Latin America, Caribbean Quick Takes | November/December 2021
Mexico’s First Nickelodeon Resort Opens in Riviera Maya
Nestled on the Caribbean side of Mexico, the all-inclusive Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya officially opened its doors for families to vacation and enjoy. Following the great success of their resort in Punta Cana, Karisma Hotels & Resorts and tour operator Grupo Lomas knew Mexico was the perfect spot for this project.
“As Mexico’s first and only Nickelodeon resort, Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya transports kids and adults alike into the imagination-expanding worlds of the entertainment brand’s beloved shows,” says Mario Mathieu, senior vice president of business development, design, and construction at Karisma Hotels & Resorts.
The resort features 280 oceanfront swim-up suites that accommodate families of five, a 6-acre themed water park, six restaurants, and, of course, some of Nickelodeon’s beloved characters, such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.
karismahotels.com/nickelodeon-hotels-resorts/riviera-maya
Mexican Zoo Bursts with Colors and Thousands of Flowers
It was easy for visitors to stop and smell the flowers at the Guadalajara Zoo in Mexico. Earlier this fall, the zoo hosted a monthlong “Flower Festival” in an effort to reconnect humanity with nature during challenging times brought on by the pandemic. The exhibition featured seven giant three-dimensional sculptures of giraffes, hippos, sharks, and butterflies decorated with different types of flowers, including daisies, chrysanthemums, and many more.
Each sculpture took three people working for three consecutive days, in addition to the gardening staff of the Guadalajara Zoo, to complete. In total, more than 70 hours of artisan work and around 34,000 flowers were required. The flowers came from the State of Mexico in the Zumpahuacan municipality, grown in a greenhouse that uses renewable energy in its production.
