Grand Bay Hotels Opens First Resort In Mexico

ISLA NAVIDAD, Mexico? Grand Bay Hotels and Resorts has opened its first property in Mexico, a 199-room resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean here. The Grand Bay Hotel Isla Navidad is part of a 1,200-acre resort community on a private peninsula that also features golf, a tennis center, shopping village, private homes and protected natural areas. The hotel has been open since February 1997 but was just recently integrated into the Grand Bay portfolio. The $250 million resort was designed to resemble a Spanish colonial palace with 158 guest-rooms and 41 suites. Roman columns, hand-carved wood, vaulted brick ceilings and Mexican tile floors are among the design features. Private balconies have views of the bordering tropical lagoon, Barra de Navidad, a quiet fishing village, and the Pacific Ocean. Many Recreational Options The resort?s grounds feature fountains, gardens and patios leading down to a private beach. In addition to the beach, recreational facilities include three free-form swimming pools, lighted tennis courts, a gym, sea walk and 27-hole golf course designed by Robert Von Hagge. A variety of spa services and fitness equipment are available at the resort?s clubhouse. A full-service spa with health and fitness facilities is in the planning stage. The resort also has a 180-slip marina for guests who want to charter a yacht, harbor their own or arrange a deep sea fishing excursion. Guests can take a three-minute motor launch to Barra de Navidad to shop for arts and crafts or souvenirs, and sample local foods. The Grand Bay Hotel Isla Navidad offers several dining options from fine dining to buffet style to poolside bar. Twenty-four hour room service is also available. For corporate functions or private events, the resort has 15,000 square feet of meeting space including grand and junior ballrooms, a 120-seat amphitheater with video and film equipment, four meeting rooms, and a boardroom. There are also two adjacent outdoor reception areas which can accommodate 200. A range of catering, business and photographic services are available.