The work is called “Come to the light”. It shows a native woman, with closed eyes and a deep expression. The woman uses her two hands to literally open her skin at chest level, a skin made of wood and ropes. The opening becomes a path of plants and natural elements, like a hanging garden. This monumental sculpture signed by artist Daniel Popper is one of the highlights not only of the Ahau Collection, but of all of Tulum, and also a work that encapsulates much of the concept behind the hotel that houses it. “Ahau started eight years ago, a project of my partner David Graziano and myself.
At that time, Tulum was a little-known place, except for a captive audience coming from certain parts of the United States. At that time, the destination was characterized as a synonym for relaxation, a very quiet place all year round,” says Pepe Escalante, co-founder and director of Ahau Collection.
The years and the very charm of Ahau have attracted a very particular kind of tourism, travelers looking for experiences that transcend beyond a vacation. It grew from a hotel to the headquarters of the Ahau Collection, a group of nine hotels to date, which creates detail-oriented services and experiences for conscious visitors. The group consists of the hotels Alaya, Aldea Canzúl, Aluna, Ahau, Ganesh, Kai, Kanan, Tulum Luxury Collection and Villa Pescadores. Each one offers a different experience, open to receive visitors from different origins and cultures. Each of the facilities were built with responsible practices and respect for the Caribbean lands.
Green Key Certification
“Today’s traveler is much more informed, he wants to know where he is going and what kind of place he is staying in,” says the executive. “Knowing that, the sustainable issue is not for us a sales tool, but part of our philosophy of being congruent with our environment,” says Escalante.
Ahau Collection is Green Key certified, which implies strict eco-friendly practices related to waste management, water and energy treatment and consumption, as well as sustainability not only for the environment, but also for the community. The group has a team of biologists with more than fifteen years of experience in the ecosystem of the Caribbean biosphere that makes sure to implement and follow the certification standards.
“We believe it is possible for the tourism industry to become one of the cleanest, which would also serve as a standard bearer for practices in other market sectors,” says the co-founder.
From sunrises in meditation to dancing under the stars
Beyond the hotel group’s sense of sustainability, the venue complements its guest program with a series of proposals that range from introspection to recreation. “The wellness retreats held at the hotel are usually organized by external specialists who find in us the right facilities to carry out the different activities, which provides a diversity of offerings that has attracted tourists from all over the world,” Escalante explains.
One of the highlights of the calendar is the celebration of Art With Me *GNP, an art encounter in which large format works by visual, musical and culinary artists from different countries are exhibited. The success of Art With Me *GNP has been to position itself in record time as the art reference event in Tulum. It is worth mentioning that one of the most important pillars of the festival is Care With Me, a space dedicated to preserving the nature of Tulum working hand in hand with organizations and the community.
In December, the group prepares a series of parties starting on the 28th, the anniversary of the Ahau Hotel, which begins three vibrant weeks celebrating a new solar return. Each hotel designs an agenda with different events where expert organizers curate each of the events with DJ’s, musicians and renowned chefs. Ahau Collection is synonymous with art, culture and consciousness. It is an inclusive space for nearby communities and a home for people from different backgrounds, offering a space to create and recreate without leaving a trace of environmental impact.
