419,037

3,379,098 2,018,158 1,742,646

Accounting Reserves Hurricane Reserve Club Cash Reserve

3,542,691 2,001,399 1,149,060

$/INTVAL.

8,208,167 319,515 8,926 8,536,608

0.8% 483.3% 4.0% 4.0%

95.8% 3.7% 0.1% 99.6%

899.13 35.00 0.98 935.11

20,235 14,454 34,689 8,571,297

6.6% -5.7% 1.1% 4.0%

0.2% 0.2% 0.4% 100.0%

2.22 1.58 3.80 938.91

939,239 550,871 905,836 828,659 234,408 297,022 317,711 156,767 684,376 161,720 61,164 41,663 86,909 38,401 19,043 48,179 5,371,968

9.5% 17.2% 11.1% 4.6% -4.5% 20.9% 10.5% 24.1% -16.2% 9.7% 30.6% 14.2% 14.5% 5.5% -25.2% 0.6% 5.9%

11.0% 6.4% 10.6% 9.7% 2.7% 3.5% 3.7% 1.8% 8.0% 1.9% 0.7% 0.5% 1.0% 0.4% 0.2% 0.6% 62.7%

102.89 60.34 99.23 90.77 25.68 32.54 34.80 17.17 74.97 17.72 6.70 4.56 9.52 4.21 2.09 5.28 588.45

746,197 372,058 156,565 105,393 26,620 57,672 23,495 19,756 13,000 255,121 1,775,877 1,423,452

0.8% 2.0% 2.2% 11.7% 2.3% 2.6% 8.5% 3.6% 6.2% 3.1% 2.3% -0.6%

8.7% 4.3% 1.8% 1.2% 0.3% 0.7% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% 3.0% 20.7% 16.6%

81.74 40.76 17.15 11.54 2.92 6.32 2.57 2.16 1.42 27.95 194.53 155.93

-24,448 92,039 67,591 1,355,861

17.2% -2.4% -8.0% -0.2%

-0.3% 1.1% 0.8% 15.8%

-2.68 10.08 7.40 148.52

319,515 471,946 122,093 128,713 1,042,268 313,593

-3.9% -10.9% 27.1% -10.9% -5.5% 22.5% 100.0% -52.8%

3.7% 5.5% 1.4% 1.5% 12.2% 3.7% 0.0% 3.7%

35.00 51.70 13.37 14.10 114.17 34.35 0.00 34.35

313,593

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finances ANNUAL MEETING REPORT OF ADVISORY COUNCIL 19 October, 2010.

THE ROYAL SANDS

Advisory Council Members: Randall Brame, Jeffrey Chase, Robert Lloyd, Charles McGraw, and Mary Lou Patel The annual meeting of the Advisory Council for The Royal Sands was held in Cancún on Tuesday, October 19, 2010. All Council members were present. Corporate Operations Manager (COM) Armando Millet took Council members on a brief tour of the resort underground area including the machine room, the laundry, kitchen and hurricane preparedness area. Council members visited a villa to see items that were approved for 2010, including a new center wall unit with a 37” LCD TV in the living room; new stove, dishwasher, refrigerator and microwave; and larger bar refrigerator for the lock off. After the tour, Council members met with Chief Financial Officer Fernando López, COM Millet and members of their staff in the conference room at The Royal Mayan. CFO López explained the 2010 financial statements in detail. The Income Statement Comparison accompanying this summary shows budgeted and actual (forecast) income and expenses as of September 30, 2010 with estimates to the end of the year. The 2011 budget unanimously approved by the Advisory Council is also shown. In 2010 the combination of a strong peso, inflation and increases in taxes negatively impacted the expenses of resort operations. These variables are outside the control of resort management; however, conservative use of resources has resulted in completion of all the improvements approved by Council in 2009 with the exception of painting the exterior of Phase I of the resort. This will be done in 2011 without affecting the annual budget as it was included in the 2010 budget in order to paint Phase I and Phase II at the same time. The budget compilation process begins with preliminary budgets denominated in pesos submitted by each department to COM Millet. Once approved, a collective budget is prepared and converted to US dollars using a projected average exchange rate. The 2010 budget was based on a projected average exchange rate of $13.54/US$1. However, the actual average is approximately $12.52/US$1 resulting in a currency exchange loss of $873,048 US. Repairs and replacement items approved by Council in 2009 and completed in 2010 include:

Villa Improvements

• Replace 60 center wall units with a larger section to accommodate a 37” LCD TV (part 2 of 3) • Purchase 60 37” LCD TVs • Purchase 60 living room rugs • Purchase 40 kitchen stoves • Purchase 40 dishwashers • Purchase 40 refrigerators • Purchase 65 microwave ovens • Purchase 50 bar refrigerators for lock offs • Purchase 80 safes • Replace 150 palm print pictures only and 20 palm print pictures with frames • Replace marble ﬂoors with ceramic tile in two villas • Replace aluminum sliding doors in 15 villas • Corrective maintenance in 30 villas • Repair cosmetic cracks in walls of six villas • Replace 100 ceiling fans in penthouses

Hurricane Related Items

• Obtain hurricane shelter permit from Civil Defense Agency • Purchase Lexan window protection panels for the Sports Services and Social Activities area

APPROVED FOR 2011 Resort Improvements

• • • • • • • • • • •

Paint exterior and corridors of Phase II of the resort Purchase two transformers needed for power backup Reverse osmosis plant major repairs Installation of ozone equipment for the swimming pools Replace the revolving lobby door, east side access Repair pergolas Waterproof cooling tower area Purchase two pumps for solar heating system Roof repair on Buildings E, K and H Paint room construction (part 2 of 2) Installation of ozone equipment in the resort laundry

Villa Improvements

• Corrective maintenance in 25 villas • Purchase of 130 LCD 27” TVs (part 3 of 4) • Replace 70 center wall units with a larger section to accommodate a 37" LCD TV (part 3 of 4) • Replace marble ﬂoors in three villas with ceramic tile • Repair cosmetic cracks in walls of six villas

Hurricane Related Items

• Obtain hurricane shelter permit from Civil Defense Agency • Purchase hurricane shutters for designated hurricane shelters in town • Repair of beach palapas

As shown on the accompanying statement,The Royal Sands receives income from sources other than Club Service Fees. Interest earned on bank accounts, guest laundry services, late checkout fees, kitchen cleaning fee and other fees, and commissions on telephone use are credited to income accounts. The Royal Sands is in a sound financial position with a predicted Club Cash Reserve of US$3,269,542 and a Hurricane Cash Reserve of US$1,421,749 at the end of 2010. The resort’s net worth was $3,027,959 of 30 September, 2010. With a goal of maintaining a US$2.3M cash reserve and continuing to upgrade service in keeping with five-star standards, the Advisory Council unanimously approved the budget as presented with an increase of 3.9% in the Club Service Fee for 2011. Statements sent to Members will show the following breakdown: 90-45 44-1 Occupancy Days Prior Days Prior Date CSF US$819.30 US$832.46 US$845.61 Taxes 114.70 116.54 118.39 US$934.00 US$949.00 US$964.00 In private session, the Advisory Council chose James Glennon to succeed retiring member Robert Lloyd. In closing, the Advisory Council thanked management for maintaining The Royal Sands at the highest levels of excellence while keeping the Club Service Fee lower than similar resorts in Cancún and elsewhere. Council is confident that 2011 will be another successful year for The Royal Sands and Royal Resorts.

COMPLETED IN 2010 Resort Improvements

• Upgrade all entry door locks with proximity card reader microchips (RFID) • Instead of replacing the revolving door in the Phase I lobby with a larger one for easier access, an additional automatic door was installed to prevent condensation in the south hallway • Paint exterior and corridors of Phase I of the resort (to be completed in 2011) • Construct a permanent structure for use as a Paint Room • Install ﬂat rooftop solar panels to heat water for Phase I villas • Tennis court repairs

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THE ROYAL SANDS 2010

17,340

NUMBER OF INTERVALS

INCOME STATEMENT COMPARISON BETWEEN 2010 AND 2011 (US$) % DIF.

BUDGET

FORECAST

13,793,929 277,344 23,604 14,094,878

13,730,791 359,082 18,047 14,107,921

-0.5% 29.5% -23.5% 0.1%

44,327 7,092 51,419 14,146,297

45,055 18,076 63,131 14,171,052

1.6% 154.9% 22.8% 0.2%

1,507,629 799,824 1,452,350 1,434,686 381,533 560,089 515,568 324,867 1,108,833 178,133 107,681 81,131 117,658 69,033 258,864 63,626 8,961,506

1,499,741 870,030 1,561,052 1,497,395 260,723 593,418 544,546 301,700 1,220,796 204,468 125,158 103,204 120,829 69,340 259,585 51,429 9,283,413

-0.5% 8.8% 7.5% 4.4% -31.7% 6.0% 5.6% -7.1% 10.1% 14.8% 16.2% 27.2% 2.7% 0.4% 0.3% -19.2% 3.6%

1,379,393 614,174 125,957 169,118 37,850 94,895 18,622 20,424 18,400 513,806 2,992,637 2,192,153

1,373,079 659,439 130,170 167,251 42,692 98,820 22,848 21,477 12,448 520,346 3,048,570 1,839,069

-0.5% 7.4% 3.3% -1.1% 12.8% 4.1% 22.7% 5.2% -32.3% 1.3% 1.9% -16.1%

-37,492 126,661 89,169 2,102,984

-44,046 111,541 67,495 1,771,574

17.5% -11.9% -24.3% -15.8%

797,640 213,722 277,344 1,288,706 814,278

675,566 202,167 359,082 1,236,816 534,758 (873,048) 1,407,807

-15.3% -5.4% 29.5% -4.0% -34.3% 0.0% 72.9%

DESCRIPTION

Cost Interval Std

$819

2011

% DIF. VS

BUDGET

FORECAST â&#x20AC;&#x2122;10

VERTICAL

$/INTVAL.

GENERAL REVENUE

814,278

4,482,163 1,442,307 2,507,184

Dues Income Occupancy Tax Other Subtotal RESORT REVENUE Guest Laundry Other Income Subtotal Total Revenue RESORT OPERATING EXPENSES Housekeeping Services Housekeeping Maintenance Electricity Maintenance & Machine House Water & Sewage Security Front desk Int. & Guest Laundry Fixed Assets & Major Repairs Landscaping Sport Services Telephone (Net Result) Social Activities Operational Services Resort Insurance Courtesy Shuttle Total Operating Expenses GENERAL & ADMIN EXPENSES Management Fee Corporate Services Accounting Administration Training Human Resources Other Expenses Auditing Printing & Miscellaneous Payments Membership Services Total General & Admin Expenses Operating Income FINANCIAL EXPENSES/INCOME Interest Earned Credit Card Commission CSF Total Financial Expenses/Income Income Before Taxes TAXES Taxes Property Tax & Other Exp. Occupancy Tax Total Taxes Net Income Peso Exchange Adjustment Net Income Operation

14,207,747 412,221 18,949 14,638,918

3.5% 14.8% 5.0% 3.8%

96.7% 2.8% 0.1% 99.6%

819.36 23.77 1.09 844.23

47,215 12,527 59,742 14,698,659

4.8% -30.7% -5.4% 3.7%

0.3% 0.1% 0.4% 100.0%

2.72 0.72 3.45 847.67

1,647,921 911,271 1,704,513 1,634,251 322,705 683,128 563,392 329,496 1,034,122 237,834 136,589 107,243 138,675 74,462 270,292 54,924 9,850,820

9.9% 4.7% 9.2% 9.1% 23.8% 15.1% 3.5% 9.2% -15.3% 16.3% 9.1% 3.9% 14.8% 7.4% 4.1% 6.8% 6.1%

11.2% 6.2% 11.6% 11.1% 2.2% 4.6% 3.8% 2.2% 7.0% 1.6% 0.9% 0.7% 0.9% 0.5% 1.8% 0.4% 67.0%

95.04 52.55 98.30 94.25 18.61 39.40 32.49 19.00 59.64 13.72 7.88 6.18 8.00 4.29 15.59 3.17 568.10

1,380,775 671,817 132,358 157,075 43,357 101,126 23,290 19,843 13,100 534,454 3,077,194 1,770,645

0.6% 1.9% 1.7% -6.1% 1.6% 2.3% 1.9% -7.6% 5.2% 2.7% 0.9% -3.7%

9.4% 4.6% 0.9% 1.1% 0.3% 0.7% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% 3.6% 20.9% 12.0%

79.63 38.74 7.63 9.06 2.50 5.83 1.34 1.14 0.76 30.82 177.46 102.11

-43,992 113,875 69,883 1,700,762

-0.1% 2.1% 3.5% -4.0%

-0.3% 0.8% 0.5% 11.6%

-2.54 6.57 4.03 98.08

565,760 251,440 412,221 1,229,420 471,342

-16.3% 24.4% 14.8% -0.6% -11.9% 100.0% -66.5%

3.8% 1.7% 2.8% 8.4% 3.2% 0.0% 3.2%

32.63 14.50 23.77 70.90 27.18 0.00 27.18

471,342

(400,000) 134,758

Non cash provision for Uncollectible Accounts Net Income After Provision

(400,000) 71,342

2,188,615 1,421,749 3,269,542

Accounting Reserves Hurricane Reserve Club Cash Reserve

2,259,957 1,629,523 2,036,581

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finances INCOME STATEMENT THE ROYAL CANCUN THE ROYAL CANCUN 2010

% DIF.

DESCRIPTION

7,993,399 97,791 0 8,091,190

-0.3% 49.0% -100.0% 0.1%

14,185 6,206 20,390 8,101,597

13,595 45,676 59,271 8,150,461

-4.2% 636.0% 190.7% 0.6%

Dues Income Occupancy Tax Other Subtotal RESORT REVENUE Guest Laundry Other Income Subtotal Total Revenue

892,186 446,045 571,744 922,268 274,940 400,205 314,965 140,180 1,530,039 149,094 56,124 59,028 66,341 44,439 129,080 44,261 6,040,940

871,821 483,621 531,790 948,649 185,008 426,869 327,313 133,552 1,673,331 156,465 48,042 68,358 63,305 44,649 129,080 35,843 6,127,694

-2.3% 8.4% -7.0% 2.9% -32.7% 6.7% 3.9% -4.7% 9.4% 4.9% -14.4% 15.8% -4.6% 0.5% 0.0% -19.0% 1.4%

801,371 276,179 69,951 99,965 34,078 57,314 12,384 21,150 136,244 1,508,637 552,020

799,341 291,400 76,041 98,956 36,752 61,527 11,234 19,888 138,214 1,533,353 489,414

-0.3% 5.5% 8.7% -1.0% 7.8% 7.4% -9.3% -6.0% 1.4% 1.6% -11.3%

-22,044 30,712 55,037 63,704 488,316

-23,349 31,691 30,903 39,245 450,169

5.9% 3.2% -43.8% -38.4% -7.8%

30,753 99,184 65,623 195,560 292,755

30,753 90,054 97,791 218,598 231,570 (491,476) 723,047

0.0% -9.2% 49.0% 11.8% -20.9% 0.0% 147.0%

BUDGET

FORECAST

8,013,712 65,623 1,871 8,081,206

10,251

NUMBER OF INTERVALS

INCOME STATEMENT COMPARISON BETWEEN 2010 AND 2011 (US$)

Cost Interval B & C

$800

2011

% DIF. VS

BUDGET

FORECAST â&#x20AC;&#x2122;10

VERTICAL

$819 $/INTVAL.

GENERAL REVENUE

292,755

RESORT OPERATING EXPENSES Housekeeping Services Housekeeping Maintenance Electricity Maintenance & Machine House Water & Sewage Security Front desk Int. & Guest Laundry Fixed Assets & Major Repairs Landscaping Sport Services Telephone (Net Result) Social Activities Operational Services Resort Insurance Courtesy Shuttle Total Operating Expenses GENERAL & ADMIN EXPENSES Management Fee Corporate Services Accounting Administration Training Human Resources Other Expenses Auditing Membership Services Total General & Admin Expenses Operating Income FINANCIAL EXPENSES/INCOME Interest Earned Credit Card Commission CSF Bank Interest Total Financial Expenses/Income Income Before Taxes TAXES Taxes Property Tax & Other Exp. Occupancy Tax Total Taxes Net Income Peso Exchange Adjustment Net Income Operation

8,254,123 115,314 0 8,369,438

3.3% 17.9% 0.0% 3.4%

98.1% 1.4% 0.0% 99.5%

805.20 11.25 0.00 816.45

14,454 28,907 43,361 8,412,799

6.3% -36.7% -26.8% 3.2%

0.2% 0.3% 0.5% 100.0%

1.41 2.82 4.23 820.68

938,963 494,086 585,075 1,028,543 199,091 442,393 362,133 150,007 1,402,067 172,391 56,702 68,614 71,793 49,825 143,185 38,543 6,203,411

7.7% 2.2% 10.0% 8.4% 7.6% 3.6% 10.6% 12.3% -16.2% 10.2% 18.0% 0.4% 13.4% 11.6% 10.9% 7.5% 1.2%

11.2% 5.9% 7.0% 12.2% 2.4% 5.3% 4.3% 1.8% 16.7% 2.0% 0.7% 0.8% 0.9% 0.6% 1.7% 0.5% 73.7%

91.60 48.20 57.07 100.34 19.42 43.16 35.33 14.63 136.77 16.82 5.53 6.69 7.00 4.86 13.97 3.76 605.15

825,412 296,841 76,786 101,386 37,408 63,160 12,577 20,906 153,496 1,587,972 621,415

3.3% 1.9% 1.0% 2.5% 1.8% 2.7% 12.0% 5.1% 11.1% 3.6% 27.0%

9.8% 3.5% 0.9% 1.2% 0.4% 0.8% 0.1% 0.2% 1.8% 18.9% 7.4%

80.52 28.96 7.49 9.89 3.65 6.16 1.23 2.04 14.97 154.91 60.62

-17,484 33,556 4,371 20,444 600,972

-25.1% 5.9% -85.9% -47.9% 33.5%

-0.2% 0.4% 0.1% 0.2% 7.1%

-1.71 3.27 0.43 1.99 58.63

20,502 107,667 115,314 243,483 357,488

-33.3% 19.6% 17.9% 11.4% 54.4% 100.0% -50.6%

0.2% 1.3% 1.4% 2.9% 4.2% 0.0% 4.2%

2.00 10.50 11.25 23.75 34.87 0.00 34.87

357,488

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finances INCOME STATEMENT THE ROYAL HACIENDAS THE ROYAL HACIENDAS 2010

12,852

NUMBER OF INTERVALS

INCOME STATEMENT COMPARISON BETWEEN 2010 AND 2011 (US$) % DIF.

BUDGET

FORECAST

9,555,355 141,073 12,806 9,709,234

9,553,698 227,080 9,587 9,790,365

0.0% 61.0% -25.1% 0.8%

28,814 5,319 34,133 9,743,367

28,832 4,494 33,326 9,823,691

0.1% -15.5% -2.4% 0.8%

1,403,048 374,924 1,289,794 1,295,235 306,186 572,915 393,120 212,355 235,212 158,445 106,092 100,283 183,954 20,649 64,613 88,654 6,805,479

1,342,841 479,180 1,280,664 1,438,363 218,073 574,330 354,948 222,959 318,387 165,358 98,331 106,453 216,704 56,522 54,624 42,622 6,970,360

-4.3% 27.8% -0.7% 11.1% -28.8% 0.2% -9.7% 5.0% 35.4% 4.4% -7.3% 6.2% 17.8% 173.7% -15.5% -51.9% 2.4%

955,536 380,244 33,006 209,924 67,594 96,621 5,066 15,848 0 264,245 2,028,083 909,805

970,931 414,877 44,947 200,526 73,511 105,694 4,443 14,887 50 267,714 2,097,580 755,751

1.6% 9.1% 36.2% -4.5% 8.8% 9.4% -12.3% -6.1% 0.0% 1.3% 3.4% -16.9%

-206 64,752 64,547 845,258

0 70,394 70,394 685,357

100.0% 8.7% 9.1% -18.9%

205,607 135,760 141,073 482,440 362,818

205,607 120,786 227,080 553,474 131,884 (550,002) 681,886

0.0% -11.0% 61.0% 14.7% -63.7% 0.0% 87.9%

DESCRIPTION

Cost Interval Std & PH

$819

2011

% DIF. VS

BUDGET

FORECAST â&#x20AC;&#x2122;10

VERTICAL

$868 $/INTVAL.

GENERAL REVENUE

362,818

10,076,725 235,656 9,970 10,322,352

5.5% 3.8% 4.0% 5.4%

97.3% 2.3% 0.1% 99.7%

784.06 18.34 0.78 803.17

28,907 4,818 33,725 10,356,077

0.3% 7.2% 1.2% 5.4%

0.3% 0.0% 0.3% 100.0%

2.25 0.37 2.62 805.79

1,454,514 578,586 1,400,882 1,507,169 225,561 628,631 359,016 240,002 340,629 184,431 122,264 75,178 230,339 63,680 37,199 37,575 7,485,657

8.3% 20.7% 9.4% 4.8% 3.4% 9.5% 1.1% 7.6% 7.0% 11.5% 24.3% -29.4% 6.3% 12.7% -31.9% -11.8% 7.4%

14.0% 5.6% 13.5% 14.6% 2.2% 6.1% 3.5% 2.3% 3.3% 1.8% 1.2% 0.7% 2.2% 0.6% 0.4% 0.4% 72.3%

113.17 45.02 109.00 117.27 17.55 48.91 27.93 18.67 26.50 14.35 9.51 5.85 17.92 4.95 2.89 2.92 582.45

1,007,673 439,685 46,440 201,098 76,527 108,143 12,182 16,007 0 315,165 2,222,919 647,501

3.8% 6.0% 3.3% 0.3% 4.1% 2.3% 174.2% 7.5% -100.0% 17.7% 6.0% -14.3%

9.7% 4.2% 0.4% 1.9% 0.7% 1.0% 0.1% 0.2% 0.0% 3.0% 21.5% 6.3%

78.41 34.21 3.61 15.65 5.95 8.41 0.95 1.25 0.00 24.52 172.96 50.38

-370 65,916 65,547 581,954

0.0% -6.4% -6.9% -15.1%

0.0% 0.6% 0.6% 5.6%

-0.03 5.13 5.10 45.28

174,659 137,764 235,656 548,079 33,875

-15.1% 14.1% 3.8% -1.0% -74.3% 100.0% -95.0%

1.7% 1.3% 2.3% 5.3% 0.3% 0.0% 0.3%

13.59 10.72 18.34 42.65 2.64 0.00 2.64

33,875

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finances REPORTE DE LA REUNIÓN ANUAL DEL CONSEJO CONSULTIVO DE

THE ROYAL MAYAN

22 de octubre del 2010. Miembros del Consejo Consultivo: Barbara Kniff,William Krumrey, Clyde Lawnicki, Dewey Lockwood y George Marczewski La reunión anual del Consejo Consultivo de The Royal Mayan se llevó a cabo en Cancún el viernes, 22 de octubre del 2010. Todos los miembros del Consejo estuvieron presentes. Armando Millet, Gerente Corporativo de Operaciones (GCO), llevó a los miembros del Consejo a un recorrido breve a través del desarrollo visitando la lavandería y la casa de máquinas para ver los calentadores que abastecen de agua caliente a las albercas y el equipo de ósmosis inversa. Los miembros del Consejo visitaron una villa para ver los artículos que se autorizaron para 2010 que incluyen las sillas del comedor con tapiz nuevo, cuadros de pared nuevos, una televisión LCD de 37 pulgadas en la recámara principal, estufa nueva, lavavajillas y microondas, y para el lado B de la villa un frigobar más grande, microondas y gabinete. Después del recorrido, los miembros del Consejo se reunieron con Fernando López, Director de Finanzas, GCO Millet y miembros del personal en la sala de juntas de The Royal Mayan. DF López explicó los estados financieros 2011 en detalle. La Declaración Comparativa de Ingresos que acompaña este resumen muestra el ingreso presupuestado y el real (pronosticado) y los gastos al 30 de septiembre del 2010 con montos estimados hasta finalizar el año. El presupuesto 2011, autorizado de manera unánime por el Consejo Consultivo, también se puede ver. En 2010 la combinación de la fuerza del peso, la inflación e incrementos en impuestos impactó de manera negativa los gastos de operación del desarrollo. Estas variables están fuera del control de la gerencia del desarrollo; sin embargo, el uso cuidadoso de los recursos ha resultado en la finalización de todas las mejoras autorizadas por el Consejo en 2009 con la excepción de la instalación de azulejos en el pasillo del Nivel 6 de 11. El proceso de la recopilación del presupuesto comienza con la entrega de los presupuestos preliminares en pesos por cada departamento a GCO Millet. Una vez autorizados, se prepara un presupuesto colectivo y se convierte a dólares utilizando un tipo de cambio proyectado promedio. El presupuesto 2010 se basó en un tipo de cambio proyectado promedio de $13.54/US$1. Sin embargo, el promedio real es de aproximadamente $12.52/ US$1, resultando en una pérdida por concepto de conversión de moneda de $472,118 US. Reparaciones y renovación de artículos autorizados por el Consejo en 2009 y realizados en 2010 incluyen: CONCLUIDAS EN 2010 Mejoras del Desarrollo

• Excavación y construcción de una zanja para eliminar filtraciones - Edificio F (parte 1 de 2) • Cambiar un juego de relleno PVC y empaque de fibra de vidrio de la torre de enfriamiento • Instalar el intercambiador del enfriador #3 • Cambiar dos interruptores electromagnéticos • Reparar grietas en edificios y áreas públicas

Mejoras en las Villas

• Actualizar cerraduras de entrada con lector de proximidad con microchip (Pendiente por atraso de entrega del proveedor) • Tapizar 150 sillas de comedor • Comprar 81 televisiones LCD de 37 pulgadas • Comprar 73 juegos de cuadros de pared • Reparar el piso de mármol de 10 villas, colocar azulejo y realizar mantenimiento correctivo de dichas villas • Comprar 50 refrigeradores • Comprar 50 lavavajillas • Comprar 50 estufas • Comprar 50 hornos microondas • Comprar 40 hornos microondas para los lados B de las villas • Comprar 61 cajas fuertes • Comprar 84 juegos de lámparas para los penthouse • Cambiar 10 soportes de falso plafón del techo • Cambiar ventiladores en tres villas • Reparar grietas en las paredes de cinco villas • Realizar mantenimiento correctivo en 20 villas • Cambiar las puertas corredizas de aluminio de 10 villas • Reparar los balcones de 12 villas

Mejoras Relacionadas con Protección de Huracanes

• Comprar 44 sofás de sala • Comprar 22 mesas pequeñas para la habitación • Comprar 10 mesas de centro pequeñas para sala • Instalar tejas de techo en los ediﬁcios J y K • Obtener certiﬁcación como refugio de huracanes • Comprar paneles protectores Lexan para las ventanas de la entrada superior del lobby

AUTORIZADAS PARA EL 2011 Mejoras del Desarrollo

• Excavar zanjas para el ediﬁcio F (parte 2 de 2) • Instalar equipo de ozono para albercas • Reparar el motor del elevador de servicio • Reparaciones en la planta de ósmosis inversa • Reparar grietas en ediﬁcios y áreas públicas • Cambiar el motor eléctrico de la torre de enfriamiento • Instalar cámaras de seguridad para cubrir varias zonas del desarrollo y secciones de la playa (gasto compartido)

Mejoras en las Villas • • • • • •

Mantenimiento correctivo en 30 villas Comprar 65 televisiones LCD de 37 pulgadas Cambiar 10 pisos de mármol con azulejos Cambiar 10 puertas corredizas de aluminio Cambiar 10 soportes de falso plafón del techo Comprar 160 gabinetes para horno microondas y frigobar para los lados B de las villas • Reparar grietas en las paredes de 10 villas • Comprar 75 juegos de cortinas • Cambiar ventiladores de tres villas • Reparar 7 balcones • Cambiar azulejos de 4 terrazas

Mejoras Relacionadas con Protección de Huracanes • Obtener permiso como refugio de huracán de la agencia de Protección Civil

• Reparar palapas de playa • Comprar paneles protectores Lexan para ventanas para el área de Actividades Sociales • Instalar tejas en los techos de los ediﬁcios H, L y M • Instalar protección de huracán para la subestación eléctrica

En el comparativo de presupuesto anexo, los rubros de consumo de agua y tratamiento de aguas negras, electricidad e impuestos muestran un incremento notable (ver notas generales, p. 63). Otros incrementos importantes incluyen Servicios de Ama de Llaves – contratación de stewards para asistir a los supervisores y que éstos pueden dedicar más tiempo a la inspección y supervisión. Muchos artículos de reemplazo fueron reasignados de la cuenta de Activos Fijos y Reparaciones Mayores a la cuenta de Servicios de Ama de Llaves, por lo tanto observará una reducción significativa en el rubro de Activos Fijos y un aumento en Servicios de Ama de Llaves. Lavandería – costo compartido para cambiar lavadora industrial que tenía 26 años. Servicios Deportivos – nuevo equipo: velero Catalina y kayaks. Como se muestra en el estado anexo,The Royal Mayan recibe ingresos de fuentes adicionales a las Cuotas de Mantenimiento. El interés ganado en las cuentas de banco, servicio de lavandería, cuotas por salida tardía, cuota por limpieza de cocina y otras cuotas, así como comisiones por uso telefónico son todas acreditadas a las cuentas de ingresos. The Royal Mayan se encuentra en excelente estado financiero con una Reserva de Efectivo del Club de US$2,120,382 y una Reserva de Efectivo para Huracán de US$1,461,305 anticipadas para finalizar el 2010. El valor neto del desarrollo es de $3,250,034 al 30 de septiembre dl 2010. Con la meta de mantener una reserva de efectivo de US$1.5M y continuar mejorando el servicio adheriéndose a los estándares cinco estrellas, el Consejo Consultivo autorizó de manera unánime el presupuesto presentado con un incremento nominal del 4% en la Cuota de Mantenimiento del 2011. Los estados de cuenta que se enviarán a los Miembros mostrarán el siguiente desglose: Estándar CSF US$893.17 Impuestos 40.83 US$934.00

Presidencial US$1,432.17 40.83 US$1,473.00

En una sesión privada, el Consejo Consultivo eligió a Larry Hildebrandt como el sucesor de Barbara Kniff. En conclusión, El Consejo Consultivo agradeció a la gerencia por mantener a The Royal Mayan en los más altos niveles de excelencia y a su vez conservar una Cuota de Mantenimiento que sigue siendo más baja que en desarrollos similares en Cancún y otros destinos. El Consejo confía en que el 2011 será otro exitoso año para The Royal Mayan y Royal Resorts.

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THE ROYAL MAYAN 2010

Costo o Villa Est. y Prs % DIF. VS

PRESUPUESTO

PRONÓSTICO ’10

VERTICAL

DESCRIPCIÓN

9,120,913 61,200 6,303 9,188,416

0.0% 0.0% -36.4% 0.0%

18,617 13,298 31,915 9,223,937

18,618 14,490 33,108 9,221,524

0.0% 9.0% 3.7% 0.0%

Ingresos Impuestos Otros Subtotal INGRESOS DEL CLUB Lavandería para Huéspedes Otros Ingresos Subtotal Total de Ingresos

909,837 480,451 924,419 823,353 343,573 245,599 269,313 210,269 957,789 100,065 66,893 55,117 83,782 39,409 134,617 58,093 5,702,578

906,250 527,616 915,395 885,676 249,053 261,453 289,550 176,286 972,071 107,261 61,978 48,663 74,802 39,335 175,007 46,871 5,737,268

-0.4% 9.8% -1.0% 7.6% -27.5% 6.5% 7.5% -16.2% 1.5% 7.2% -7.3% -11.7% -10.7% -0.2% 30.0% -19.3% 0.6%

829,174 388,398 177,682 100,008 40,945 62,008 25,903 21,970 10,000 266,231 1,922,318 1,599,041

829,174 396,454 162,787 98,209 42,009 63,617 25,441 20,411 11,499 270,080 1,919,682 1,564,574

0.0% 2.1% -8.4% -1.8% 2.6% 2.6% -1.8% -7.1% 15.0% 1.4% -0.1% -2.2%

(21,304) 115,000 93,695 1,505,346

(19,552) 97,233 77,682 1,486,893

-8.2% -15.4% -17.1% -1.2%

153,000 458,859 89,453 91,772 793,083 712,263 712,263

174,279 531,350 83,483 144,914 934,026 552,866 (472,118) 1,024,984

13.9% 15.8% -6.7% 57.9% 17.8% -22.4% 0.0% 43.9%

(464,000) 248,263

(234,000) 318,866

Provisión para Cuentas Irrecuperables (no en efectivo) Ingreso neto después de la Provisión

(360,000) 165,618

2,983,015 825,439 2,304,578

2,944,809 1,461,305 2,120,382

Reserva Contable Reserva en Efectivo por Huracán Reserva en Efectivo del Club

3,110,428 1,476,246 1,737,556

PRONÓSTICO

9,120,913 61,200 9,909 9,192,022

$919

2011

% DIF.

PRESUPUESTO

10,200

NÚMERO DE INTERVALOS

COMPARACIÓN DE INGRESOS ENTRE 2010 Y 2011 (US$)

$1458 $/INTVAL.

INGRESOS GENERALES

GASTOS DE OPERACIÓN DEL CLUB Servicio de Ama de Llaves Mantenimiento, Ama de Llaves Electricidad Mantenimiento y Cuarto de Máquinas Agua y Alcantarillado Seguridad Recepción Lavandería Interna y para Huéspedes Activos Fijos y Reparaciones Mayores Jardinería Servicios Deportivos Teléfono (Resultado Neto) Actividades Sociales Servicios Operativos Seguro del Club Autobús de Cortesía Total de Gastos de Operación GASTOS GRALES Y ADMINISTRATIVOS Cuota de Servicios Administrativos Servicios Corporativos Contabilidad Administración Capacitación Recursos Humanos Otros Gastos Auditoría Impresión y Pagos Misceláneos Servicios de Membresía Total de Gastos Grales. y Administrativos Ingresos de Operación GASTOS FINANCIEROS / INGRESOS Intereses Generados Comisión de Tarjeta de Crédito Total de Gastos Grales. y Administrativos Ingresos antes de Impuestos IMPUESTOS Impuestos I.V.A. No Recuperable Impuesto Predial y Otros Impuesto al Hospedaje Total de Impuestos Ingreso Neto Ajuste por el Cambio de Divisas a Pesos Ingreso de Operación Neto