Forget everything you think you know about the Riviera Maya resort scene — or at least, forget what you thought you knew about the property formerly known as Andaz Mayakoba.
Hyatt and development partner RLH Properties just pulled off a conversion of epic, even Jurassic (I’ll get to that in a few), proportions.
The newly minted Alila Mayakoba officially opened Thursday, marking the luxury brand’s highly anticipated Latin American debut. Nestled within the exclusive Mayakoba enclave, this 60-acre sanctuary has been reimagined from the ground up as an ode to conscious luxury, wellness-forward hospitality, and design that feels less like a hotel and more like a secret hideaway you’ll probably want to gatekeep after a stay here.
For General Manager Patrick Schori, the transformation is all about creating an environment that feels transportive — think Jurassic Park, but swap the velociraptors for spa treatments and vinyl nights.
“I want you to feel like you got into Jurassic Park, but without the intensity,” Schori told Luxury Travel Advisor ahead of opening day. “You’ve come off your car through this lush jungle, then you arrive at this huge cenote, open air [welcome area]. You’ve just been transformed somewhere else.”
(Alila Mayakoba)
Two Rhythms: The Lagoon and The Beach
The property’s unique positioning offers two distinct experiences within one resort, separated by about a kilometer but connected through Mayakoba’s famous waterway system. Think of it as choose-your-own-adventure hospitality.
“The beach is obviously more family-friendly,” Schori explained, noting the higher energy vibe of that zone.
The lagoon side? That’s where the resort leans into “serenity and the calm” — the ideal backdrop for the property’s new adult-focused spaces and wellness center.
“This whole destination is waterfront, and there are protected mangroves, and we’re all connected through the waterways,” Schori said.
Design and Accommodations: A Residential Sanctuary
The resort’s 182 guest rooms, suites, and villas have been strategically reconfigured during the Alila conversion: Nearly 40% are now suites, including a jaw-dropping beachfront Presidential Suite. Interiors by Huber Design lean heavily into the Yucatán Peninsula’s natural palette, incorporating locally sourced tropical hardwoods like tzalam, parota, and rosa morada, alongside hand-chiseled Mérida limestone for an organic warmth that feels distinctly rooted in place.
Schori noted that the room count was intentionally shrunk during the transformation to amp up the luxury quotient.
“We’ve shrunk our [room count] and added more suites and a lot of plunge pools,” Schori said, comparing the top-tier suites to beachfront homes or duplexes more than traditional hotel accommodations.
The design philosophy blurs indoor-outdoor boundaries, with terraces and private pools woven through the mangroves in a way that makes it tempting to never leave your room.
“You can spend a whole day in the room,” Schori added. “It’s totally a 360-degree turn.”
A “Ninja” Approach to Service
While the Huber Design-led architecture is visually striking, Schori’s real focus is on a service philosophy he honed during his time in Tokyo, which included stints at Park Hyatt Tokyo.
The goal? Anticipatory hospitality so seamless, it borders on telepathic.
“In a way, we’re ninjas,” Schori said with a smile. “You can feel everything unfolding around you, but you have not asked for it to happen. So how do we do that? It’s about getting to know our guests.”
To pull this off, the resort’s deploying a dedicated pre-arrival team to hyper-personalize each guest journey before they even arrive. The aim is to ditch the traditional check-in process entirely in favor of something Schori described as “more of a flow.”
Wellness: Identity, Not Amenity
Spa and wellness programming, a core pillar of the Alila brand, goes beyond the standard treatment menu here. At Spa Alila, the experience is interactive, customizable, and occasionally left up to the cards. Literally.
“You walk into the spa and there’s this massive table, and on that table are all the salts, oils, and herbs,” Schori described. “You choose what you want in your treatment, and if you don’t know what you want, you do the Oracle, and you get 20 cards which follow the Mayan calendar, and whichever card you pick, it represents your energy for that day.”
The property also introduces “Alila Moments” — signature experiences anchored in the four elements: Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire. Expect offerings like a “Winds of Renewal” cenote journey and a “Sacred Fire” ritual that lean into the destination’s cultural and natural heritage.
Culinary and “Cheeky Fun”
Despite the wellness-forward positioning, Schori’s quick to note that Alila Mayakoba isn’t all green juices and silent meditation. The Alisio Beach Club is set to feature live performances and vinyl nights for guests looking to let loose.
On the dining front, the beloved Casa Amate returns, joined by a new addition: El Huerto, a Chef’s Atelier where guests can peek behind the curtain of the resort’s culinary R&D process in a state-of-the-art open kitchen.
“There is going to be fun,” Schori promised.
To celebrate the opening, Alila Mayakoba has launched an Inaugural Stay Offer (code: OPENING), which includes round-trip airport transportation, a signature wellness experience, and hydrotherapy access for stays booked by May 31, 2026 for stays through the end of this year.
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