Grupo Mayan is a five star Mexican-based private company specializing in the construction and operation of luxury hotels and resorts, real estate, urban developments, restaurants, and spas. Some of its most recognized brands include The Grand Mayan, Mayan Palace, Sea Garden, and Mayan Island. Several of its resorts have been awarded Four Diamond awards by the American Automobile Association (aka AAA), as well as Green Globe certifications, among many other awards.
History
What today is known as Grupo Mayan started in 1974 with the inauguration of Paraíso Mazatlán (Mazatlan Paradise), a resort located in Mazatlan, Mexico. It was a pioneer development for Vacation Ownership in Mexico. Following the rapid growth and demand for Vacation Ownership, construction of a second resort named Paraíso Mazatlán began in 1979. The resort inaugurated almost two years later, opening its doors to the public on June 15th 1980.
In 1984 a third resort, the Costa Brava Hotel (Brave Cost Hotel), was built a few steps from the Paraíso del Mar. The resort’s name was later changed to Vidafel Mazatlán. Today this resort is known as Sea Garden. Since the creation of the Sea Garden, Grupo Mayan started an era of intense growth, created several hotels brands, and spread to the main tourist beach destinations in Mexico.
In 1988 the company gained international recognition with the development of the Mayan Palace five star luxury resort in Acapulco, Mexico. The 200 acre Mayan-inspired architecture hotel revolutionized the lodging industry in Mexico by setting the benchmark of what today is known as resort. Mayan Palace featured several acres of lakes and jungle, golf courses, gourmet dining, and the largest pool in Latin America. In 1992, the company adopted the Mayan theme for its future developments and changed its name to Grupo Mayan. In 1996, the Sea Garden Acapulco is opened, located by the golf course of the Mayan Palace.
In October of 1995, a strong earthquake affects the Pacific coasts of Jalisco and Colima. This phenomenon seriously damages the Vidafel Vallarta resort development. Once reconstructed, it is named Mayan Palace Puerto Vallarta. Totally functional by 1998, it is given five-star plus classification. The Mayan Palace Nuevo Vallarta resort opens its doors in 1997. At the most southern point of Mexico, within the Riviera Maya tourist corridor, the Mayan Palace Riviera Maya is inaugurated in December of 2001, and located only 35 minutes from Cancun’s airport.
In January of 2003, operations begin at the Mayan Palace La Jolla de Cortés, nearby Puerto Peñasco. That same year, in October, the first The Grand Mayan luxury resort opens its doors on the Riviera Maya. Grupo Mayan opens a new development in November 2003, Sea Garden Nuevo Vallarta, which follows the concept of the Sea Gardens in Acapulco and Mazatlan. At the same time, The Grand Mayan luxury resort and Mayan Island real estate begin operations in this important tourist destination.
The Grand Mayan Nuevo Vallarta luxury resort and Mayan Island real estate begin operations in October 2004. Mayan Country Club opens its doors to the public in July of 2005, on the beaches of San José del Cabo, where The Grand Mayan Los Cabos was inaugurated in October of 2007.
The Grand Mayan La Jolla de Cortés, nearby Puerto Peñasco, is currently under construction and is scheduled to open its doors to the public in 2010.
Today, Grupo Mayan’s portfolio of hotel brands includes The Grand Mayan, Mayan Palace and Sea Garden. In addition to hotels, Grupo Mayan’s real estate division, Mayan Island, has constructed and sold over 2,000 condos and villas in Mexico’s top beach destinations.
