Experience Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Mexico’s Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit

Grand Velas Riviera Maya & Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit Top the Charts with AAA Five Diamond Awards

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (October 4, 2010) – Recently announced, Mexico’s all-inclusive Velas Resorts have earned a total of 26 American Automobile Association’s (AAA) Diamonds for 2011. The four luxury all-inclusive properties are located in three of Mexico’s top beach destinations, Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya, for the first time since opening in late 2008, and Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, for its fifth consecutive year, were awarded the 2011 AAA Five Diamond Award for lodging. The two are the only family-friendly all-inclusive properties in North America that merited the award.

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit’s three gourmet restaurants, Frida (Mexican Cuisine), Lucca (Italian-Mediterranean Cuisine) and Piaf (Traditional French Cuisine), were also awarded AAA Four Diamond awards for fine dining.

The resorts’ sister property, Casa Velas in Puerto Vallarta received the AAA Four Diamond Award, for its fourth consecutive year. Casa Velas, a boutique hotel and ocean club located on the Marina Vallarta Golf Course, is the only adults-only all-inclusive golf resort in Mexico to receive this award.

Every year more than 60 AAA/CAA tourism editors visit over 60,000 lodgings, campgrounds, restaurants and attractions throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Tourism editors conduct unannounced evaluations, scrutinizing such areas as cleanliness, ambiance, amenities and service. Only an estimated 0.25 percent of the estimated 60,000 properties will receive the Five Diamond Award each year.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

About Velas Resorts:

Mexico’s all-inclusive Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit have earned 26 AAA Diamonds and numerous other esteemed international awards for their services and facilities. Among them are Virtuoso’s “Best Spa of the World”, Condé Nast Johansens’ “Most Excellent Resort” and the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences’ 5 Star Diamond Award. Velas Resorts offer spacious luxury accommodations, world-class spas, a la carte gourmet cuisine at a selection of specialty restaurants, and an unparalleled hospitality experience.

As has happened since 2003, Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit will once again receive from RCI (Resort Condominiums International) and its program of recognition of the best in tourism, the Gold Crown and Excellence in Service awards for 2011.

These recognitions are awarded directly according to member traveler’s reviews, based on quality of service and their overall vacation experience at the resort. In this manner, Grand Velas strengthens its position with the public, confirming its class, service and quality, and reaffirms its promise to provide only the best.

Congratulations to each and every one of our staff members, whose perseverance, effort and enthusiasm have made this success possible. And thanks to our guestsfor their preference.

Sin lugar a dudas, una de las actividades favoritas de los huéspedes en Velas Vallarta, es buscar uno de los muchos bellos espacios en el hotel para disfrutar del placer de un buen libro

Species such as the Gulf Turtle and the Laud Turtle (the largest sea turtle), are some of the many who visit the tranquil beaches of the coast of the Bay of Banderas during this season. The turtles come to lay their eggs, which are found and placed by staff in protected areas until they hatch.

Especies como la tortuga Golfina o la tortuga Laúd, la más grande y espectacular por su tamaño, son algunas de las muchas que durante esta temporada visitan las tranquilas playas de la costa de Bahía de Banderas.

Neem is the name of this thousand-year old Ayurvedic ingredient from India that has proven curative properties for a range of ailments: from common cold and headaches to serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

¿Por qué no terminar esta semana llena de retos y objetivos alcanzados, con esta deliciosa receta. Consiéntase con esta copa de frutas, cortesía de Restaurante Emiliano de Casa Velas. ¡Que lo disfrute! / Why not endind this week with a fantastic treat and celebrate all your goal achieved!! We share with you this absolutely delicious recipe. Courtesy of Emiliano Restaurant, from Casa Velas!

 
SPA Fruit Plate with Grapefruit Confit and Beet Yogurt Parfait with Coconut Foam

Ingredients:

Papaya 25 gr. | Pineapple 25 gr. | Cantaloupe 25 gr. | Watermelon 25 gr. | Grapefruit 15 gr | Pitajaya (Dragon Fruit) 10 gr | Agave Syrup 5 ml | Beet 10 gr | Plain Yogurt 30 ml | Coconut Milk 10 ml | Coconut Cream 10 ml | Coconut Water 10 ml | 1/2 Cinnamon Stick | Water ¾ liter | Sugar 200 gr

Directions:

To make grapefruit confit, peel grapefruit and cut it into small strips. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, simmer grapefruit, sugar and water until it reduces by about 20%.

To make the coconut foam, heat coconut cream, coconut milk and coconut water with the cinnamon stick until it becomes light and airy. Pour into a siphon and allow to cool before adding to yogurt parfait.

In the blender, blend beet with yogurt and agave syrup.

Slice papaya, pineapple, cantaloupe and watermelon into equal-size, large flat squares and stack to form a tower on one end of plate.

Cube pitajaya (dragon fruit) into 1 cm cubes. Place small spoonfuls of grapefruit confit in a line next to the tower of fruit and place a cube of pitaya on top of each one. Drizzle grapefruit confit onto fruit tower and use to decorate plate.

Pour beet yogurt mixture into parfait, cocktail or champagne glass and top with coconut foam.

Place at opposite end of plate from fruit tower.

Enjoy! 

Plato de frutas spa y copa de yogurt de betabel y espuma de coco

 Ingredientes

Papaya 25 gr. | Piña 25 gr. | Melón cantalup 25 gr. | Sandía 25 gr | Toronja 15 gr. | Pitajaya 10 gr. | Miel de agave 5 ml. | Betabel 10 gr. | Yogurt natural 30 ml. | Leche de coco 10 ml | Crema de coco 10 ml. | Agua de coco 10 ml. | Canela entera ½ pza. | Agua ¾ litro | Azúcar 200 gr

Procedimiento:

Para confitar la toronja, deberá de pelarse y cortar en julianas, cocer en jarabe a base de agua y azúcar hasta reducir a un 80%.

Licuar el betabel con yogurt natural y miel, vertir en la copa. Para la espuma de coco, calentar la crema junto con la  leche y el agua de coco con la pieza de canela. Vertir en un recipiente para dejar enfriar antes de incorporarlo en la copa de yogurt.

Cortar la fruta en forma de láminas y montar en forma de torre. Cortar la pitaya en pequeños cubitos. Para montar, coloque pequeñas cucharadas del confite de toronja formando una línea, y coloque un cubito de pitalla sobre cada ‘gota’ de confite. A un extremo de la línea formada, coloque la fruta formando una torre, adornando con confite. Colocar la copa de betabel con espuma de coco en el otro extremo de la línea de confite. ¡Que lo disfrute!

Durante la última semana del mes de julio, la Unidad de bomberos municipales de Puerto Vallarta, Protección Civil de Bahía de Banderas, la Unidad estatal de bomberos del estado de Nayarit al igual que la Brigada de control y combate de incendios Hotel Velas Vallarta, proporcionaron la Práctica de Bomberos para brigada de control y combate de incendios así como la Búsqueda y rescate de compañeros de trabajo/huéspedes.

Con un total de 30 participantes provenientes de Velas Vallarta y Casa Velas, y un staff de 10 instructores dirigidos por Brian Singleton, capitán de bomberos retirado (Calgary, Canadá), se instruyó a los asistentes en el uso y maniobrabilidad de los equipos de respiración autónoma en situaciones adversas; donde los participantes tenían que de mostrar su conocimiento y capacidad para hacer uso correcto del equipo y realizar un cambio de tanque y arnés en la oscuridad. De igual forma, se trabajó en habilidades y condición física para poder realizar la búsqueda de personas civiles dentro de un espacio confinado (atrapadas en un incendio/desastre), así como el rescate de brigadistas lesionados durate una operación de control de incendio.

El objetivo de estas prácticas es adquirir las destrezas y habilidades necesarias para saber reaccionar de la mejor manera en caso de algún percance. De esta forma, se promueve la seguridad de nuestros huéspedes al igual que el de nustros colaboradores, en caso de necesitarlo.

¡Felicitaciones a este equipo tan comprometido

con el bienestar de nuestros huéspedes!

This month in Mexico City, in the Grand W Salon, the first awards ceremony took place for the Distinctive W Best of Tourism in Mexico, presented by the Expedition W radio program (W radio).

During this ceremony awards are given for 15 categories and 5 honorable mentions. Among the awards, Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort Riviera Nayarit received the “Icarus” trophy for the Best Spa and Wellness Concept. 

Distinctive W Awards are bestowed according to guidelines of plurality, independence and impartiality from the panel of judges. The judges are acclaimed journalists in the tourism arena, summoned exclusively to recognize people, companies and institutions that stand out due to their performance in the national tourism industry and whose achievements are reflected in the quality of their service.

The gala united 300 prestigious guests including business owners, government authorities and national and international media representatives.

Congratulations!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[see gallery]

One of the favorite activities of guests of Velas Vallarta is finding a beautiful spot at the hotel to enjoy a good book.
For this reason, just a few months ago, the guests themselves created a very interesting book exchange within the hotel. Near the pool area, at the towel station, a wide variety of books can be found. The books have been given to the hotel by guests so that everyone is able to take one and possibly leave one that they have already read, or even exchange the book with another person.

Velas Vallarta Suite Resort and Convention Center

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 This program has come about in a relaxed and informal way, with a great reception from lovers of the written word, who take advantage of their vacation time to read as they sunbathe and rest.