Villa Group Reports 85% Occupancy after H1N1 Flu Scare
Mexico's Private Hotel Group Sees Signs of Recovery on Mexican Riviera
JUNE 3, 2009 - The Villa Group, one of Mexico's largest privately owned hotel groups with eight premier resorts along the Mexican Riviera, is reporting that occupancy levels are showing signs of recovery after a precipitous drop in May. This week, the Villa Group's Del Arco resort in Cabo San Lucas is at 85% occupancy after declining by 95% immediately following a May 8 government travel advisory.
Carlos Aquino, Corporate Director for The Villa Group, reported, "We are encouraged that the signs are pointing to a recovery as the public comes to understand that Mexico is not the center of their health concerns. Our summer bookings, while not back to normal, are improving. Our guests have been very enthusiastic about their visits this week, and our American and Canadian guests in particular have voiced strong feelings about the unfairness of the media coverage of this region."
The Villa Group owns thirteen resorts, four in Los Cabos, one in Puerto Vallarta, three in Nuevo Vallarta, one in Jalisco and four new resorts set to open next year in Loreto and Cancun. The Group also owns three luxury spas, including the Tatewari Spa in Nuevo Vallarta which Travel West named Best Spa in Mexico. Their Spa business suffered during May, but it too is showing signs of recovery.
"Most of our Spa guests are vacation visitors from our properties and from our neighboring hotels," continued Aquino. "As occupancy in our resorts and others along the coast improve, we are seeing the first signs of improvement at our Spas."
Aquino concluded, "Mexico is one of the most relaxing and welcoming of countries, whose resort industry will rebound from this setback. We have found it particularly gratifying that our customers have felt so strongly about the safety of the region."
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