There is a magical personal retreat located along the Mexican Riviera and less than an hour from Cancun, halfway between Tulum and Playa del Carmen. The dazzling Hotel Esencia occupies 50 acres of unspoiled coastline and is bordered by a jungle. which I can honestly say is one of my favorite hotels in the world.
The hotel brings taste and luxury to the genre, recovering the subtle decadence of its original owner, the Italian Duchess Rosa de Ferrari. The elegance remains today, under owner Kevin Wendle. What I would possibly not place here is a wedding every weekend as at the maximum. This is not an option unless you book the entire property.
With forty-five suites and 3 villas, with a personal pool, the hotel also has 3 restaurants, two pools and a very good spa. While suite rates are among the highest in Mexico, there’s a reason; it’s like buying exclusive, high-quality haute couture; you get the most productive and value it.
Assets have recently added new suites, adding the rooftop wellness suites (duplex style with a personal fitness center next to the master bedroom), the Master Jungle Suites (with very giant plunge pools surrounded by jungle foliage), and the Essence Suite. The suite categories will offer more areas and perspectives of Xpu Ha Beach and the surrounding Mexican jungle.
I visited the massive Esencia suite, spanning over 1,200 square feet inside, plus over 1,400 square feet of personal domain and an 860-square-foot rooftop terrace with a dining area and the largest personal pool of the assets. Activos is an incredible combination of colonial and mid-century Mexican fashion.
I stayed in a master suite tucked away on the beach overlooking the ocean with a personal terrace and plunge pool. Very exclusive and one of the largest rooms I have seen on the coast.
There are comfortable touches like pillow gifts each and every evening and morning coffee and pastries delivered to a secret locker near the front door. Thanks to the direction of the hotel’s captivating young general manager, Sean Murphy, each and every one presents themselves with elegance and grace The staff is more sensible and even remembers their drink order and personal tastes before you have to speak.
I spent too many hours dining at the hotel’s amazing oceanfront restaurant, the Mistura; the sea breeze takes the tension away from you as you dine under a huge thatched roof with nautical-themed décor and colors. Chef Luis Aban prepares a delicious menu with cuisine from the sea to the table, as well as grilled specialties. tacos of my life stuffed with braised ribs, avocado puree and a wonderful grilled Wagyu filet mignon. There is a full vegetarian menu as well as a brick baked pizza menu.
Other features come with an outpost of the popular Beefbar in Palm Garden, where iguanas and peacocks hung in the grass. And in December, they will launch a new Japanese dining venue called TAIYO, which will offer a classic “Omakase” bar with 12 seats according to the evening.
The spa is centrally located under a huge thatched dome in the palapa style. Start the party with a blessing and then enter the Mayan cooking lab to get biological ingredients to use in your session. Diversity of specialized remedies, from the anti-inflammatory ritual of coffee to Tata Harper. Facials, beauty salon, yoga and healing sessions are also available.
The Esencia Hotel is the brainchild of talented Hollywood manufacturer and media mogul Kevin Wendle, who saw the assets as an opportunity to create the ultimate retreat nestled between the jungle and ocean, with an emphasis on luxury and hospitality. Ends. He created the hotel so that guests would feel in the comfort of their own home.
In an exclusive interview, he explains to me why he got involved in the hotel business and its long-term expansion plans in Europe. With the acquisition of the eighteenth-century Château de Curzay in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, Wendle intends to repair and renovate the 300-acre castle over the next two years and at the Esencia France hotel.
What is the history of the property?
KEVIN WENDLE: “The origins of space were like a retreat for an Italian duchess. This is evident in the possible choices that were made through her and her architect: a very balanced combination of Mediterranean features and colonial accents, with very strong bones, generous proportions and a great combination of interior and exterior spaces. We started by analyzing the design and qualities of the main space, cutting through the surface elements, and learned that we literally had a blank canvas to start with, in terms of design. , is a very smart position to start with.
What is your vision of the hotel?
KW: “My vision has never been that of a vintage hotel; I was looking to have a position to share with my circle of family and friends, a magical retreat, isolated and away from it all. The main purpose was to get the feeling of being a guest of the space that simply booked a room in your typical boutique hotel, to give our visitors little tips that make them feel in a position they can call home and a position they need to return to. This vision, because it is so subtle, was not easy to talk about at first, but as with everything, over time, our builders, vendors, artisans and our own staff have come to perceive and be part of this vision. “
“From the beginning, I saw this stall as my home,” he continues, “I even brought here my private collection of furniture, art and mid-century items, and it turned out to be the inspiration for the progression of other atmospheres and spaces, the combination of old and new, raw fabrics and materials, and at most, combine this with the local and regional elements that are to create a sense of belonging. We have arranged this facet with wonderful care, embracing untapped and elevating and sublimating the local culture and Mexican heritage.
Tell me about your career and career.
KW: “I started my career in the television industry and was fortunate to be one of the founders of the Fox entertainment network before Fox started a news channel. I personally participated in the progression or production of many popular systems from the 80s and 90s, adding Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, 21 Jump Street, The Simpsons, Beverly Hills 90210 and many others.
Early in my career, I really enjoyed buying and converting homes to make some money in parallel. I co-founded one of the first internet media companies, CNET, in the ’90s, and this good fortune provided me with the laugh of creating much bigger, sumptuous houses, bigger and indeed more than I needed, so to laugh, I started renting them with butties, chefs, maids, etc.
A friend of mine said, “Kevin, you perceive the desires of a luxury customer; you deserve to be in the ultra-luxury hotel business. Honestly, I’m looking for something now and wish I had gotten into hospitality a lot as a company. previous in my career because that’s how much I love him.
Tell me about your plans for new hotels in the future.
KW: “In the summer of 2023, we will open the Hotel Esencia – Castillo de Curzay, my first foray into Europe, bringing the inimitable flavor of Hotel Esencia to the other side of the Atlantic to create a hotel from another destination. After a decade of searching for the best place, the assets will come back to life under a new vision of the future, capturing the spirit, essence and power that the Hotel Esencia logo has enjoyed while respecting the spirit of the assets. .
“The reinvention of the eighteenth-century Esencia Hotel – Château de Curzay is deeply rooted in my love for France, having owned houses in Paris and St Tropez,” he continues. “By taking the time and patience to notice this gem with enormous potential, The Castle embodies laid-back luxury and captivating charm in the most stunning setting. Surrounded by 120 hectares of rolling countryside, forests and fields near the Pays-de-la-Loire region with the Vonne River running through the park, the castle built in the French Baroque style is located in the centre of the estate and is known as ‘Le Petit Versailles en Poitou’ for its majestic beauty.
The vision of Hotel Esencia – Castillo de Curzay is to create a world-class destination hotel with an exclusive personality and a strong sense of belonging. With Hotel Esencia increasingly recognized abroad as a leading hotel in design and art, the Chateau is about to follow suit, taking its inspired by the rich history and character of the assets with new and fashionable concepts that combine local craftsmanship with foreign influences.
An immersive philosophy will allow visitors to feel at home and embrace their excellent surroundings. A biological farm, a state-of-the-art fitness and wellness concept, an equestrian center, an impressive art collection, secret gardens, as well as walking and biking trails are evolved. as a component of this exciting opening.
Award-winning writer, author, traveler and storyteller, who searches the world for the ultimate number of people, options and things.
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Award-winning writer, author, traveler and storyteller, who searches the world for the ultimate number of people, options and things.
Send an email with story ideas, questions, or corrections to: theluxeworld@gmail. com