Kimpton makes the leap into all-inclusive
Hotel Equities (HE), the North American hotel operator and developer, has announced the management and opening of Kimpton Tres Ríos – All Inclusive, a 355-room luxury resort located within a nature reserve of some 138 hectares on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. The property is billed as the first All-Inclusive by Kimpton, the lifestyle brand of IHG Hotels & Resorts.
For Hotel Equities, the opening is a milestone. It takes the group into the all-inclusive segment and strengthens its presence in the Caribbean & Latin America (CALA) region. The project was already among the luxury and lifestyle properties that IHG is rolling out in Mexico, alongside Kimpton Mas Olas Todos Santos and the forthcoming Six Senses Xala.
A resort rooted in a protected nature park
Located on the Cancún–Tulum corridor in Playa del Carmen, Kimpton Tres Ríos sits within a protected nature park crossed by three freshwater rivers and dotted with ten cenotes. Accommodation ranges from mangrove-view rooms to multi-bedroom suites and a presidential suite. Many units offer direct pool access.
At full build-out, the food and beverage offering will comprise seven restaurants and five bars, including the Italian restaurant Bacetto and the Japanese restaurant Kotori. Six restaurants and four bars open this autumn, with the Mediterranean restaurant Elaia and the adults-only rooftop Nebbia expected in early 2027.
The Kej Spa, covering some 930 m², anchors the wellness offering, combining hydrotherapy, massages and beauty treatments with Mayan-inspired rituals, including the temazcal and a signature cenote treatment. A two-level fitness centre, four outdoor pools, the Club Aventuras kids’ club, guided nature trails and kayak excursions complete the line-up. The property is also targeting the weddings and private events market, with on-site coordinators and room blocks for groups.
The brand is also adapting its signature rituals to the all-inclusive format, notably the evening Social Hour and the morning Kickstart service.
A distinct operating model
According to Juan Corvinos, President of HE CALA, the opening illustrates the depth of expertise the company has built within its dedicated CALA platform and its ability to bring the specialised operational approach that a resort of this scale demands. He stressed that all-inclusive operations rely on a different model, from managing high-volume F&B to pricing strategy, through to a seamless guest experience throughout the stay.
The leadership team is headed by Jorge Martinez, General Manager, with MariCarmen Gutierrez as Director of Sales & Marketing and Gabriel Kolofon as Director of Culinary.
On the ownership side, Daniel Arroyo described the project as a significant investment in one of the most extraordinary natural settings on the Riviera Maya. He said he had found in Hotel Equities a partner with a locally led operating platform and the regional infrastructure needed to manage an asset of this size, as well as the rigour required to support the opening of the first All-Inclusive by Kimpton and thereby protect the owner’s investment over the long term.
The rise of Hotel Equities in the CALA region
Under the leadership of Juan Corvinos, Hotel Equities has built an operating platform based entirely in its markets. The group favours controlled growth in the resort, lifestyle and all-inclusive segments, in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Jamaica, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Uruguay.
Led by Ben Rafter, Hotel Equities manages a portfolio of branded and independent hotels across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America. It is organised into three divisions (Full Service, Focused Service and Springboard Hospitality, its lifestyle division), alongside HE Labs, its innovation arm. The group recently made headlines in Canada with its dual-branded Moxy and Element project in Vancouver.
Our view
This opening comes as upscale competition intensifies on the Riviera Maya, as recently illustrated by the arrival of Alila at Mayakoba. By signing its first all-inclusive resort here, IHG continues to build its position in this segment in the region, following its partnership with Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, this time applying a lifestyle brand.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Hotel Equities opens Kimpton Tres Ríos, Kimpton’s first all-inclusive resort
355-room luxury resort within a 340-acre nature preserve in Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya
Hotel Equities’ entry into the all-inclusive segment via its HE CALA platform
Seven restaurants and five bars at full build-out, with Elaia and Nebbia due in early 2027
10,000 sq ft Kej Spa, three rivers and 10 cenotes on site
Owner Daniel Arroyo; GM Jorge Martinez
