Designed for those seeking relaxed adventure, Mahogany Bay Resort & Beach Club, Curio Collection by Hilton is now welcoming travelers in Belize’s stunning Ambergris Caye. Marking Hilton’s first property in the country – and one of the first resorts from a global brand in Belize – the elegant hotel features 205 cottage and villa-style rooms across a 60-acre waterfront site with 10 distinct dining outlets, bay and beach clubs, and meeting and event spaces.
The official ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Mahogany Bay’s signature Great House on Wednesday, December 6, with Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, San Pedro Mayor Daniel Guerrero, Hon. Tracy Taeger Panton Minister of State in Ministry of Investment, Trade and Commerce and Juan Arboleda Director of Brand Performance, Full Service Hotels Latin America and Caribbean Hilton Hotels addressing the gathering.
“As we continue to grow our portfolio of Curio Collection properties across Latin America, we are proud to expand our footprint with Hilton’s first property in Belize,” said Mark Nogal, global head, Curio Collection by Hilton. “As one of the first high-end resorts on the island, the distinctive property offers one-of-a-kind experiences that are true to the Curio Collection brand and celebrate Belizean culture, such as exclusive access to a pristine private beach and a sustainable design that evokes the local setting.”
Guests staying at Mahogany Bay Resort & Beach Club have access to a wide array of amenities, including the Bay Club with a grand pool, bar and poolside spa treatments and the private white sand Beach Club, just a short ride from the on-site marina.
At the heart of the hotel’s social scene is the 22,000-square-foot Great House, featuring a signature restaurant and bar, flexible event space and a multi-level covered wrap-around veranda. Golf carts and electric and pedal bikes are available for guests to discover the expansive property. The hotel is less than two miles from San Pedro, the only town on the island, and 10 minutes from San Pedro Airport.
Mahogany Bay Resort & Beach Club’s 205 charming cottages and villa-style rooms are nestled amongst groves of coconut palms and tropic foliage. Each of the buildings embrace the indigenous details of Caribbean living, offering breezy spaces with lofty ceilings and spacious porches. The sustainably-built resort also incorporates local materials into the structure of the cottages and furniture selection, including five different types of wood – Bullet Tree, Cabbage Bark, Caribbean Pine, Santa Maria and Mahogany. Accommodations range from garden cottage, garden cottage with loft, lower and upper keeping suites and family cottages.
Guests can discover the true flavors of Ambergris Caye through the resort’s extensive and eclectic dining venues, including The Verandah, specializing in organic farm-to-table offerings and stunning sunset views; Hive, serving a menu of light and healthy globally-inspired bowls; JYOTO, serving up the highest-grade sushi; Taco Shack, a go-to take-away spot for authentic Belizean tacos; Rum+Bean, a classic Hemingway-inspired locale with inventive coffee drinks in the morning and an extensive collection of rum offerings in the evening and Mahogany Chocolates, which offers locally-sourced organic chocolate and private chocolate-making classes.
Cocktail aficionados can choose from mixology bar, Stirred, in the lobby of the Great House and Shaken, a lively outdoor bar overlooking the Bay Club; Gadfly’s, an exclusive speakeasy social club, and Dirty Martini, a tapas bar specializing in vodka and gin, will complete the hotel’s cocktail offerings when opening in 2018.
“As Hilton’s debut property in the country, we ensured that we attended to every detail of the resort from the accommodations and amenities to team member training and guest service,” said Beth Clifford, founder and developer, Mahogany Bay Resort & Beach Club, Curio Collection by Hilton. “The exclusive resort will provide unique guest experiences and serve as the perfect base camp for our guests’ Belizean adventures, fostering a new level of sophistication for travelers visiting the country.”
Mahogany Bay Resort & Beach Club is part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 14 distinct hotel brands. Members who book directly have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi and access to the Hilton Honors mobile app and to unique events through the Hilton Honors auction platform, such as exclusive artist experiences and hotel concert events with Live Nation®, or race experiences with the McLaren-Honda Formula 1 team.
“Today I want to thank you for creating so many jobs for our people; for creating the first brand name resort in the island of San Pedro,” stated Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. “Our stakeholders are the ones that move this industry. It is not the Minister that drives the industry, it is you all. So I am here to give support…I believe that this project will continue to grow.”
“I am glad to say that I have seen Mahogany Bay very much involved in our community, and I want to encourage Beth and her team to continue on that path,” commented Mayor Daniel Guerrero. “ Today’s opening is a reassurance to our community and country that Mahogany Bay is here to stay for the long run. It is a step in the right direction, especially when I see that Mahogany Bay has partnered with the Hilton group. No doubt that such endorsement by Hilton is a ground breaking accomplishment for tourism in Belize and will attract other tourism prospects into our country. It is my hope, and those of the town, that Mahogany Bay keeps on growing. I congratulate Mahogany Bay, Beth and her team and wish them success in the future.”
