RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO W Hotels Worldwide plans to open W Retreat & Spa Kanai-Riviera Maya, located within an exclusive master-planned beachfront resort, slated to debut in 2014.
Nestled on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, the 180-key resort is being designed by architect Richard Meier. Owned by ALHEL and GIM Desarrollos, W Kanai will be part of the Kanai Resort, which will include four hotels and a Beach Club.
“We are excited to further expand W’s exclusive retreat portfolio with W Retreat & Spa Kanai-Riviera Maya, another fantastic location for the global jetsetters to escape and play when the hustle and bustle of the city gets to be too much,” says Eva Ziegler, global brand leader for W and Le Méridien. “W Kanai will offer guests a new way to escape, amidst innovative design and programming, on the coast of one of the world’s most scenic beaches.”
The design of W Kanai is intended to make the property appear to be “floating on a carpet of mangroves,” according to the brand. Guestrooms, designed by the New York-based Meyer Davis Studio, will have unobstructed views of the sea. Designed as continuous living areas, interior spaces will merge with an exterior deck furnished with lounge seating, cocktail bar, exterior tub and shower. The decks will be enclosed by retractable privacy screens and sun-shading louvers.