CASE STUDY:
KAโ€™ANA RESORT

Project Background

As an exclusive SLH hotel, Kaโ€™ana Resort has repeatedly won the World Travel Award for Best Boutique Resort in Mexico & Central America.

The intimate hideaway resort is perfectly located in the centre of the ancient Mayan civilization, making it an ideal luxury outpost for exploring the best that Central America has to offer.

Our mandate was to create a getaway that married boutique luxury with experiential adventure. We leveraged this to achieve Revenues per Room in excess of US$700 per day in a location that had no track record of attracting a high end clientele.

Project Summary

Nestled amidst the rich history of the Mayan Civilization and the countryโ€™s lush natural wonders, Kaโ€™ana offers guests a truly unique experience.

Guests indulge in personalized service, luxurious appointments and modern amenities. An upscale outpost for exploring, youโ€™ll find that every adventure is a curated experience that is authentically Belize, while uniquely and intimately Kaโ€™ana.

A true intersection of style, culture and adventure, Kaโ€™ana brings a layer of bespoke luxury to the culturally rich heritage and pristine jungles that surrounds it, delivering a stay in Belize that is truly unlike any other.

โ€œAn enchanting and sophisticated hideaway. Upon arrival, you know you have landed somewhere special.โ€

โ€” FORBES

Results

  • 23 International Hotel Awards

  • 150.000.000+ Media impressions

  • ADR of US$343 against a national ADR of US$39

โ€œKaโ€™ana lays on the modern luxuries, but it also presents Belize at its authentic bestโ€

โ€” TRAVEL & LEISURE

Strategic Differentiators

Opened just after the 2008 recession in a location that had no existing luxury supply, Kaโ€™ana had to work hard to stand out and attract a loyal following.

To counter the market challenges, we designed and built a series of specific, compelling concepts that allowed us to:

  • Grow international market awareness through top tier media coverage

  • Channel this media reputation into digital campaigns to grow our databases

  • Built an ongoing engagement with our market, converting over time into successful sales

Private pool villas

Built using sustainably harvested local hardwoods, the unit cost was minimized by incorporating extensive outdoor space. The villas were designed around stunning plunge pools. Private butler service added a luxury element, helping the villas achieve record levels of revenue.

Sleeping on a Mayan ruin

We designed and created a one-of-a-kind luxury experience - glamping next to one of Belizeโ€™s most pristine archeological sites. By packaging the adventure together with personalized service, we achieved an ADR of over US$3,500 and secured coverage in the NY Times amongst other top tier media.

Kaโ€™ana gives back

Our social partnerships are exemplified by the โ€œStay 3 Nights, Get the 4th for US$18โ€ promotion - where the US$18 is the cost of a local childโ€™s tuition for a year. The cost was donated to local schools, helping them fund their operation, and the package received extensive media coverage.