PRESS RELEASES
Michelin-Starred Chefs, Award-Winning Distillers, and Celebrated Artisans Gather at Ultra-Luxury Resort to Celebrate Mexico’s Rich and Diverse Cultural Heritage
January 05, 2023
Riviera Maya, Mexico (January 5, 2022) – In celebration of its milestone 15-year anniversary, the ultra-luxury Riviera Maya resort Rosewood Mayakoba is pleased to announce a special edition of its annual Yo ❤ Mexico festival, which in its third year features four weekends of immersive programming highlighting Mexican culture and heritage. The Forbes five-star hotel, distinguished by winding emerald lagoons and white sand beaches, has curated a roster of tastemakers representing four distinct regions of Mexico – the Southern Pacific Coast, Mexican Riviera, Baja California, and Central Mexico – to bring to life the best of their hometowns’ art, culture, food, and cocktails over the course of four celebratory weekends in January and February 2023.
“At Rosewood Mayakoba, we have long been inspired by the incredible talent and craftmanship found all across Mexico,” says Daniel H. Scott, Regional Vice President and Managing Director at Rosewood Mayakoba. “It’s an honor that we can offer our home on the Yucatan Peninsula to shine light on other pockets of Mexico that we’ve always admired and introduce guests to both established and emerging creatives whose work authentically represents these different regions. Especially in light of our 15-year anniversary, we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the resort’s quinceañera and usher in the New Year!”
Events from each celebratory weekend will also support Centro Educativo K'iin Beh, the bilingual non-profit school established for the children of resort associates and families within the Playa del Carmen community. The school, which is funded by friends, guests, and associates of Rosewood Mayakoba, just expanded to include a high school in Fall 2022 and now provides education for more than 400 students.
Launching on January 5, 2023, Yo ❤ Mexico features four weekends spotlighting talent from the following destinations around the country:
Mexico’s Southern Pacific Coast (Jan 5-8): The first installation of Yo ❤ Mexico celebrates the color and culture of Oaxaca, the birthplace of mezcal and cradle of Mexican heritage, as well as Chiapas and Guerrero, known for their craftsmanship, regional cuisine and pristine Pacific waters.
Mexican Riviera (Jan 12-15): Beloved as a place of music and tequila, The Mexican Riviera is known as much for its blue agave fields as its reputation as the birthplace of mariachi. Yo ❤ Mexico’s tribute the region also explores Nayarit, a historic enclave nestled between mountains and ocean, celebrated for its coastal cuisine and indigenous Huichol and Cora influence.
Baja California (Feb 2-5): The storied Mexican Peninsula showcases sustainable seafood from the Sea of Cortez, wine from renown Mexican wine region Valle de Guadalupe, and the diverse heritage of a land that welcomed migrants from all over the world, particularly East Asia and China.
Central Mexico (Feb 9-12): Home to Mexico City and highlands of Central Mexico, the final weekend of Yo ❤ Mexico highlights a melting pot of history and heritage, in which pre-Hispanic cultures, Spanish settlement, and recent global influence blended to create a diverse yet authentically Mexican experience.
The following themes are explored throughout Yo ❤ Mexico programming, providing guests the unique opportunity to discover all that makes Mexico such an exceptional destination.
Cuisine
From the verdant valleys to bustling Mexico City and azure coastal communities, Mexico’s culinary story is as varied as its landscape. Yo ❤ Mexico showcases the melting pot of history and heritage with guest chefs including Elvia León of Alfonsina in Oaxaca and her son Chef Jorgé Leon, the creator of Pujol’s famous Mole Madre; Fabían Delgado, part of a new generation of Mexican chefs responsible for positioning Jalisco as a culinary destination; Hugo Soto, a Zacatecas-based chef with a Michelin Star background; Javier Plascencia, the Baja ambassador and fervent evangelist of localized production, from seafood sourced off the shores of Ensenada to meat raised on local organic farms; Roberto Alcocer, chef/owner of Malva in Ensenada; Fernando Hernández, a three-Michelin starred chef and native Pueblan whose mission is to share a story of Mexican culture as experienced through cuisine from his hometown; and Daniel Ovadia, a chef, restaurateur, and author of the cookbook “Great Mexican Chefs,” whose work often references Mexico’s storied history as a melting pot of cultures.
Craft Cocktails and Mexican Spirits
Best known for agave-based distillates, Mexico’s cocktail and spirits profile is on the rise with growing international interest. Guests in this space include Graciela Àngeles and her beloved mother Doña Candelaria Carreño, the producers behind Real Minero Mezcal and advocates for protecting the traditional and ecologically-sound production of mezcal; Erick Gaytan, director of bars at Casa Oaxaca and passionate ambassador of his hometown of Oaxaca; Alejandra de Aguinaga, part of the award-winning team behind Guadalajara’s El Gallo Altanero, ranked 21 at the 2022 North America Best Bar Awards; Anny Barrera, chief bartender at Guamúchil Bar in San Jose del Cabo; and Macario Vasquez, a Puebla-based mixologist and award-winning cocktail expert.
Art and Design
Each weekend hosts artisans, designers, and craftspeople from each region, including Oaxaca-based ceramics collective Colectivo 1050° and alebrije artisan Keten; fashion brand Ernestina y Macorina, a Mexico City-based design house dedicated to supporting Indigenous communities, women, and young people; and Caralarga, a Querétaro-based textile design and production workshop, among other creatives. Guests can also participate in interactive workshops exploring Huichal art, alebrije making, and watercolor art therapy throughout the season.
More information and the full program of Yo ❤ Mexico events
About Rosewood Mayakoba
Rosewood Mayakoba sits in the heart of a 620-acre resort enclave in the Riviera Maya. Built along winding lagoons and a mile-long arc of pristine beach, this oasis of indulgence offers 129 newly renovated suites with plunge pools, butler service, garden showers, individual docks, and an exclusive collection of Private Residences with the finest in-room design and details. Resort amenities include a signature Greg Norman championship golf course, award-winning dining destinations, Rosewood Explorers® for children, and Sense®, A Rosewood Spa, which is designed around a cenote, one of the sacred water wells of the ancient Mayans, and sits on a private island. The resort is built to abide by the highest of eco-standards, offering indulgence with awareness, and has recently been awarded the Rainforest Alliance Certification and was named one of Travel & Leisure’s Top Resort Hotels in Mexico in 2022.
For more information, please visit rosewoodmayakoba.com
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About Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® manages a global collection of 30 one-of-a-kind luxury hotels, resorts and residences in 18 countries. Each Rosewood property embraces the brand’s A Sense of Place® philosophy to reflect the individual location’s history, culture and sensibilities. The Rosewood collection includes some of the world’s most legendary hotels and resorts, including The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas and Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in Paris, as well as new classics such as Rosewood Hong Kong and Rosewood São Paulo. For those who wish to stay a little longer, Rosewood Residences offer a distinct opportunity for the ownership or rental of properties co-located with a Rosewood hotel or resort and of standalone for-sale residences. Rosewood Residences are defined by the brand’s commitment to Enriched Living through thoughtful details and experiences that enhance the quality of life while evoking a sense of discovery and inspiration.
For more information, please visit rosewoodhotels.com
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