Marriott will open its first-ever property in Belize in 2020. Through Marriott's Autograph Collection Hotels, this new eco-friendly, 155-key resort broke ground on the island of Ambergris Caye in 2017. Upon launch, Alaia Belize will join more than 135 other Autograph Collection Hotels in over 30 countries. The design efforts are led by i.E. Architecture, with Brazilian designer Debora Aguiar handling the interiors.
In early August, Alaia released new renderings of its public spaces and amenities.
“With the forthcoming opening on Alaia, I am thrilled to begin this real-estate and hospitality lifestyle brand in the inspiring place I have called home for nearly 20 years,” said Andrew Ashcroft, managing director and developer of Alaia. “Joining Marriott will provide future owners and guests of Alaia a unique opportunity to intimately connect to their surroundings while embodying the high-quality standards of the Autograph Collection brand.”
Alaia will not only be the first-ever Marriott property in Belize, but it will also house the first-ever suspended rooftop pool and lounge in the country. It takes inspiration after the country’s Great Blue Hole, a marine sinkhole over 400 feet deep, and overlooks the Caribbean Sea. It’s just one of the many amenities Alaia will offer.
The K‘in Spa will be another one of Alaia’s main attractions. A full menu of beauty treatments and wellness therapies inspired by each of the nine cultures of Belize includes facials, massages, manicures and pedicures, among other services.
An onsite, live art gallery showcases local craftsmen and their works and even has opportunities for guests to create personalized crafts with local fabrics and materials. The wine club allows guests to enjoy private wine labels. Alaia also has a dive center in conjunction with the Belize Pro Dive Center (a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) five-star facility). Lastly, the San Pedro Sailing and Watersports club is for on-the-water enthusiasts.
“Celebrating individuality by curating one-of-a-kind travel experiences, the Autograph Collection brand continues to experience strong growth globally and in Central America,” said Laurent De Kousemaeker, chief development officer of Marriott International Caribbean and Latin America. “The unique Alaia boutique resort is defined by unique design in one of the mot desirable locations in the world.”
Residential properties range from $349,000 to $1.3 million, as owners also have the option to include their residence in the rental-management program for guests. Each unit offers about 1,200 square feet of indoor space and 900 square feet outside.
Just outside Alaia are more than 200 cayes with preserved Mayan temples, jungles, rainforest canopies, archaeological sites and Actun Tunichil Muknal, a cave where sacrificial ceremonies once took place. The Belize Barrier Reef is also the largest coral-reef system in the world.
“Belize’s natural landscape is incomparable, and the real-estate market is thriving,” Alaia Vice President of Sales David Hurst said. “Alaia will bring a new opportunity with competitive prices for those to purchase or visit in a setting that speaks to the island’s modern twist on resort living, its lively, laidback spirit and individuality.”
