On Location: “The Icon Is Back!” PAX goes inside the refreshed Paradisus Cancun

PAX arrived in Cancun on Friday (Oct. 16) to a warm welcome at Paradisus Cancun. 

As a guest of The Reserve, the resort's exclusive adults-only (18+) section, PAX was greeted with Meliá’s signature hand-over-heart welcome before joining invited U.S. and Canadian trade media for the reopening of the property, part of Paradisus by Melia, Melia Hotels International’s luxury all-inclusive brand. 

Built nearly 40 years ago, the resort closed for a 10-month, US$55 million renovation, reopened on April 1, 2026, and held its celebration on Sunday (Oct. 18). 

The makeover covers 773 completely refreshed suites, four pools, and nine restaurants, including three completely overhauled dining venues: Cappella, which serves Italian classics; Sal Steak Cave, the resort's signature oceanfront steakhouse specializing in premium cuts; and Agua Marina, serving fresh seafood. 

Other highlights include seven top-shelf liquor bars, 22 meeting rooms (including one brand-new space), the YHI Spa/Eco Spa and gym, four new pickleball courts, a 9-hole par-3 golf course, the Aquazone splash park, and The Kidsdom kids club.

The program included time to explore the transformed spaces, sample the restaurants, and take part in the resort’s Destination Inclusive® experiences, the brand’s signature program of local experiences on and off the property.

For Gabriel Escarrer, chairman and CEO of Melia Hotels International, the reopening holds special personal significance. As he told PAX and other trade media during a sit-down interview at the resort, “Here we are – the icon is back.”

A family story

The resort is personal for Escarrer, who took an informal “family style” approach to a group interview with U.S. and Canadian trade media, describing Melia as “a family-owned company for the last 70 years.” 

Founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Melia Hotels International marks its 70th anniversary this year and, according to the organization, is the largest hotel company in Spain and one of the most influential globally.

When PAX asked about his earliest memory of the Paradisus Cancun, Escarrer went back to his father, the company’s founder, Gabriel Escarrer Juliá. 

In 1986, Escarrer said his father spent more than a month travelling Mexico purchasing seven plots of land. In Cancun, he wanted two parcels for a single hotel, a decision many thought was “crazy.” 

His father’s reasoning was simple: “Luxury is about space, about creating experiences.”

Escarrer recalled his father's belief that hotels shouldn't duplicate the same layout across every destination, but rather build in harmony with and respect the local culture. That vision shaped Paradisus Cancun’s iconic Mayan pyramid design, conceived as a tribute to the Mexican people.

The recent refurbishment modernized the reception area with neutral tones and contemporary decor while preserving its signature pyramid architecture and indoor tropical gardens.

Asked what his late father would think of the transformed property, Escarrer shared, “He would be very happy. I know he would be very proud of what we have done.” 

On what sets Melia apart, Escarrer noted that products and services are now baseline expectations, while staying competitive in the resort space requires constant innovation. 

“You need to be very creative, and you need to innovate the whole time to bring something unique to the table. Otherwise, you are very boring, and you are a commodity,” shared Escarrer.

Two vacation experiences

That drive to create unique experiences directly shapes how Paradisus Cancun is laid out. 

Addressing how a 773-room resort avoids feeling like a mass market product, Escarrer shared that luxury today relies on micro-segmentation across offerings such as accommodations and dining.

By using the resort’s iconic pyramids, the property offers dedicated spaces for families and for adults, while maintaining flexibility for weddings and the MICE market.

Without this targeted approach, Escarrer emphasized, a large property risks losing its edge "because otherwise to sell 773 rooms, it could be perceived as a commodity."

In practice, that segmentation is delivered through two distinct offerings. The Reserve is an adults-only (18+) experience with enhanced services and privileges, exclusive areas, and concierge service for guests who want greater privacy and tranquility. 

Meanwhile, Family Concierge provides an elevated family offering built around personalized attention, dedicated spaces, and tailored amenities for both parents and children.

Both vacation experiences include a dedicated destination concierge and Destination Inclusive® programming, including the sunset cruise on Nichupté Lagoon, which is exclusive to guests.

PAX experienced the cruise, which explores the lagoon’s mangrove ecosystem and shares its history and natural heritage. As for the sunset, it was spectacular.

Destination-driven wellness

The idea behind Destination Inclusive® dates back about 8 years, when Escarrer shared that he was disappointed to see many of their guests spending a week at the properties without ever venturing off-site.  

This program partners with local companies, many of them family-run, to offer guests immersive experiences ranging from artisan workshops and cultural rituals to outdoor activities, wellness offerings, and destination-inspired gastronomy. 

"It exists to bring people outside to experience something unique," Escarrer explained during the interview. "If you touch the heart, they will become loyal to the company, to the destination."

PAX also had the chance to enjoy a hydrotherapy treatment at the resort’s newly unveiled YHI Spa, an hour-long circuit taking you through a sauna, steam room, cold plunge, and a vitality pool, complete with massage jets, waterfall showers, and in-water loungers. Once done, guests are welcome to enjoy the pool as long as they like.

The hydrotherapy circuit is complimentary once per stay for guests of The Reserve and Family Concierge, and is also included with a regular spa treatment or massage.

For Melia, the broader approach to wellness is about keeping the experience accessible rather than overly clinical. 

"The wellness part – we don't want to go very niche in terms of clinic[al],” said Alba Bustamante, Melia’s senior director of global brand marketing. “We want to make it soft; we want to make it accessible for everybody.” 

Bustamante pointed to the variety of experiences as examples of that approach. 

“You have massages with cacao from a local community here – then as well, you have workshops where you work with your hands, and disconnect from the technology,” she said. 

Other wellness offerings include the Longevity Suite for recovery and FACE SPAce by Comfort Zone for facials, along with Red Light Yoga and a 24-hour fitness centre.

What’s next: “I love challenges”

“In less than a month, we are bringing something completely new to the market, and it’s called Zel Cozumel,” Escarrer said. 

Zel is a lifestyle hotel brand created by Meliá alongside tennis star Rafael Nadal, Escarrer’s friend of more than two decades. The brand takes its name from the Mallorcan word for “sky.”

“Right now, we have 5 properties open, but in terms of development, there are 6 more under construction,” he said, calling it “a good challenge to have.”

That growth comes as Melia continues investing in Mexico. While Escarrer acknowledged the destination has faced challenges this year related to safety and sargassum, he emphasized Melia’s commitment to the destination. 

As a family company, he said, "we live always for (the) long term – there is a good opportunity to keep investing with this long-term view."

Beyond Cancun, Melia is upgrading resorts in Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and Playa del Carmen. 

The Playa del Carmen property is being renovated while remaining open, Escarrer said, noting that the property is 10 years old, compared with 40 years for Paradisus Cancun. The appetite for growth extends beyond Mexico. 

“I love challenges,” Escarrer said when the talk turned to Paradisus Bali. He noted that all-inclusive resorts have traditionally been perceived as a lower-end product in Asia, adding that “everybody thought that we were crazy to launch a Paradisus in Bali.” 

A year in, the property is already hitting its year-three targets, the CEO shared, and a Paradisus in Thailand is already signed and in the works.

Supporting travel advisors

Melia offers its trade partners two tailored programs: Melia PRO, a training platform where any agent can earn certifications, access reduced rates, and accumulate loyalty points; and Bravos by Meliá PRO, an invite-only track offering top producers VIP perks, resort credits, and a dedicated host concierge for luxury clients.

Beyond portals and perks, Escarrer highlighted what truly sets Melia apart when travel advisors help clients pick between high-end resorts in Mexico. 

"Most of our hotels are owned or managed, but we don’t do franchise. A manual can describe the standards, but you need soul, you need authenticity," Escarrer shared.

To gauge how the property updates resonate with trade partners, PAX caught up with Camille Wilson, GTA-based owner of Adventures with Camille (TTAND) and top Melia producer, who attended the official reopening as the exclusive Canadian travel advisor delegate. 

Having visited before the renovation, Wilson praised the property’s brighter look and elevated five-star service. 

She sees the split between The Reserve and Family Concierge as a huge selling point, describing them as "balanced bookends" that offer the same luxury perks to both families and adults. 

Most of all, she loves how it solves typical resort headaches: "The big thing for me is The Reserve and the Family Concierge – it is a differentiator. For example, there's no chair game. You don't have to worry and go put your hat on the chair at five in the morning – to me, that's a game changer."

Sunday’s celebration wrapped up the weekend on a high note, kicking off a new chapter for Paradisus Cancun. Special guests and local authorities gathered for the official ribbon cutting, followed by live entertainment, food, and drinks.

To see more photos from the grand opening, visit PAX’s Facebook post here.

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