Azul Hotels by Karisma opened Azul Villa Esmeralda, a six-bedroom, six-bathroom event space facility for groups of up to 40 people in the Riviera Maya in Mexico. It is located on 54,000-square-feet of beachfront with two private pools, outdoor Jacuzzis, gym and spa. “We are excited to offer the ultimate in privacy and luxury with the introduction of Azul Villa Esmeralda,” said Mandy Chomat, vice president of sales and marketing for Premier Worldwide Marketing, the exclusive worldwide representatives for Azul Hotels by Karisma.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts continues its growth in Latin America with the debut of Le Meridien in the heart of Mexico City’s financial and cultural district. “The opening of Le Meridien Mexico City is part of Starwood’s aggressive expansion strategy in Latin America, marking the 71st Starwood hotel in the region and the seventh in Mexico City,” said Osvaldo Librizzi, co-president of the Americas of Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

The Grand Lucayan, Bahamas, which changed its name from “Our Lucaya” to the Grand Lucayan Resort in 2011, ended its affiliation with Radisson and has embarked on a series of steps to grow and enhance the resort independently.