CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort - Press Kits

LOCATION
The CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort is located in the heart of Cancun’s Hotel Zone on a beautiful stretch of the Mexican Caribbean coast. The CasaMagna Marriott Cancun is adjacent to the JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa, connected by pathway between their respective ballroom/convention room areas.

The resort is just 2 miles south of Cancun Center, (Cancun’s convention center) and all major shopping plazas and 11 miles from Cancun International Airport. Various archeological sites and ecological parks are situated no more than 2 hours from the resort. Cancun is easily accessible from most U.S. cities. Airlines servicing Cancun include American Airlines, Continental, Delta, United, Northwest, USAir, Mexicana, Aeroméxico, Alaskan Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Iberia, Air Europe, among others.

Visitors to Mexico must have a current passport. U.S. visitors may enter the country with a current passport or official photo identification along with an original Birth Certificate. Starting January 2007 all US visitors must have passport.

ACCOMODATIONS
452 rooms all re-modeled in 2006, including 38 suites with balcony and ocean view.

96 Premium ocean view rooms fully renovated with spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea. Premium ocean rooms are located in the 5th & 6th floor and offer turndown service, bathrobes & slippers.

Water purification system
Climate control air-conditioning
Flat 32” LCD TV
CD player with clock/alarm
Digital safe
Mini bar
Iron and ironing board
Cable Channels, PPView, Games
Hair Dryer
Express check-in/check out

All rooms with king sized beds come with a sofa/bed. Non-smoking and wheelchair accessible rooms are also available.

High-speed wireless Internet access is available in all rooms and public areas throughout the resort.

ROOM CATEGORY BREAKDOWN

STANDARD
Garden View: 123 rooms
44- 1 king bed, 79- 2 doubles
Non smoking =103 / Smoking = 20

Ocean View: 163 rooms
70-1 king bed, 93-2 doubles
Non smoking= 135 / Smoking = 28

Premium Ocean View: 96 rooms
42-1 king bed, 54-2 doubles
Non smoking=48 / Smoking = 48

Ocean Front: 32 rooms
32-2 doubles
Non smoking = 28 / Smoking = 4

King size bed room total = 156
Non smoking = 112 / Smoking = 44

2 Double bed room total =258
Non smoking = 202 / Smoking = 56

Room Total - Standard = 414
Adjoining Room Total = 95 (King with 2 Doubles)

Room Dimensions: 422.81 ft² / 39.28 mts²
Balcony Dimensions: 72.55 ft² / 6.74 mts²

All rooms have a private balcony equipped with a series of luxurious amenities.

SUITE CATEGORIES and DESCRIPTION (38)

Note all connecting rooms have an extra charge.

NON SMOKING FLOORS: 1 (Wing A & C), 2 (Wing C), 3 (Wing A,B,C), 4 (Wing A,B,C), 5 (Wing A,B,C).
SMOKING FLOORS: 2(Wing B), 6(Wing A,B,C)
ADA COMPLIANT ROOMS

• 4 ADA compliant rooms on the 1st floor (1002, 1012, 1102, 1114) with adjoining rooms available
• These rooms are the same size as regular rooms, except for the bathrooms, which are larger
• Bathrooms are easily accessible by wheel chair
• Toilet with handrails (the toilet is the same size as those in standard rooms)
• Bathtub with handrail
• All restaurants and out-door areas are wheel chair

RESTAURANTS
The CasaMagna Marriott offers a wide selection of restaurants and bars with great variety of cuisines and atmospheres. At La Capilla Argentina Steakhouse guests can enjoy exquisite Angus and Premium cuts. La Isla & Bahia Beach and Poolside Restaurant offers Mexican & Caribbean favorites and is located right next to the beach and pool areas in a very casual dining atmosphere. La Isla Pool Bar offers poolside snacks and drinks in a family setting. Mikado Restaurant serves Teppan-Yaki, sushi and also delicious Thai cuisine. Enjoy a casual evening at Champions Sports Bar featuring American style dishes in a casual sport themed setting. Lobby Bar Las Ventanas offers piano music and cocktails with a beautiful view of the Caribbean Sea. Snacks and coffee are also available in our deli, located in the gift shop.

LA CAPILLA ARGENTINA STEAKHOUSE
Open – Breakfast, buffet and al la carte: 6:30am to 11:30am. Dinner, 5:30pm to 11pm
Seats 172
La Capilla Argentina is a casual family restaurant, which offers a Mexican style buffet for breakfast with a wide variety of dishes to enjoy. At night, our Steakhouse offers a great selection of the finest Angus and Choice quality cuts of imported beef. Imagine one of our enormous juicy steaks accompanied with the best Argentinean condiments. All our recipes have authentic Argentinean flavors that we are sure you will enjoy. You’ll find a great selection of entrées, side dishes and dishes to share. La Capilla has a selection of more than 200 wines from all Regions of the World.

MIKADO
Open 5:30 pm to 11:00 pm
Seats 155
Surely you’ve always wanted to visit the Far East and discover its most hidden secrets. Mikado makes this dream come true! Our great Japanese and Thai regional recipes will tantalize all your senses. Experience the show that our chefs will put on for you as they prepare your favorite meals at our Teppan-Yaki tables. We also have tables for sushi and Thai dining.

CHAMPIONS
Open 12pm to 2am
Seats 200
Champions is the best restaurant/sports bar in Cancun, whose concept combines casual dining, sports and excellent music. Its excellent design enables us to cater to groups large and small, wanting an unforgettable experience. We feature 32 television monitors, a 100” large screen viewing, 2 billiards tables, dance floor, our cheer-leaders offering excellent service, huge sports memorabilia display, live DJ and the best sporting events.

LA ISLA POOL BAR
Open from 9am to 6pm
Food service from 10:30am to 5pm
Seats 80 in La Isla and 32 in the Pool Bar
Open-air bar located near the main pool. You can enjoy a variety of snacks and dishes with your favorite drink in a familyatmosphere.

BAHIA RESTAURANT
Open from 9am to 5pm
Seats 70
Located in front of the beach, guests can enjoy traditional Mexican fare, seafood along with hamburgers and Hot Dogs, served in a great Caribbean setting. Drink service is available from the beach.

LOBBY BAR LAS VENTANAS
Open from 5pm to 12pm
Every afternoon you can enjoy drinks of the highest quality while listening to the extraordinary melodies of our in-house pianist. For cigar lovers, enjoy the aroma from our selection of cigars, hand rolled in front of you. Learn the secret of making a perfect cigar at our tobacco mill.

ROOM SERVICE
Available 24 hours a day!
From the comfort of your room, you can enjoy our selection of dishes accompanied with a beautiful sunrise or unforgettable sunset.

GIFT SHOP
Open from 6am to 10pm
Gift shop, coffee shop/deli and ice-cream parlor

ACTIVITIES

Beach/Pools
The resort offers a large open-air pool, a large Jacuzzi in front of the sea along with a children’s pool. Guests can enjoy the Caribbean Sea while walking along kilometers of white sandy beaches.

Sports and Activities
Recreation staff available from 10am to 5pm
The recreation staff organizes activities daily at the pool area and beach. They offer all our guests the opportunity to partake in beach volleyball, water aerobics, bingo, trivia and other contests, cooking classes, cocktail mixing, etc.

Featuring 2 hard-court tennis courts that are available both day and night. Our tennis pro is available for classes or organizing tournaments. The gymnasium has weights, cardiovascular equipment, exercise bikes and sauna.

The Greg Norman Signature Course, Playa Mujeres is 18 holes 7,218 yards, Par 72, Rating 74.5, Slope 139. Located just 20 minutes north of Cancun’s Hotel Zone.

Scuba classes are available everyday at the pool. Also on offer is snorkeling, Para-sailing, jet-skis and sailing.

Spa and Fitness Center
Open from 6am- 10pm
Treatments from 8am – 8pm
Various massage therapies, aroma therapies and treatments are available in our 5 treatment rooms and beach treatment areas. Our concierge department will be happy to take your reservation. Ext 6316.

Marriott Kids Club
Activities from 10am to 4pm
"Marriott Kids” is a program especially for kids aged from 4 to 12. It offers: professional supervision, daily activities in the pool and beach such as sand castle building, kid’s aerobics, contests, arts and crafts. The cost of the complete program (6 hours of fun and entertainment) is $25.00 usd for each child, includes lunch. The activity room has board games, library, and television in English and Spanish.

Children are invited to participate in our turtle release program every September and October. Children have the unique opportunity to release baby turtles just after sunset. It’s an unforgettably rewarding experience.

Attractions
Tourist attractions and entertainment abound in Cancun. You can enjoy a bullfight, boat cruise, snorkeling and scuba diving on Isla Mujeres, fishing tours, visit Mayan ruins and a whole lot more. The concierge or your travel agent can help you arrange your activities and give advice about near-by attractions. Rental cars are also available at the resort.

Shopping
Retail stores are located in the resort offering maximum convenience to the guest. Guest can also shop at the Arcade of the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & SPA and in addition, Cancun offers excellent shopping in its many plazas and markets with over 200 boutiques.

Wedding Services
We guarantee a perfect and unforgettable wedding at our beautiful ocean view Gazebo.

Please contact our Certified Wedding planner who will take care of all the details of your big day, including flowers, photography, video, food and beverages, music and transportation. To start planning your wedding contact us at 998.881.20.14 or email: mhrs.cunjw.local.sales.mgr@marriotthotels.com

Accolades
The CasaMagna Marriott Cancun has also garnered prestigious awards for convention service including the “AAA Four Diamond Award”, Successful Meetings magazine’s “Pinnacle Award”, and the “Gold Key Award” for groups and conventions.

The CasaMagna Marriott Cancun has also been recognized by institutions of distinction on multiple occasions. Some examples are: 2006 Resorts and Great Hotels “Connoisseur’s Choice Award”. Part of Travel + Leisure’s January “World’s Best” December 2006. Corporate Meeting & Incentive “Paragon Award”, 2005.

“2004 Premium Circle Award” for Insurance Conference Planner, 2004 “World’s Best Service” for Mexico, Central and South America  – January 2003 “The best rooms in America” on the Gold list of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, January 2003. Travel and Leisure magazine placed us 7th in its top 25 list of hotels in Mexico, Central and South America in 2003. We also garnered the “Gold Key Award” in 2003 from Meetings and Conventions magazine.

CONVENTION FACILITIES
The CasaMagna Marriott can cater for groups of 10 to 980 people. The resort has a ballroom measuring 7,966 ft sq. /740 m sq. and is easily divided into 8 smaller sections, 4 meeting rooms and a large choice of open settings. All convention room facilities were completely remodeled in 2006. Fax, photocopier and secretarial services are available in the Business Center at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa. Our audiovisual company assists groups with any technical requirements. Our team of professionals at the Marriott has created a variety of menus that cater to any class of event or budget. Menus can be modified according to your needs. We also offer magnificent themed parties with decoration, music and appropriate menus.  The audiovisual department is equipped with state-of-the-art video and sound technology. Our professional banquet service caters to different events, from breakfast on the terrace to galas on the beach, with a large choice of menus. Traditional Mexican themes like the Mexican Market party; beach party and ancient Maya theme party are catered to according to the theme with traditional food and music.

Reservations
Make reservations with your travel agent or call 1.800.900.8800. For group reservations call 011.52.998.848.9608 or email: mhrs.cunjw.group.sales.coordinator@marriotthotels.com

ADMINISTRATION

General Manager
Christopher Calabrese

Hotel Manager
Hugo Lecanda

Director of Sales & Marketing
Manfred Thievessen

Director of Food & Beverage
Manuel Magaña

Director of Rooms
David Gauna

Director of Event Management
Chad Bevan

The CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort offers 10,980 square feet of world-class meeting facilities for groups ranging in size from 10 to 800. The CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort has been honored with such prestigious awards as the "AAA Four Diamond Award," Successful Meetings magazine's "Pinnacle Award," the "Paragon Award" from Corporate Meetings & Incentives, Insurance Conference Planner's "Premium Circle Award,” the "Gold Key Award" from Meetings & Conventions and the “Planner’s Choice Award” from Meeting News.

MAYA BALLROOM
The Maya Ballroom features 7,966 square feet of meeting and function space. The room is equipped to handle a wide variety of functions and events accommodating groups of 480 people in a classroom-style setting and up to 800 guests for a reception. The room is divisible into two equal sections or up to eight smaller sections. During 1997 the ballroom was completely refurbished and now features state-of-the-art lighting and technical controls.

ADDITIONAL MEETING AREAS
The CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort offers four additional meeting areas, the Acapulco, Cozumel, Mexico City and Vallarta rooms. Each of these rooms features 616 square feet of meeting space, and the Cozumel and Mexico City rooms connect to offer 1,226 square feet of function space, seating 35 attendees in a U-shape and up to 100 people for a reception.

In addition, the resort offers four hospitality parlors and two presidential suites perfect for small board meetings or receptions.

OUTDOOR FUNCTION AREAS
Groups can enjoy the beauty and climate of Mexico with several outdoor function areas including the Isla or Caribbean Fountains, La Isla Terrace, Bahia Beach, Caribbean Terrace and the Pool Garden. These areas can accommodate groups ranging in size from 50 to 600.

SERVICES AND THEME PARTIES
The CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort offers an award-winning, Marriott-trained meeting and catering staff. The in-house audiovisual department, MVP (Marriott Visual Presentations), assists groups with all technical needs. Fax, photocopying and secretarial services are also available at the concierge desk. A business center is available at JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa right next door.

The resort’s catering professionals have created a wide range of menus for every occasion, from breakfast on the terrace to a theme party on the beach. Popular theme parties include the "Mexican Tianguis Party," where attendees will experience a unique Mexican fiesta in a marketplace setting; the "Bahia Beach Party," which offers a Tiki torch-lit beach party with festive games and contests; and the "Mayan Mystique," which will transport attendees to the ancient Mayan civilization with a host of evening entertainment. All parties feature props, appropriate menus, music and entertainment.

MORE INFORMATION
Barbara Schmaelzle
Director of Group Sales Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts
407.891.9843
Spanish-speaking customers: 800.489.2500

Available year-round for children ages four through 12. Daily supervised activities from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. include Spanish lessons, swimming contests, sand castle contests, water balloon and beach contests, arts and crafts, piñatas and water gun games. There are also "Rainy Day" activities, which offer painting, table games, movies and much more. The program includes lunch in La Isla restaurant with a menu featuring kids favorites such as hot dogs, quesadillas, chicken fingers, peanut butter sandwiches, cheese or club sandwiches, fruit plates, juice or soda. There is also a playground and a "Marriott Kids" activities room, equipped with English and Spanish language television stations, videos, Nintendo 64, and board games.

The cost of daily membership is $20 per child, per day, which includes lunch and a Marriott Kids T-shirt. Children can also join the program on an hourly rate for just $3.50 per hour, which does not include lunch. Guests should register 24 hours in advance at the health club (ext. 6316) or at the Concierge desk (ext. 16).

THE WARNER HOUR, CRAYOLA DESK AND HASBRO CABINET
Warner Movies, Crayola and Hasbro are all official sponsors of the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun's children's programs. They supply the activities room with English and Spanish children's books and coloring books, color markers, footballs, Frisbees, the latest Warner movies and much more. All of the guest rooms and the "Marriott Kids" activities room receive the Cartoon Network in both English and Spanish. Children enrolled in the "Marriott Kids" program will receive a free T-shirt upon arrival.

BABY SITTING
Baby sitting services are available 24 hours, and can be arranged for children of any age through the resort's Concierge. Requests should be made 24 hours in advance. Rates are based on an hourly rate: $10 for one child, $12 for two children, $14 for three children, and $16 for four children.

FAMILY EXCURSIONS AND ATTRACTIONS
Cancun offers a host of activities and nearby excursions that the entire family will enjoy together. From water sports to archaeological ruins, Cancun has something for everyone.

Just to name a few, Cancun's Hotel Zone boasts mini-golf and the Sub-See Explorers' yellow submarines, which allows one to view the beautiful waters of the Caribbean from beneath the surface. The newest family attraction in Cancun is the Wet 'n Wild park offering 17.6 acres of aquatic fun with seven different water slides, a wave pool, an interactive dolphin program and a beach club with wave runner and jet ski rental, plus much more.

For families who want to venture beyond Cancun for the day, the possibilities are endless. Just an hour-and-a-half drive from the CasaMagna Marriott is the Xcaret ecological water park. Here, families can float down an underground river through limestone caves and grottos, swim with the dolphins or relax on the beach of a private cove. A visit to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve highlights the diverse plant life and wildlife of the region.

Both adults and children will enjoy learning about the ancient Mayan civilization that flourished on the Yucatan Peninsula more than a thousand years ago. The Chichen Itza, Tulum and Coba ruin sites are all within a few hours drive from Cancun.

Families can also participate in aiding the recovery of Mexico’s sea turtle population with Marriott’s “Sea Turtle Preservation Program” which runs from May through October. Aided by the resort staff, families can release the tiny baby turtles on the beach, and ensure their safety.

The full-time concierge and tour desk at the Marriott CasaMagna can provide more information on these and other excursions/activities.

Guests of the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort have the fabulous beaches of the Caribbean at their doorstep and the history, culture and endless environmental attractions of Mexico within a few hours drive. Following are a selection of attractions in and around Cancun that highlight the diversity of the region. The hotel's concierge can arrange tours and tickets to all of these attractions.

The City of Cancun

Folkloric Ballet
The world renowned "National Folkloric Ballet Mexico" offers visitors a taste of Mexico's rich culture in a procession highlighting regional customs and costumes with live music, dance and theater. The ballet is performed every evening from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The cost is approximately $40 including a dinner buffet and open bar.

Bullfights
This Mexican tradition is held in Cancun's bullring every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. The presentation begins with a folkloric ballet; followed by a performance of the Charros, a Mexican rodeo; and finally the bullfighters challenge the bulls. The cost is approximately $33.

Caribbean Carnival
Cruise to Isla Mujeres for a nighttime beach party with live music, tropical show and dancing. The evening also features a buffet dinner, open bar, contests and prizes. The cost is approximately $52.

Open-Air Craft Markets
Visitors can bargain with vendors in the many open-air markets downtown including Ki-Huie, Plaza Garibaldi, Plaza Carrillos and Coral Negro. Mexican pottery, jewelry and other souvenirs are all displayed for sale.

Shopping
Cancun offers some of the finest shopping malls in the world with more than 200 boutiques. The hotel zone shopping malls are a 5-minute taxi ride from the resort and the downtown malls are 20 minutes by taxi. The duty-free limit for Mexico is $400.

Ecotourism Sites

Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
Located 80 miles south of Cancun, this 1.3 million-acre national park was set aside by the Mexican Government for protection in 1986 and named an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve contains a tropical forest, mangrove swamp, coral barrier reef, archeological ruins, salt marshes, and unspoiled Caribbean beaches. It offers educational programs for visitors as well as local villagers, mostly Mayans, who farm the land and fish the waters. More than 300 species coexist in the Reserve, including jaguar, ocelot, puma, peccary, and manatees. The goal is to preserve the ecology and enable the population to sustain itself naturally. There are about 20 archeological sites within the reserve, linked by the only known Mayan canal system. Archeologists believe Mayan traders used the canal to travel from cities in the forest to the great city of Tulúm on the Caribbean coast.

Xcaret
Xcaret is a 150-acre ecological water park featuring lagoon snorkeling, botanical gardens, a bird feeding aviary and the opportunity to swim with the dolphins. Visitors can also float down an underground river through limestone caves and grottos, or relax on the beach of a private cove. The park is approximately one hour south of Cancun.

Akumal
Akumal is one of the best snorkeling and dive sites on the Yucatan's Caribbean coast. The coral reefs contain more than 300 kinds of fish and several caves are home to Mexican sea turtles. Akumal is 59 miles south of Cancun.

Aktun Chen
Located about an hour from Cancun on the road to Tulúm is Aktun Chen, a 988-acre nature park whose name means “cave with an underground river inside.” The park features three caves containing thousands of stalactites, stalagmites and other natural formations as well as a small informal restaurant and trails where visitors can spot local wildlife.

Mayan Ruin Sites

Tulúm
Set on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Tulúm once served as the seminary and retreat house for the high priests of Chichén Itzá. A protective stone wall encloses the landward side of the only known Mayan fortified town on the coast. One of the Mayan's last settlements, which flourished from 1200 AD to the time of the Spanish conquest, Tulúm was still occupied when the Spaniards conquered the area in 1544. Three hundred years later, rebel Mayans fighting the Caste War fled to Tulúm for sanctuary. This site is just 80 miles south of Cancun and is the easiest archeological day trip from the resort.

Cobá
Thirty miles west of Tulúm is Cobá, a huge Mayan city that flourished from 600 to 900 AD, preceding Chichén Itzá. The lofty pyramids and buildings are reminiscent of those farther south in Tikal, Guatemala, and it is thought that Cobá was a trading center where southern Mayans came to buy northern goods.

Chichén Itzá
One of the largest and best-restored ancient cities in Mexico, Chichén Itzá is a two-hour drive west of Cancun. Chichén Itzá existed from 450 to 1200 AD, flourishing primarily in its last 300 years. The Mayan city was at some point taken over by the Toltecs, whose culture, ideology and architecture were integrated with that of the Mayans.

Water Sports

Deep Sea Fishing
The Yucatan's beautiful turquoise waters are considered to be one of the Caribbean's richest fishing sites. Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel are all ideal starting points for a deep sea fishing excursion. The resort's concierge can make arrangements for boat rentals, private charters and fishing guides.

SCUBA Diving and Snorkeling
The reefs on Cancun's coast make the region a world-class diving and snorkeling mecca. There are eleven reefs in Cancun averaging 35' to 60' in depth. Beginning divers can choose from a variety of sites including La Bandera Reef, Cuevones Reef and Los Manchones Reef. More experienced divers will enjoy diving in the open sea at such sites as El Tunel Reef, San Toibio Reef and San Miguel Reef. Complimentary SCUBA diving and snorkeling lessons are provided at the hotel's swimming pool, and arrangements can be made for excursions by the concierge.

Isla Mujeres
A thirty-minute cruise across the turquoise waters of Isla Mujeres Bay brings divers and snorkelers to this quiet island retreat. Underwater enthusiasts can explore the reef and lagoons. There is also a small fishing village with many boutiques.

Palancar Reef
Jacques Cousteau discovered Cozumel's Palancar Reef 26 years ago. As the second largest coral reef (second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia), Palancar Reef is over 1,200 miles long and boasts some of the Yucatan Peninsula's most outstanding flora and fauna, as well as a variety of underwater species.

Wet'n Wild Water Park
Cancun's newest attraction, the Wet'n Wild water park offers 17.6 acres of aquatic excitement with 787 feet of beach. Activities include a wave pool with the capacity to create waves over 12 feet high, seven different water slides, a kids pool, a dolphin encounter program and a beach club with a marina, volley ball courts, and jet ski and wave runner rentals.

Championship Golf

Pok-ta-Pok Golf Club
The Pok-ta-Pok Golf Course is located less than five miles from the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun on an islet in the middle of the Nichupte Lagoon. The 18-hole, par-73 course was designed by renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones. Each hole is more than 100 meters apart and interconnected by tunnels and bridges. Relics from the Mayan culture are integrated into the course, adding to the challenge of the game. The resort's golf package includes green fees, cart rental and round trip transportation to the course.

Caesar's Park Golf Club
Caesar's Park Golf Club, designed by Aoki Corporation, is a par-72, 18-hole championship course.