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STAFF
The building of a team GRAND VELAS LOS CABOS Velas Resorts has announced some of its personnel members that will occupy representative charges in the new property, Grand Velas Los Cabos, opening in late 2016. Jose Luis López Reséndiz has been named Director of Sales; he is responsible for the development and implementation of worldwide sales for the resort. With over 15 years of experience within the hotel and tourism industry, López was most recently Director of Sales for AMResorts' Secrets Vallarta Bay and Now Amber Puerto Vallarta. Prior to his time in Puerto Vallarta, he held sales and marketing positions at AMResorts and Villagroup properties in Los Cabos, and the Dorado Pacifico Hotel in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Lopez is a graduate of the University of Guerrero in Mexico. He also holds a Hotel Administration Degree from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education and Revenue Management Executive certification from HSMAI. López can be reached at jlopez@velasresorts.com. In the culinary area, Juan Licerio Alcalá has been named Executive Chef of Grand Velas Los Cabos. He is responsible for the resort’s highly anticipated gourmet specialty restaurants: Cocina de Autor, the resort’s signature restaurant; Frida, offering Mexican fine dining; Piaf, which serves gourmet French specialties; and Lucca, with a menu of traditional Italian cuisine. In all, he will oversee six restaurants, multiple bars, and the catering operation of the 306 all-suite, uber luxury resort. With over two decades of successful experience, Licerio’s culinary skills are international ranging from Mexican, Italian, American, French, and Spanish to Indian, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, Latin, Asian, and Thai. He has also spent time honing his skills in molecular gastronomy and healthy lifestyle cuisines tailored to specific diet-dependent conditions. Most recently, he served as executive chef of the Princess Mundo Imperial in Acapulco and, previously, the Pelican Hill in Newport Beach. Licerio has also spent time managing and working in food & beverage for Four Seasons, Fairmont, Capella, and Ritz Carlton throughout the US and Mexico. He is originally from Durango, Mexico. 2
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STAFF Grand Velas Los Cabos also announced that two star Michelin Chef Sidney Schutte will head up its signature Cocina de Autor restaurant. Netherlands’ rising star Vincent Colauto will be chef de cuisine. Chef Schutte’s Dutch heritage, passion for traveling and four years in Asia shaped his palate and inspires him to present different taste sensations in a single meal. Schutte gained extensive experience in prestigious kitchens throughout Europe and Asia, including those run by Dutch top chef Richard Ekkebus at Amber, a two Michelin star restaurant in Hong Kong; Roger Souvereyns, of the two Michelin-starred De Scholteshof in Belgium; and Jonnie Boer, acclaimed chef and owner of restaurant De Librije in Zwolle. With his support, De Librije earned its third coveted Michelin star. Only seven months after opening, Boer’s second outpost, Librije’s Zusje Amsterdam, was awarded with two Michelin stars under his reign. Schutte has been acknowledged as “SVH Meesterkok,” the highest recognition that a chef can achieve in The Netherlands. 4
Colauto, who worked with Schutte at De Liberije, will oversee Cocina de Autor’s kitchen staff. He has completed training at the ROC and Spermalie in Bruges in addition to Katseveer, awarded one Michelin star. Most recently, he acted as Head Chef at Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant Duinzicht in the Netherlands. The team keeps growing! We will inform you about the new members that are about to join Grand Velas Los Cabos’ family.
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SERVICES
The newest at Velas Vallar ta VELAS VALLARTA Velas Vallarta has created new activities for the entire family, which goes from beach games to themed dinners at the gourmet restaurants. Human foosball The only hotel with a human scale foosball. It is located in the beach and family tournaments are organized. Themed evenings Alhambra Lobby Bar 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Wine and cocktails tasting such as daiquiris, margaritas, mojitos and martinis, accompanied by canapés and chef’s selection of cheeses. • Monday: Wines • Tuesday: Cocktails • Wednesday: Mojitos • Thursday: Margaritas • Friday: Martinis • Saturday: Daiquiris • Sunday: Margaritas Cajún Menu Monday and Thursday New Cajún-style menu at oceanfront La Ribera Steakhouse restaurant. Some of the dishes are: Étouffée prawns, crab cake, fried okra, etc. Italian cuisine menus Andrea restaurant, as well as offering a variety of international cuisine menus, it is focused specially in Italian cuisine. Now, guests will enjoy three new themed nights, with the best dishes of different regions from Italy: Neapolitan night, Tuscan night and Sicilian night. New shows for children Between the multiple activities and surprises for the little ones, there are the new shows such as Star Wars, sea lions, among many others.
SERVICES
Special areas and activities CASA VELAS Private Ocean Club Located just minutes from the hotel, this club nestles a casual and relaxed atmosphere overlooking the sea. It encompasses an ocean view pool, jacuzzi and a meeting room. It offers a deli and sushi daytime menu, and an inspired state-of-theart Asian cuisine in the evenings with a choice of delicious cocktails and a wide selection of wines. It features the perfect setting for romantic sunset dinners. Botanical Garden With more than 30 varieties of organic plants, this area is protected without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Its natural products are used to prepare beverages such as fresh citrus waters and dishes like marinated seafood. Besides being a picturesque place to go for a walk, it is the perfect setting for Spa treatments and rituals where the organic herbs and seeds are used in warm compresses. Handbag "Bar" This is the solution for all the ladies who have forgotten to pack a handbag. The "bar" offers bags of different designer brands such as Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch, Michael Kors and Pineda CovalĂn, among others. They are available to be used every day with prior reservation and there is no additional charge! Golf Casa Velas is immersed in the Marina Vallarta golf club, designed by Joe Finger, located just minutes away from the Vista Vallarta courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf. Guests will enjoy discounts and special promotions. Marina Vallarta A 6,701-yard golf course that offers long passages lined by palm trees, sheltered by water and beautiful green areas. Vista Vallarta With a high elevation, this Jack Nicklaus course pampers its players with the best views of the Banderas Bay with green hillsides, a dense palm tree forest and natural streams that create the perfect landscape. The 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Weiskopf challenges you with an extreme terrain, dense jungles, deep ravines and rapid streams.
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SERVICES Culinary Activities New themed nights at Casa Velas are designed for everyone! Guests will be delighted with food tastings and special menus for an extraordinary culinary experience. Daily, they will enjoy different types of flavored martinis and margaritas as well as indulge in artisan beer and tequila tastings. Expert sommeliers will guide you through wine pairing with cheeses, and you will also enjoy afternoon tea with desserts and petit fours. Unforgettable evenings await you, such as a live music dinner-concert, a special menu with dishes from the state of Veracruz, as well as personalized pastas and lobster prepared with a variety of sauces to choose from. Don’t miss the Cuban evening with delicious mojitos!
The guest chefs of the gourmet restaurants Frida, Lucca and Piaf (sister restaurants from the Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit hotel), will be present with their culinary creations to astonish all attendees. The Private Ocean Club features three new themed nights such as the Romantic Couples night in which the lovers could live an evening exclusively designed for them; the second one is the Oriental night, with exquisite delicacies from the Asian continent; and the third one, the Entrecôte night in which delicious cuts of beef are prepared and served directly in the guests’ table. All these activities are subject to changes without prior notice. Casa Velas keeps innovating its culinary art to pamper the palate of all guests!
Aqua Bar Velas Vallarta
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Spaces for all tastes and needs GRAND VELAS RIVIERA NAYARIT Koi Bar This place is perfect for adults. It offers delicious cocktails and refreshing drinks prepared by professional bartenders. For those who love to dance, it offers a track where you can show off your best moves. Major sporting events are screened in HD screens with impressive sound quality. Wellness Suites Theses suites are a plethora of amenities for those seeking a wellness retreat! The two-floored, 1,750 sq. ft. suites feature a spacious terrace with spectacular ocean views and jacuzzi. It includes a wide-variety of special amenities like a Lifecycle Exercise Bike, organic soaps, an Alchimia Apothecary Aromatherapy Kit, a Nikken Kenko pillow and comforter, and LED lamp with a clock and timer; moreover, a personal Spa Concierge will provide counsel on a wide-variety of Spa treatments. Wedding Showroom The new Wedding Showroom is an elegant space for brides to choose all the details of your celebration, and with the help of expert coordinators, you will achieve the perfect event! Teen’s Club A place for teenagers where to laugh, play, learn and make new friends! Designed with a fresh and original look, the Teen’s Club provides the best for kids from 1318 years old. It has cabins with Xbox Kinect, billiards and air hockey. For those who want to chat and socialize, the deli and the lounge area are perfect; the most talented can show off their skills on stage with karaoke or dance the night away at the mini disco! Each corner of the place has all the amenities you need to never be bored during their vacations! The Spa also pampers the youngsters with treatments created to fit their needs:
SERVICES Facial Be Yourself - 50 min For all skin types. It will provide complete cleaning, hydration, freshness, nutrition, and unsurpassed smoothness. Facial Boot Camp - 50 min Detoxifying treatment for mixed or oily skins; perfect for removing toxins and impurities. Its purifying and moisturizing actions help control acne caused by hormonal changes due to adolescence.
Awesome Skin - 50 min An experience focused on young skin cleansing, ideal for getting in tune with your wellbeing. This body wrap is combined with a mask and a relaxing massage.
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Recent renovations GRAND VELAS RIVIERA MAYA Zen Grand and its activities Zen Grand is the ideal place for families who love peace and a private atmosphere. It has a total of 254 suites, decorated with bright colors combined with lush vegetation and the variety of flora and fauna that surrounds them. It provides the ability to deeply connect with nature in each of its spaces. You will also find a pool, a Kids Club, gym, boutique, gourmet restaurants, the Koi Bar and a worldwide recognized Signature Spa. In this area, you will find new activities like: Mini golf A mini golf course for the little ones. It has 9 holes and opens from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm every day. In high season, tournaments are organized and the host will provide bats, balls and game cards. Eco-tour Enjoy our eco-tour, an educational activity where guests are invited to connect with nature and discover the secrets hidden in the jungle of the Riviera Maya. It consists of a visit to the cenotes, waterfalls, gardens and mangroves that surround the resort. Chakรก Located between the rainforest and mangroves, the Chakรก restaurant is now also open in the evenings to enjoy a Yucatรกn-style menu, inspired by the traditional delicacies of this state. The four pillars that define the Mayan cuisine (achiote, habanero chilies, citrus and smoked technique) are used throughout the menu to show the best of Yucatecan cuisine. Open daily from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm for dinner and reservation is required. It has air-conditioned indoor and an outdoor terrace.
SERVICES Lucca Previously, Chakรก was transformed at night in the gourmet Italian-Mediterranean restaurant Lucca; now, with the offer of Yucatecan menu, Lucca moved to a different space and completely renovated in the Ambassador environment. Spa Corner Our renowned Signature Spa expands its offerings with the opening of three new cabins, located in front of the three-level infinity pool in the Ambassador environment. The "Spa Corner" has a select menu of treatments that you can enjoy breathtaking scenery while admiring the Mexican Caribbean.
Stargaze With the support of an expert astronomer from the Astronomical Society of Quintana Roo (SAQROO), guests are guided through the stars and planets, linking with the Mayan ancestors. In these astral observations, you will explore stellar connections while the Caribbean Sea is set as a background. Telescopes are provided by the resort that will let you see the constellations of Orion, the planet Venus and the moon in detail. SAQROO experts help guests to take pictures of everything they discover on their exploration. Astronomical observation takes place on the beach, which is illuminated by Mexican traditional lamps known as "amarantos". At 7:30 p.m. drinks and snacks are served and at 10:00 p.m. the sessions begin.
CUISINE
Micheladas T h re e Wa ys GRAND VELAS RIVIERA NAYARIT To finish off the summer on a refreshing note, enjoy three versions of the Michelada cocktail from the “Beyond All-Inclusive, Beyond All Compare” Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit. The word “michelada” combines "chela” (slang term for beer) with “ada” for “helada,” meaning cold, and “mi” for mine — my cold beer. This cerveza preparada (beer cocktail) has been around for decades in Mexico, stemming from the usual practice of adding a squeeze of lime and a dash of salt to a beer. Now, these savory, spicy and tart drinks have expanded to include a variety of savory ingredients. Available at the resort and now to make at home, the first recipe is the traditional michelada, which has a sour flavor accompanied by a refreshing touch. The Cuban version, better known as “chelada,” offers a more complex mix of flavors, using three different sauces. The third is a Cielo Rojo, whose aroma is intense because of the clam juice (Clamato). All three versions of the drink perfectly complement aguachile and ceviche as well as tacos for an end of a fiesta. Traditional Michelada • The juice of 1 lemon • Beer of your choice (1 bottle) • Salt to taste • Frosted jar with salt or Tajín (chili salt) Chelada or Cuban Michelada • The juice of 1 lemon • Beer of your choice (1 bottle) • ½ tablespoon Tabasco, Maggi and Worcestershire sauce • Salt and black pepper to taste • Frosted jar with salt or Tajín (chili salt) Cielo Rojo • Lemon juice (1) • Beer of your choice (1 bottle) • ½ tablespoon Tabasco, Maggi and Worcestershire sauce • 3 oz Clamato • Salt and black pepper to taste • Frosted jar with salt or Tajín (chili salt) Directions: Frost the jar with a slice of pineapple or lemon, then dip the rim of the glass into salt. Add ice, lemon juice and salt. If you are preparing the Cuban, add the three different sauces. For the Cielo Rojo, also add the Clamato with all the other ingredients. Cheers!