Thursday, February 27 – Arrival Day

This morning you will depart from your home city to Mexico! On arrival, meet your fellow colleagues for the short transfer (25 minutes) from the Puerto Vallarta airport to Grand Velas, Riviera Nayarit.

After freshening up from a day of travel and perhaps taking a quick swim, meet your colleagues and their guests for a welcome reception.

7:00PM Welcome Reception and Dinner at Grand Velas – Ocean Garden (Dress: Resort Evening Casual)

Friday, February 28 – Business Meeting, Optional Activities, Rhythms of the Night Dinner

Morning

Breakfast at your leisure beginning at 7:00AM in the Azul Restaurant.

9:30-11:30AM Business Meeting and continental breakfast for employees – Grand Marissa.  (Dress: Island Casual)

Afternoon

Enjoy time at the resort on the beach, in the infinity pool, and kayaking or boogie boarding. Lunch is on your own at Azul Restaurant or Selva del Mar restaurant for simple snacks and drinks.

Optional Activities: Each Achievers Club winner and guest may select 2 optional activities each. Dinners are not considered optional activities. As an activity, you may select a spa treatment and a credit of $200 will be applied (Note: $50 of this is a bonus from the Resort and must be used for a spa service of 50 minutes or longer and cannot be used for Salon/Boutique services). The balance of the cost will be charged directly to your room. Please visit the Optional Activities section to register. If you have any questions regarding the activities, please contact Carrie Jackling at carriej@remarkablejourneys.com.

Once all registrations are completed, a final schedule of events will be sent to you with specific times and dates for your chosen activities. For those who have selected the spa, you will reserve your service directly with the spa concierge.

Today’s Optional Activity

Spa treatment – A credit of $200 will be applied (Note: $50 of this is a bonus from the Resort and must be used for a spa service of 50 minutes or longer and cannot be used for Salon/Boutique services). The balance of the cost will be charged directly to your room. You may find the spa menu and pricing here.

Evening – Group Event and Dinner – Rhythms of the Night! 

4:40 – 10:30PM Rated Puerto Vallarta’s #1 Dinner and Show by the New York Times, Rhythms of the Night takes on you on a journey deep into Mexico’s ancient history. Witness spiritual rituals under a beautiful star-lit sky nestled deep within the tropical rain forest at Las Caletas. Enjoy delicious food and drink, and take part in a serene cruise across the Bay of Banderas. Rhythms of the Night dinner and show, with its intimate setting, vibrant story and stunning feats of acrobatics, is nothing short of magical. (Dress: Resort Evening Casual – Bring/wear comfortable shoes and a light sweater/jacket)

Saturday, February 29 – Day at Leisure/Optional Activities, Dine Around at the Resort

Morning/Afternoon

Breakfast at your leisure beginning at 7:00AM in the Azul Restaurant.

At leisure to enjoy the beach/resort or select one of the optional activities. Note: Breakfast and lunch (unless included in your activity) are at your leisure.

Today’s Optional Activities

7:15am: Whale Watching
10:00am: Shopping/Touring in Puerto Vallarta
7:30am: Catamaran cruise with snorkeling
Spa

Evening

6:30 – 9:00PM: Dine Around at the Resort at one of the following restaurants:

Frida – Mexican cuisine
Lucca – Italian cuisine
Piaf – French cuisine
Sen Lin – Asian Fusion cuisine

Dress Code for Restaurants is Elegant-Casual: Collared shirt, trousers and closed footwear for men; dresses, skirts, or evening trousers for women. Beach sandals, tank tops and shorts are not permitted.

Click here for more information on these dining options at Grand Velas

Sunday, March 1 – Day at Leisure/Optional Activities, Awards Dinner

Morning/Afternoon

At leisure to enjoy the beach/resort or select one of the optional activities. Breakfast and lunch at your leisure at the resort, unless included in activity.

Today’s Optional Activities

7:15am: Whale Watching
7:30am: Fishing
7:50am: Golf
8:00am: Jorullo Bridge ATV and Canopy tour
Spa

Evening

6:30PM Reception and Final Awards Dinner at the Resort – Gazebo Lawn (Dress: Cocktail Attire)

Monday, March 2 – Departure Day

Please meet your transfer in the front lobby. Your transfer pick-up time will be available on Sunday, March 1 at the Avtex Hospitality Desk. Most departures to the airport are 3 hours prior to your flight departure. Please note check-out time at the resort is at 12:00 PM. Safe travels!

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
Website

Check-in: 3 p.m.
Check-out: 12 p.m.
Overview
In the heart of Nuevo Vallarta but worlds away from most competition, this member of the Leading Hotels of the World remains one of the finest all-inclusive hotel in the region. With stunning architecture and interiors, superb service, gourmet cuisine, top-shelf alcohol, immaculate landscaping and facilities, and personalized service, Grand Velas lives up to its top designation. This hotel even holds certificates for its environmental efforts.

Property Overview
A mammoth thatched palapa covers the entrance and open-air lobby, adding a regional slant to the sense of arrival. Attentive, uniformed doormen escort guests into the lobby, where chilled towels and cocktails or champagne are delivered by the reception team. Sit-down reception speaks to the service standards you can expect, and neck and shoulder massages are also part of the welcome package.

At the back of the lobby, a lounge with handsome wicker furniture overlooks the immaculate gardens and infinity pool. The main building wraps around the pools and gardens, the latter woven with walkways that lead past lush plantings and trees and flowing rivers full of fish.

Dining
All five dining options get high marks, presenting dishes as works of art and offering impeccable service. The resident executive chef introduces lots of local flair. All four a la carte options require reservations and proper attire. Azul, the main buffet restaurant, is a slightly more casual open-air spot situated at the beach, near the pool. The Asian restaurant is one of the most popular options.

The outstanding service extends to the pool, where fresh fruit kebabs, ice cream, cold towels and face misting are available from waitstaff. The poolside, palapa-covered bars dispense premium cocktails in reusable plastic cups.

Pools
The three-tiered, heated pool complex (the top warm, the middle cool, the lowest cold) is attractive, with cushioned teak chaises. Off to the side, in a plant-enclosed private area, a smaller adults-only swimming pool and a whirlpool tub feature infinity-edge views. Kids get their own spacious pool.

Accommodations
All suites are in the main hotel building. All units are at least 1,000 sq ft, and the appointments are contemporary and elegant in neutral tones, with handsome marble-topped dark-wood furniture and artwork.

Rooms are loaded with amenities, including large flat-screen smart TVs, pillow menus, phones, well-stocked minibars (included in the rates and refilled daily), Nespresso machines, laptop-size safes, umbrellas and large baskets for pool use. A bottle of high-grade tequila awaits arrivals.

Sizable balconies have nice wood furniture, built-in benches and great views, especially on higher floors.

Notable Features
The gym is one of the best in the region, with well-maintained equipment and free weights. The Grand Velas spa also earns high marks for its exotic Asian massages and body wraps. It features a peaceful open-air lobby made of stone and granite, as well as 20 treatment rooms that provide a full range of services using Natura Bisse products. There is even a spa menu for children.

Nonstandard Amenities
Each guest is assigned a personalized concierge. Grand Velas also has a baby concierge to help parents with young children. Another useful service is the hotel’s app, which guests can use to check activities and restaurants and to make reservations.

The high standards are evident in the arrival procedures, personal concierges, 24-hour room service, turndown and twice-daily housekeeping service.

Dress Codes 

Casual: Bermudas, long shorts or capri pants. Sneakers, tennis shoes or sandals. No sleeveless shirts for men. No bathing suits. Ladies must wear a bathing suit wrap or cover-up. 

Island Casual: Polo style shirts, sundresses, linen pants, skirts, button up tops, nice shorts/pants, and dresses. Nothing fancy, but not just t-shirts and jeans either. No cutoffs or tank tops.

Resort Evening Casual: Sneakers, tennis shoes or dress sandals (no flip-flops). Dress shirts with sleeves. Long pants required for men. No sleeveless shirts for men. 

Cocktail Attire: Dresses or long pants for women and long pants for men.

No Dress Code: Bars.

Spa – After you register for the spa on this site, you may email the spa directly to book your service. Email: Adriana Noriega  at spagroupsrn@velasresorts.com. Be sure to mention you are part of the Avtex group!

Discover the metamorphosis of the human spirit at the Spa at Grand Velas, named among the best spas in the world by Condé Nast. A sanctuary of wellness, tranquility and beauty, our spa immerses you in healing rituals designed for lightness of spirit and vitality. $200 credit (Note: $50 of this is a bonus from the Resort and must be used for a spa service of 50 minutes or longer and cannot be used for Salon/Boutique services). The balance of the cost will be charged directly to your room. You may find the spa menu and pricing here.

Whale Watching (7:00-11:30am)
Witness Majestic Humpback Whales in Banderas Bay. Each winter, the humpbacks migrate from the arctic to breed and rear their young in the sheltered coasts of Banderas Bay. Led by expert tour guides, the tour takes you to a number of scenic sea level spots to view humpback whales in their natural habitat. The tour includes light snack, purified water, and hydrophones. Please note, no bathrooms are on the inflatable boats. 28 people for private charter.

Catamaran Sail with Snorkeling (7:00am-1:00pm)
Set aside and protected as UNESCO natural reserve, the Marietas Islands are an ecologically diverse sanctuary perfect for learning and exploration. On your catamaran adventure, you will have the opportunity to kayak in and out of cave formations and rocks archways, paddle board while you admire the extraordinary terrain, or submerse yourself to find over 100 species of fish as you snorkel over the rock reefs. The catamaran will also cruise around the islands on a guided eco-tour and the crew will point out the unique animals and numerous species of birds. On the return home, lounge in the sun, take advantage of a deli-style lunch and expect a lively return journey with an open bar, entertainment from the crew and maybe even a show form the nearby schools of dolphins as they leap out of the water right in front of you. Includes continental breakfast, lunch, and an open bar on board. 60 people for private charter.

Art Walk and Shopping Tour of Puerto Vallarta (9:00am-2:00pm)
Come with us and discover the magic of this beautiful city, as you walk through the quaint colorful streets of the neighborhoods el “Cerro” and “Gringo Gulch.” Discover art of outstanding quality in three galleries in downtown where exhibiting national and international artists present remarkable paintings, exceptional sculptures, fine ceramics, blown glass and other types of noteworthy art. Next, your adventure will lead you into “Isla Cuale” where huge Iguanas can be spotted up on scarlet African tulip trees. Time for shopping at the flea  market and lunch at Los Muertos beach.

El Jorullo Ranch Canopy (Zip Lining) and ATV Tour (9:00am-3:00pm)
Located in the middle of the Sierra Madre Occidental, the El Jorullo Ranch is surrounded by beautiful green mountains and a river that makes harmony with nature. Your day at El Jorullo Ranch will be filled with adventure, nature and beauty. The activities include a thrilling 12 platform Canopy Tour and an ATV Ride traversing through the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains and crossing the longest suspension bridge in the world. For your day of adventure wear clothes that can get dirty, bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent, and snacks are included. Weight Maximum: ATV is 264lbs, Canopy is 252lbs.

Golf at the Marina Vallarta Course
Play a world-class Puerto Vallarta public golf course made up of 18 holes with views of lush vegetation, natural lagoons and the shores of Banderas Bay. It’s an unparalleled golf experience surrounded by the Sierra Madre and Banderas Bay. Includes the golf club rental, greens fee, cart fee, practice range balls and tax. Tee times will be requested in the morning. 4 people minimum.  Golf attire

Morning Fishing Charter (7:30am-12:00pm)
Always wanted to hook the big one? This may be your chance. No experience needed, the helpful and professional crew members will take you aboard an unforgettable adventure. All types of fish inhabit the waters around Puerto Vallarta at different times of the year: Salt Water: Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Rooster Fish, Amber Jack, Carville Jack, Dorado & Snapper. 15 people for private charter. Due to the length of the tour, it will not be deep sea fishing.

Starting about 10 minutes north of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport and heading north, Riviera Nayarit is at the heart of the Banderas Bay. The northern border of the region has been officially extended to include the entire coast of the state of Nayarit—a section made up of vast areas of mangroves and wetlands that are unsuitable for building but ideal for bird-watching and other ecotourism activities.

The area includes the developed area of Nuevo Vallarta, just north of Puerto Vallarta Airport; the beach towns of Flamingos, Bucerias and La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, along the highway north that follows Banderas Bay; Punta Mita, which juts into the Pacific and is home to luxury resorts Four Seasons and St. Regis; the more isolated resort area of Litibu; Sayulita and San Francisco (also known as San Pancho); two surfing towns with large American expat communities; and a string of even more remote small towns along a lovely coast of rocky coves and mangroves to the northern border it shares with the state of Sinaloa.

Not so long ago, these charming towns were sleepy little villages. Now, they are quickly being discovered by tourists and retirees seeking a quieter part of Mexico. And for those who want to experience both sides of the country, Riviera Nayarit is within an easy distance of the shopping, dining and nightlife of Puerto Vallarta.

Among the highlights in the region is the chance to shop for local artwork and colorful traditional Huichol handicrafts.

Average Weather in February/March