MEXICO a global player comes of age VILLA VERA HOTEL & RACQUET CLUB ACAPULCO - ESTADO DE GUERRERO Lic. Jose Eduardo Gomez General Manager Contacts: Lomas del Mar, 35 Fracc. Valle Club Deportivo C.P. 39690, Acapulco, Guerrero, MEXICO Tel: (52-1) 7 484 03 35 Fax: (52-1) 7 484 74 79 Sales Office: Lic. Luz Andrea Rivera Rio Aburto Sales Manager and Public Relations Tel: (52-1) 7 484 03 33 / (52-1) 7 484 03 34 Fax: (52-1) 7 484 74 79 E-mail: lrivera@clubregina.com E-mail: Hotel-VillaVera-Aca@clubregina.com Reservations: Mexico City: (52) 54 9 32 32 01 800 71 09 300 USA: 01-888-55 42 361 VILLA VERA HOTEL & RACQUET CLUB . A HISTORY Villa Vera is an intimate alternative to crowded mega-resorts. It is a private, luxurious experience limited to 100 discriminating guests. The thoroughly contemporary hotel comprised of individual clusters of white and blue casitas and a group of deluxe homes called "Las Casas de Villa Vera", lies on a beautifully gardened 15 acres hillside. The Villa Vera did not start out as a hotel. Rather, it evolved over the years. An international business executive and inventor from Nebraska, Carl Renstrom built a villa for his family in the 1950's when Acapulco was in its infancy. Later, he added five smaller Villas to entertain clients and friends. He then, convinced his Acapulco friend and neighbor, famed Swiss bandleader, Teddy Stauffer, to care for the property when he was away. Stauffer, later became known as Mr. Acapulco, he founded the legendary cliff divers which now symbolize the resort throughout the world. The enthusiastic response of his guests prompted Renstrom to construct additional Villas to accommodate requests to stay on the property, and thus the Villa Vera Hotel & Racquet Club was born. Renstrom and Stauffer's friends, which included statesmen and celebrities from throughout the world, introduced the property to the international "jet set" who returned year after year following the sun from the French Riviera to the Mexican Ribera. As Acapulco's popularity grew, the dazzling international resort began to attract increasing numbers of visitors. Giant hotels, and hundreds of shops, nightclubs and restaurants, many of them now world famous, were built along the seaside highway, Costera Miguel Aleman, making Acapulco one of Mexico's most popular tourism destinations. As crowds centered around the Costera, the Villa Vera grew into a serene oasis in a prime location, minutes away form Acapulco's fast land, yet a world apart in serenity, grace and beauty. By 1964, the Villa Vera had 50 rooms - all different. Over the years, the hotel has welcomed celebrities, statesmen and dignitaries from throughout the world. Pat and Richard Nixon celebrated their 25th anniversary here. President Eisenhower was vacationing on the property while Elvis Presley was using it as the location of his whimsical film "Fun In Acapulco". Elizabeth Taylor married Mike Todd in the original family home, with Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher as attendants. Film star Heidy Lamar married Teddy Stauffer and Lana Turner lived at the Villa Vera for three years. Toda Villa Vera maintains its reputation as world class resort and a magnificent year round retreat. The spectacular setting and Acapulco's dependably good year round sunny weather make it one of the world's most popular hotels. The hotel now has 74 units, which are all different; 20 polos, 11 of them private, two championship red clay Tennis courts, two Paddle Tennis courts and a fully equipped gym. Although the hotel welcomes hundreds of new guests every year, 88% of their business comes form people who enjoyed their stay so much that they come back year after year, sometimes even requesting the same rooms. As it looks toward the future from its rich and evocative past, the Villa Vera Hotel & Racquet Club intends to maintain its traditions and to continue to meet the needs and desires of its world famous guests while surpassing international standards for facilities and personal service. Hotel Villa Vera Where Acapulco is. Exclusively for you. To stay at the Villa Vera Hotel Resort. Spa & Racquet Club is a total experience. You will enjoy the magic of an incredible place that for ages has conquered the jet set as well as famous people such as Elvis Presley, Julio Iglesias, Elizabeth Taylor and many other personalities. We invite you to discover unrivaled comfort that only the most exclusive hotel of Acapulco can offer; a pleasurable stay and absolute privacy, with everything you wish to have for your entertainment or rest. The Villa Vera Hotel is located only 20 minutes away from the Acapulco International Airport, in the exclusive residential area of the Sport Club. Suites, Homes and Villas are distributed in a harmonious manner in approximately 12,000 acres of beautiful gardens. There are 69 rooms that offer our guests an exclusive ambiance of tranquillity and a splendid view of the bay. Just 5 minutes away from the Miguel Aleman Coast. Enjoy the Flavor of Acapulco Palma real A restaurant with an incomparable bay view that offers International culinary dishes and exquisite Mexican cuisine with Acapulco's tropical flavor. Mangos Enjoy exotic combinations of juices, smoothes, energy drinks, a variety of salads and low fat dishes. Stardom Bar & Pool You will not resist tasting our traditional Banana Daiquiri, sensational tropical martinis and much more at our main pool. In Villa Vera we Have Many Ways to Pamper You! SPA: The most complete and modern, that offers incredible benefits "Salute Per Aqua" using new and natural methods for your rest and relaxation. It also offers exclusive massage programs, facial and body treatments. GYM: Modern facilities with the most complete workout equipment to enjoy physical exercise and feel as you never have before. RACQUET CLUB: Spend hours of fun on our two paddle courts and two tennis clay courts with complete illumination. 17 POOLS SPORT AND FUN ALWAYS WITHIN YOUR REACH: For your enjoyment Villa Vera is closely located to malls, amusement parks, golf courses, bowling, handball, basket ball, scuba diving, wind surfing and much more. Just choose and we will pamper you as you well deserve. VILLA VERA SPA & RACQUET CLUB CASA LISA A crown jewel of Villa Vera Hotel, an enclave of private villas that reflects the true splendor of colonial Mexico. Stone columns, fountains, sculptures and other antiques rescued from three centuries of Mexico's colorful past, create a present of sweeping grandeur. Built on two lush acres of blossoming bougainvillea and mango orchards. Casa Lisa featureS soaring arches and vaulted ceilings painstakingly crafted from the plans of famed architect designer Manuel Parra, completing a vision of uncompromising luxury and comfort. Guests of Casa Lisa may retire in any one of three sumptuous bedroom suites, connected by free flowing, spacious verandahs that command views of the Acapulco skyline and the azure blue Pacific. The common living areas, replete with artifacts of Old Mexico, surround the large pool with a palapa-bar. Adding to the comfort of this unique dwelling is the option of four additional guest rooms situated on the grounds. Two private, two-bedroom casitas, each with its own pool, further compromise the enclave. Each facility can be rented individually or as a group. Casa Lisa's guests are constantly assured lavish attention and luxury on grounds and gardens exquisitely maintained. The dining room opens onto the patio for parties and receptions, or ceremonies may be held outside in the entertainment area with a thatched roof, overlooking the Bay. The Hotel specializes in arranging weddings and wedding receptions down to the last detail. Casa Lisa particularly lends itself to festive occasions. The pool and garden offer panoramic ocean blue. Spacious bedrooms and large open living rooms accommodate large numbers of guests but also make two people feel warm and cozy.   Read on   © World INvestment NEws, 2000. This is the electronic edition of the special country report on Mexico published in Far Eastern Economic Review (Dow Jones Group). December 21st, 2000 Issue. Developed by AgenciaE.Tv