Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts takes the guilt out of indulgent accommodations
When AMResorts (www.amresorts.com) announced its newest brand, Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts in October 2008, it seemed that the all-inclusive accommodation company was on a mission to top its own definition of luxury. The Philadelphia-based company has been treating guests to “Unlimited Luxury” at its all-inclusive couples-oriented Secrets Resorts & Spas (www.secretsresorts.com) and its all-inclusive family-friendly Dreams Resorts & Spas (www.dreamsresorts.com) for close to a decade. But this new brand of luxe lodging, which joins Zoëtry Collection Resorts under the Zoëtry umbrella, is taking high-end travel to a new level, specifically one that is “A luxurious indulgence without the guilt,” as the Zoëtry tagline goes. In fact, the name “Zoëtry,” which the company defines as “The Art of Life,” was created from the Greek words “Zoë,” meaning “life,” and “poetry,” meaning “artful creation.”
“Zoëtry represents the highest level of luxury, focusing on wellness through a balanced combination of fitness, nutrition, spa and self-improvement,” says AMResorts’ Vice President of Sales and Marketing Kevin Wojciechowski. “Guests currently going to Zoëtry properties are looking for a very relaxing, very high-end experience in a small, intimate environment, as opposed to 300- or 400-room resorts.”
The Zoëtry portfolio is currently made of up of four properties, the largest of which is the 126-room Golden Bear Lodge & Spa at Cap Cana, a Zoëtry Collection Resorts property in the Dominican Republic. The other three properties belong to the Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts brand. The newest member of the group is the 32-suite Zoëtry Casa del Mar, which opened in Los Cabos, Mexico, on Dec. 1. Exactly a month prior to that, Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana opened with 53 suites; and at the end of 2010, Zoëtry Pearl Sands Cap Cana will join the brand, along with Pure Secrets at Cap Cana. These two Dominican resorts will represent a total $200 million investment on the part of AMResorts.
The 90-room Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita on Mexico’s Riviera Maya was the brand’s first property and it’s also where the Endless Privileges concept was debuted in January. This program builds upon the all-inclusive model with the additions of oceanfront suite accommodations; a welcome bottle of Tequila; dining options featuring an assortment of organic foods and premium beverages; cocktails; afternoon tea featuring live plants for tea infusions; daily shopping excursions; a complimentary cell phone with unlimited worldwide calls and personal concierge service; complimentary 24-hour laundry service and private in-suite dining; a daily bottle of champagne and basket of fruit; and private chauffeured airport-hotel transportation personalized with champagne.
Other luxury amenities and services also include daily complimentary golf rounds at the Playa Mujeres Golf Club, a signature Greg Norman 18-hole course; and a spa treatment at the resort’s 22,000-square-foot Thalasso Center & Spa, the first certified in North America. In addition, guests also have access to the property’s private 48-foot catamaran. The resort sits on 14 acres of private beach and boasts three restaurants, a 5,000-bottle wine cellar with private dining room and a distinct water cellar with a selection of 15 different brands. Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita is a member of Leading Hotels of the World and Virtuoso, and is a recipient of AAA’s Five-Diamond award.
All of these features help contribute to the pillars on which the Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts brand centers; guests of these resorts are seeking romance and wellness, gourmet cuisine and enrichment, as well as culture, entertainment, soft adventure, volunteerism and an eco-friendly environment. “In addition to guests who already know our Secrets Resorts, Zoëtry has attracted quite a few guests who normally go to very high-end EP hotels, because our price points are competitive and also include Endless Privileges. Even top-end luxury clients want to feel that they’re getting value for their money and spending wisely,” attests Wojciechowski.
Before their arrival, couples can select amenities and activities for a more personalized in-room romantic experience. Exercise, spa therapies and guided meditation all add to the brand’s spotlight on fitness, nutrition and self-improvement. Gastronomic offerings are defined with signature and celebrity chefs, recognizably branded restaurants, chef tables, show cooking and wine tastings. While music is a mainstay of daily and evening entertainment, live musicians and visiting artists add their expertise to various classes in the arts.
More adventurous guests are presented with options like hiking, canoeing, canopy tours and excursions to local cenotes or sink holes. Strong bonds are initiated with local communities through guest volunteerism and community self-help projects. All Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts observe socially responsible and environmentally friendly practices. It’s also important to note that the resorts do attract families, but they do not offer a children’s program.
Additional brand features include oversized guestrooms and suites with ocean views and private terraces, wireless Internet access, flat-screen TVs with surround sound systems, personal cell phones with unlimited worldwide calls and concierge service, as well as complimentary spa treatments, a fresh bottle of champagne and basket of fruit every day, 24-hour laundry service, multi-functional rechargeable outlets, non-smoking rooms, in-room espresso machines, gourmet dining and state-of-the-art spa facilities.
“Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts is a brand that was conceptualized to be exported anywhere in the world,” notes Wojciechowski. “We see this brand throughout the Caribbean, in Panama and Costa Rica and Hawaii. It can also be taken abroad to Asia Pacific, the Sychelles or Mauritius. It opens up the world to AMResorts because it’s so tremendously flexible.”
According to Wojciechowski, the Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts brand allows for future properties to be an anchor hotel in a multi-use development, a stand-alone property on a private island or a top-tier resort in a well-known destination—provided that these contexts meet the brand tenets. All Zoëtry-branded resorts are intended to share certain parallels, such as lavish accommodations, personalized service and a relaxed environment. Zoëtry Collection Resorts differ from the new brand, however, in that they’re apt to be traditional EP-style hotels or niche properties. Also, they’re not specifically focused on environmental friendliness or wellness. “The collection resorts and those that are branded Zoëtry are operated by the same AMResorts executives to ensure that they’re all offering the same high standards and customized service,” says Wojciechowski.
Inspired by the splendor of Cap Cana and the life and lifestyle of Jack Nicklaus, the Golden Bear Lodge & Spa, a Zoëtry Collection resort, offers guests bespoke attention ranging from butler services to a personal golf concierge in a comfortable and relaxed environment. Accommodations include one- and two-bedroom suites complete with marbled bathrooms, views of the Caribbean Sea and Las Iguanas golf course—the second Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in Cap Cana. Guests can also play a round at the Punta Espada Golf Club. Other in-room amenities include pillow selection menus, Jacuzzis for two, fully equipped kitchenettes, private terraces or patios, and personalized turn-down service. Select suites also offer private plunge pools.
Golfers are obviously a major target market for the property, but it also holds appeal for families and couples who may be interested in its gourmet restaurant, spa and fitness center, free-form infinity swimming pool and four lighted tennis courts. Additional amenities include twice-daily maid service, 24-hour in-room dining, limousine, helicopter and nanny services. The lodge is also located near all of Cap Cana’s celebrated fine-dining restaurants, membership clubs, boutiques, horseback-riding grounds and marina. “This is a resort that can stand wonderfully on its own, without ever being overshadowed by its sister Zoëtry resorts in the Dominican Republic,” Wojciechowski explains.
The hacienda-like Zoëtry Casa del Mar Los Cabos fronts the Sea of Cortez, and so all of its suites are oceanfront. They feature Jacuzzis, Rivolta bedding and private balconies. In step with the brand, gourmet dining lures guests at meal times and the Sueños del Mar Spa with seven indoor cabins and oceanfront palapas promote wellness and relaxation. Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana is located on the Dominican Republic’s easternmost coast in Uvero Alto.
Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana offers three gourmet à la carte restaurants, including Areito, which serves authentic Spanish and Dominican cuisines; Caicu Beach, with its light international fare; and a European Fusion restaurant, which boasts a premium wine cellar with a collection of rare vintage wines. The resort also features a spa filled with Phytomer products. A full-service fitness center, a salon and meeting facilities are also available to guests.
“We’re very pleased to bring these two resorts into Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts’ growing portfolio,” says Alex Zozaya, AMResorts’ CEO and president. “Both properties already embody the ambience and service level our guests have come to expect from the Zoëtry brand, and through specific enhancements we plan to exceed expectations of new and returning guests.”
For more information
888-4ZOETRY | www.zoetryresorts.com