Aimfair Home Page

January 5, 2016

Now that 2015 is behind us, we see lot's of change on the horizon. In fact, the changes that took place on Vidanta's Nuevo Vallarta property between November 22, 2015 and January 4, 2016 are stunning!

Don't miss the light show, which we did not know about until our last night on the property:



Mercado Gourmet is opposite the Azur Restaurant on the third floor in La Plaza. Opened December 27, 2015 and presents a varied offering. Fun for the ladies in the audience.



The Greg Norman course is open - nine holes of real beauty.

Finally, the new long road into the property is controversial. Lots of concern about the length of time it takes to get on and off the property. Chances are, this is not a lasting situation. But in the meantime, is provides a very scenic view of the property.

Yes, there will be grumpy comments about being in a "prison" or management forcing guests to stay on the property. That said, the Nuevo Vallarta grounds, pools and facilities are world class. In addition, they will continue to improve throughout 2016.

So, let's all sit back and enjoy what we have and welcome 2016 with open arms. It will certainly be fun to see the next set of changes during our next visit!

We thank all of you who continue to support Aimfair and wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year! Cheers!!

November 11, 2015

Today is Veteran's Day in the United States. Although this day celebrates the lives of veterans who served in one of the US branches of the military, it is also a reminder to citizens of all countries that their military personnel should be treated with honor and respect.

On our flight to Mexico, the stewardess reminded us all of the sacrifices our military personnel make every day and asked us to honor them, be they on the plane or elsewhere, which we did with a round of applause.

Bill is an Aimfair member who served his country. He also reminded us that Veterans Day is today and shared a link to a TED (Technology, Education and Design) video featuring Wes Moore's experience as a person who joined the Army to pay for his college education. He was a paratrooper and captain who served in Afghanistan, and he wrote a book called "The Other Wes Moore."

The subject of this TED video is how to speak to a veteran. His story is well told and provides a meaningful framework for us to use when we become acquainted with one or more veterans in airports or other public places. The link to this video is as follows: https://www.ted.com/talks/wes_moore_how_to_talk_to_veterans_about_the_war?language=en

We thank veterans of military branches in the US and other free world countries for the sacrifices they make on our behalf.

October 24, 2015

It's over! The strongest hurricane in history has dissipated into a series of storms that will drop considerable amounts of rain in Mexico, Texas and maybe Florida. But, in Nuevo Vallarta...this is what an Aimfair member sees:

A huge thank you goes out to all who helped us track the events of this major event. We are grateful it ended in such a peaceful way.

The strongest hurricane on record has passed by Puerto Vallarta without incident. Thank goodness.

Afterward, we received comments from Aimfair members that were very complementary about the way the event was handled by the Vidanta staff. Following is a video an Aimfair member asked that we post. It shows a conversation between Canadians who are on site and a member of the Vida staff. Enjoy:



We are all thrilled that there was no damage and the Vidanta staff was able to facilitate a crowd of over 3,000 people during a very stressful time.

On we go....

October 24, 2015

The largest hurricane in recorded history missed Puerto Vallarta. A staff member sent us the following encouraging note this morning:

8:17 AM:

Good morning Mr. Jones,

I am sorry I could not get back to you before but the Internet service was down almost all day yesterday.

As you may know by now, Patricia landfall yesterday south of Jalisco and thankfully we only received heavy rain and today is starting to clear out. The Contact Center will resume operations today at 11 am (CST) and will continue to operate normally.

From what we know, the property does not endure any damages.

I am off this weekend but will be back on Monday.

Warm regards,

And another:

10:39 AM:

Bob

All is well. We were extremely fortunate as the storm basically missed us. We had a shelter it the parking lot were we had all 3200 guests. Everything went very well. Our members were extremely comfortable and content. Thanks for your concern.

And this from a member who experienced the whole ordeal, up close and personal:

10:40 AM:

The river is raging with lots of debris , but not flooding, and a big area of the bay close to us is muddy. But the sun is shining with a few clouds. Much cooler and drier today and people out and about. Staff is busy getting everything back in place and running normally. Can't say enough positive about the way Mayan handled this. Very efficiently but also wanting to do all they could to make people comfortable and happy! I was proud to be an owner here.

It is great to report that all operations are back to normal and all guests returned to their units from the Parking Garage Shelter by around 10 PM last evening. Thus ends the Patricia saga in Nuevo Vallarta and Puerto Vallarta.

We are not sure about those who live where the eye of the storm landed in the area of Cuixmala at about 6:15 PM last evening. Cuixmala is about 50 miles north of Manzanillo and is a lightly populated area.

Cuixmala - The village where the eye of Patricia, the strongest hurricane in history, made landfall.

Winds were gusting to 165 miles an hour when the storm landed, and although they started to lessen as the storm move eastward, such winds can cause enormous damage.

It would be interesting to know how the Castillo de Cuixmala fared. This is an interesting structure that sits on a bluff and overlooks the beach and ocean.

Castillo de Cuixmala - A luxury hotel near or at the eye of Patricia, the strongest hurricane in history.

Castillo de Cuixmala - A luxury hotel near or at the eye of Patricia, the strongest hurricane in history.

Can you imagine being in this castle-like structure when 150 to 165 mile an hour winds are whistling around the building?

Frightening!

We hope those who live in the area of Cuixmala and the path of Patricia as it moves Eastward are safe and will recover from the possible devastation it might have caused.

Lets all....stay tuned.....

October 23, 2015

We can only imagine the work that is going on at the resort to protect guests and facilities before Patricia arrives. Here are comments we received this morning from those who are in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta now:

8:50 AM - October 23, 2015:

We are taking all possible precaution. We expect Patricia to hit land around 2pm. So far we have experienced only light raining but we are preparing as best as possible and the resort's staff is ensuring all to be safe.

The contact center is currently closed, and expect to be back, weather permitted, this Monday.

Our social networks will probably be the best source of information.

I am not sure if I will have Internet access as the hurricane hits, but please feel free to contact me and I will try to keep you posted. Although we will probably have more information later this weekend.

And....

9:05 AM - October 23, 2015:

Thanks for your concern. I think we will be ok. We´re of course preparing for the worst but thank goodness our home is 100% concrete. They began preparing early yesterday at the resort. I´m sure the guests will be taken care of. Our experience in Cabo will no doubt be a benefit to everyone while dealing with Patricia. Send me another message tomorrow and I´ll give you any information I have.

Best...

Another...

10:25 AM - October 23, 2015:
Hola Mr. Jones,

Thank you for your concerns. Luckily we've had plenty of warning to get ready. Right now everything is very calm in Nuevo Vallarta, almost no wind and the ocean is calm too, the tide is high but that's the only sign here right now, even birds by the beach are acting normally. It looks like the eye of the storm is hitting south of PV which is good for us because the mountains there will dramatically slow wind speed. The hotel has taken every precaution and treating this very seriously. Guests have been moved to the main parking building for special shelter, there are generators and plenty of supplies there. There is plenty of security too, the army and security forces are on alert for anything. Electricity and water will be cut off in the next couple of hours as a prevention. I will try to keep you posted on any new developments....

Thank you!!

A special thanks to our friends in Nuevo Vallarta duing this very challenging time.....we wish them well...and will stay tuned...

October 23, 2015

If all goes well, Puerto Vallarta could be on the fringe of this most powerful storm ever recorded in the Pacific Ocean. Its power is determined by how quickly winds escalated from approximately 85 miles per hour to up to 200 miles per hour. This happened within a 24 hour period, during which Patricia moved from a Tropical Storm to a Category 5 hurricane.

The AccuWeather.com storm track images show Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta could avoid a direct hit. We certainly hope so. Here are images from the AccuWeather.com website:

• 3 PM Eastern:

3 PM Eastern Time - Puerto Vallarta remains on the fringe of Patricia's track.

• 12 PM Eastern:

12 PM Eastern Time - Patricia's track is expanding to include Puerto Vallarta.

• 11 PM Eastern:

11 PM Eastern Time - Patricia's track fringe includes Puerto Vallarta.

AccuWeather.com's Becky Elliott provides an update to the weather pattern as of approximately 12 PM Eastern Time.

Last evening, shop owners in Puerto Vallarta were preparing for the worse by bording up their windows. Look at that sky...same as in Ray and Betty's photo....

Prepaing for Patricia's Arrival in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

The storm is huge. Here is an image provided by AccuWeather.com:

Patricia Covers a Huge Area.

Stay tuned...as we try to keep you informed....

October 22, 2015

Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas are exposed! By 5 PM tomorrow, hurricane Patricia could make landfall with 160 mile an hour winds, 11" of rain or more and 27 foot waves. Dangerous! Shops in Puerto Vallarta are securing their windows by covering them with sheets of plywood. From what the weather forecasters say, the storm will reach land between Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta around 5 PM and be a very large storm.

Betty and Ray are on the ninth floor in Tower I in Nuevo Vallarta as we speak. They sent the following alert and photo:

Very unusual looking out at the bay and ocean tonight. Patricia is way south of us but beginning to affect the skies. Lots of preparations being made for her arrival in the area. Should just be a wind and rain event here. All outdoor activities closed as of 7 PM tonite. This one snuck up on everyone! Beautiful sky tonite however! Stay in touch.

Hurricane Patricia affects the evening sky in Nuevo Vallarta - 18 hours before it reaches shore with 160 mile an hour winds and lots of rain.

Our trip begins on November 8. Let's hope the storm passes in the unpopulated areas between Mismaloya and Manzanillo. We will keep everyone updated as we learn more.

Thank you Betty and Ray - be safe!

August 28, 2013

We posted a warning about Event Specialists International on September 4, 2012. You can read it by following this link: Event Specialists International

The update is the website is no longer active. Also, we found an energetic and unhappy victim of the fraud. This person is an activist and knows something about websites.

The victim purchased a domain called eventspecialistscam.com and posted a recap of the scam. The website has been discontinued, and we do not have a recap.

You may say....so what....! Well, the "what" is this person took the responsibility of taking action against a shadow. This is impressive! If we all did this in one way or another, we not only would be getting the word out, but we also would be encouraging action.

The call to action in these cases is do your due diligence. Ask questions. Make your own demands. Follow the rules for avoiding becoming a victim....do send all documents by courier to a physical address, demand that all seller required payments be paid from the proceeds of the sale, do choose your own escrow company, do make sure the company is located where it says it is.

This person lost money to a dishonest scheme. Instead of trying to minimize the loss by doing nothing and moving on, the victim took the positive step to individually post his or her experience in hopes others could gain from it.

To that we say BRAVO! Let's all get involved and take action!

August 25, 2015

This valuation of the Mexican Peso could have remarkable implications for those of us who enjoy Grupo Vidanta's new projects. One reason is US Dollars entering Mexico go much further than as recently as one year ago.

Grupo Vidanta receives a large percentage of its payments in US Dollars. For every US Dollar that comes into the company, that dollar converts into 17.2 Mexican Pesos.

What does that mean. Well, lets say a project costs one million Mexican Pesos to complete. Probably not unreasonable. The company receives one million US Dollars and converts them into seventeen million Mexican Pesos. The result is significant based only on the conversion rate alone.

But, if one were to look at the conversion rate five years ago (August 25, 2010), when one US Dollar converted into thirteen Mexican Pesos, one recognizes there is an increase of approximately four Mexican Pesos available for use today, which did not exist five years ago.

Five years is not a long period of time, but it is when considering trading timelines. So, let's shorten the time frame. Consider two years ago (August 25, 2013). The rate was about the same. One US Dollar converted into thirteen Mexican Pesos. Interestingly, there is little change when we shorten the time frame to one year ago. On August 25, 2014, one US Dollar converted into thirteen Mexican Pesos.

So, when did the spread start to increase? September 19, 2014. From then to now, the value of the US Dollar increased from thirteen Mexican Pesos to today's valuation of seventeen Mexican Pesos That is a 30% increase in the number of Mexican Pesos that one US Dollar will fetch. Certainly inflation is not increasing by that rate! (Source: http://www.tradingeconomics.com/mexico/currency)

The increased benefits Grupo Vidanta. It has received 30% more Mexican Pesos from its US members than it did one year ago, just by accepting US Dollars as payment for Maintenance Fees and contract purchases. This is great news for those of us who are members because it provides comfort that the ambitious projects that are now under way have a great chance of being adequately funded.

Serendipity! We accept all we can get.

Stay tuned....

June 13, 2015

Vacationing is a key activity of everyone's life. Are we all in agreement with that proposition? And when we vacation properly, we feel refreshed and invigorated. Isn't that right too?

That said, there is a wide range of activities that fall into the category of Vacationing and being refreshed and invigorated. Sometimes, the vacation does not pan out the way it was envisioned for any number of reasons. The result may be only partial satisfaction and not so much invigoration or relaxation.

Use of our weeks in Mexico has fulfilled our beachside vacationing goals in prior years. There has been so much going on, it was hard for us to not be invigorated about the progress made and visions of what the future has in store.

Other trips are different matters. These entail exploring places we have not been before and involve a lot of planning to get the most of them.

What brought these thoughts to mind is an article that appeared today entitled "5 Rules for Vacation that's Truly Worth it" in today's emails. Published in the Harvard Business Review, the article describes how for some people the distinction between work and vacationing is very small. These individuals love their job as much as they love vacationing and put the same amount of effort to achieve success in each activity.

Following are highlights of the rules put forth in the article:

1. Move and exercise. The premise is our ancestors moved around all the time, and we should do the same.
2. Find peaceful, beautiful surroundings. For us the beach offers the peace we seek. Mountain trails do too. Even the busy streets of Rome do as well. Its all in how you perceive your surroundings.
3. Meet different, interesting people. That has happened since our first experience with Grupo Mayan resorts, as they were called in 2007 when we first entered the Mayan family. It has only expanded from there.
4. Be willing to invest. The article points out that quality vacations are one of the highest-return investments one can make.
5. Plan properly. Seamless reservation from airfare to restaurants to tours and guides to auto rentals makes the entire process enjoyable. In addition, vacation time becomes so much more productive and allows for more time to embrace the moments. Finally, planning and preparation can be fun.

The article is interesting and presents good ideas for becoming a productive vacationer. View the article by tapping the following link: 5 Rules for a Vacation thats Truly Worth it

Success at your work leads to successful vacations - love both to achieve fulfillment!

April 10, 2015

Boots on the Ground sent us the following article. Very interesting, don't you agree? Post your comments if you have any. Enjoy:

Mexico

President Enrique Pena Nieto Applauds Grupo Vidanta for $1.3 Billion Investment in New Tourism Offerings for Mexico

Private developer Grupo Vidanta fueling job growth and attracting millions of tourism dollars with new luxury resorts, golf courses and theme parks animated by Cirque du Soleil

President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico praises the investment in tourism by Grupo Vidanta and Daniel Chavez Moran during an April 9, 2015, press conference at the Vidanta Theater in Riviera Maya.

RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico, April 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Mexico Secretary of Tourism Claudia Ruiz Massieu and Governor of the Mexican State of Quintana Roo Roberto Borge Angulo were on hand Thursday at the Vidanta Theater to help announce Grupo Vidanta's $1.3 billion investment in new tourism projects. The luxury resort and tourism developer will bring new attractions including premier golf courses, additional luxury resorts and theme parks animated by Cirque du Soleil to Mexico. The site of JOYA by Cirque du Soleil – launched late last year by Grupo Vidanta and already one of Mexico's fastest growing tourist attractions – served as the backdrop for Mexico's government leaders to share their vision for the future of international tourism growth in Mexico.

Grupo Vidanta, founded by Daniel Chavez Moran in 1974, has grown its workforce from 12,000 to 15,000 employees in the last three years and plans to add an additional 3,000 employees across the company's architecture, design, construction and operations practices by 2018 through jobs created in the development of new tourism projects.

Pena Nieto praised the investment of Grupo Vidanta and noted that Mexico needs more success stories like Grupo Vidanta and founder Daniel Chavez Moran, so that more Mexican people can find opportunity for personal fulfillment.

Annually, Grupo Vidanta attracts more than 700,000 visitors – 500,000 of which travel from foreign countries – to premier resort properties at Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Acapulco, Puerto Penasco, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. Grupo Vidanta's development of the world's first theme parks animated by Cirque du Soleil are expected to draw an additional 2.5 million annual visitors with the first park's inauguration in 2019.

Grupo Vidanta recently celebrated the grand opening of its newest luxury resort, The Grand Mayan Puerto Penasco, and Vidanta Golf – already the largest operator of golf courses in Mexico – will add a new premier golf course for visitors in The Greg Norman Golf Course at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta in 2015.

QUOTES

Said Grupo Vidanta founder Daniel Chavez Moran, "Mexico is a place for opportunities. With over 40 years of experience as a driver of Mexican tourism, Grupo Vidanta has learned the best results for Mexico are achieved when we work collaboratively to recruit the world's top brands in travel and entertainment as partners and create unique vacation dreams in Mexico that rival that of any destination in the world. That strategy has allowed Grupo Vidanta to sustain annual visitation growth of 15 percent at our developments, serve more than half a million foreign visitors, and achieve revenues of nearly $700 million each year."

Said Mexico Secretary of Tourism Claudia Ruiz Massieu, "Today is one of the most important announcements of investments in this sector in recent years. An announcement that shows there is confidence in Mexico, in its government and its people. This investment represents more than a number or amount, it represents the conviction of Grupo Vidanta that the tourism sector will continue to grow, will continue to gain ground against other international competitors; that it will continue to produce smiles for visitors and opportunities for thousands in our regions."

Said Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, "I commend you for what you have achieved, for the achievements that have been obtained with daily effort to become an exemplary group within the tourism sector."

For more information on Grupo Vidanta, visit grupovidanta.com.

About Grupo Vidanta
Grupo Vidanta is a full-service tourism developer in Mexico and Latin America with practices in property architecture and product design, construction and operations. The company specializes in the development and operation of luxury resort and hotel brands in Mexico and counts AAA Five Diamond Award-winning Grand Luxxe Nuevo Vallarta and five AAA Four Diamond Award-winning resorts – Grand Luxxe Riviera Maya, The Grand Bliss Nuevo Vallarta, The Grand Mayan Nuevo Vallarta, The Grand Mayan Riviera Maya and The Grand Mayan Acapulco – among its impressive portfolio of more than 25 resorts and hotels.

Grupo Vidanta's visionary approach to the development of luxury beach destinations brings vacation dreams to life via membership-based resorts and mega-resorts on the coastlines of Mexico's most sought-after locations – Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Acapulco, Puerto Penasco, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan – with brands including Grand Luxxe, The Grand Bliss, The Grand Mayan, The Bliss, Mayan Palace, Ocean Breeze and Sea Garden, and more in development.

The company, which employs more than 15,000 individuals dedicated to design, development, construction and operations, is consistently recognized as one of the most revered employers in Latin America. Vidanta Golf is the largest operator of golf courses in Mexico, the real estate division has built and sold more than 2,000 vacation luxury homes, and the company is responsible for developing Mexico's first privately built and owned airport, Mar de Cortes International Airport in Puerto Penasco.

Grupo Vidanta was founded by Daniel Chavez Moran in 1974 and operates two foundations to enrich the lives of Latin Americans. For more information about Grupo Vidanta, visit http://www.grupovidanta.com.

About Daniel Chavez Moran
Daniel Chavez Moran has been a leading visionary in the Mexico tourism industry for more than 40 years. Now retired, Chavez Moran founded Grupo Vidanta in 1974 after developing his first hotel, Paraiso Mazatlan, and grew the Grupo Vidanta to include expert practices in design, development, construction and operation for many of Mexico and Latin America's top luxury beach resorts, megaresorts and hotels. Under Chavez Moran's leadership, Grupo Vidanta diversified an influence in tourism infrastructure to include the largest collection of golf courses operated in Mexico, construction and sale of more than 2,000 vacation homes, and the first privately built and owned airport in Mexico, Mar de Cortes International Airport in Puerto Penasco. Forbes recognized Chavez Moran for his contributions in 2013, naming him one of the 12 most powerful investors in tourism in Mexico.

Under Chavez Moran's guidance, Grupo Vidanta has grown into one of Latin America's most revered employers, with a staff of more than 15,000 employees and consistent selection to the Great Place to Work Institute's list of "Best Companies to Work," including a ranking as the No. 1 hospitality organization to work for in Mexico in 2014 and 2015.

Commitment to philanthropy is a major component of Grupo Vidanta's mission to inspire generations of happiness. Today, Chavez Moran leads two foundations focused on philanthropy in Latin America including The Fundacion Vidanta, which promotes culture and fights poverty by awarding financial resources to individuals and organizations each year, and The Fundacion Delia Moran, created with the support of the government of Nayarit, which promotes education opportunities in the region and operates a free school and after-school programs for children.

Daniel Chavez Moran was born in Delicias, Chihuahua, and graduated from the University of Guadalajara with a degree in civil engineering in 1971. He is recognized by CNN as one of the 100 most important businessmen in Mexico.

Media Contact:

Greg Miller
214-891-7668
greg_miller at richards.com

Customer Service
customerservice at vidanta.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150410/197738

SOURCE Grupo Vidanta

RELATED LINKS
http://grupovidanta.com

Pretty exciting, don't you think?

March 31, 2015

This just in: Taxi drivers request payment in Mexican Pesos rather than US Dollars. Reason: The exchange rates given by the owners of the taxi companies is $10 MX Pesos per $1 USD, not the trading rate of $15.25 MX Peso per $1.00 USD.

Today, the Mexican Peso is trading at a rate of $15.25 Mexican Pesos per $1 US Dollar., according to our input from likeforex.com, a leading foreign currency trading company in the United States. Many of us enjoy vacationing without giving much thought to the payment process and impact of currency changes on the local economy.

During past trips, it was not unusual to agree to a $10 peso trade rate per US dollar because the differences between the available and trading markets were not worth the trouble. Today, that is not the case. US travelers to Mexico get about 25% more for our dollar today than they did at the $12.25 exchange rates that were common during November and December trips.

Chances are the prices paid in restaurants have not gone up by 25% between now and then. The reason is the Mexican Federal Government wants to keep inflation under control to make life affordable for the local population.

These are interesting economic times for travelers to Mexico. Will they continue? Who knows. But, we should be thankful we have great places to visit and have access to services that are dependable and honest. The least we can do is share with our hosts by carrying pesos to make payments whenever possible. What do you think??? You can leave your comments by posting them here.

Enjoy your vacation and pay with Pesos....

March 17, 2015

Green is the color of the day for those who are of Irish decent and those who enjoy partying with the revelers on St. Patty's Day. Around our house, the kids received green milk in their cereal and had to wear something green all day long. Otherwise, they suffered the consequences.

Well, today there is a lot of green in Nuevo Vallarta. However, the revelers are under Palapas, staying dry as the rains pour down. Weather is pretty wet in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit just now. Here are comments from a Luxxe member who is on site as we speak:
Boots 2 On The Ground sent us images of the Ameca River from the pool on the top floor of the Residence Tower today:

Major flooding new golf course gone, sand bar gone , hundreds of trees on the beach, cows floating down river and dam about to break...old bridge closed.

Update - March 18 - 5:06 AM
Latest news....some water of the dam was released so the dam should be ok. I did not see the cows though heard about them. The new golf course ruined. Saw members of the sales staff with others at the pool on the 10th floor pool of the Residence Tower which is called the Garden Floor. The pictures were taken from there. Best view of the damage. Tried to take picture of the trees on the old sand bars, but they did not turn out. Heard from the staff here that many of their families were evacuated though everyone was ok . We did not have Internet from the time I tried sending you the pictures (4pm )until now.

Other news the only elevator working since Monday in the Residence Tower is the service one. We are on the first floor which is a good thing since Steve is in an air cast due to a skiing accident.

We really are having a wonderful time though.

Will write more later.

Indeed, the weather is damp, and it looks as though more rain is coming. Our thoughts go out to those whose homes in the mountains and along the Ameca River have been either damaged or flooded or both. The losses are potentially catastrophic. It is clear Mother Nature had other ideas for this traditional day full of celebration.

January 21, 2015

So....what's so exciting about "The Year"?

• Puerto Penasco - Opening on March 1, 2015 - A new Grand Mayan tower. The building has been under construction since before January 22, 2007. Tap here to view Lyn's photos from October, 2013.

• Acapulco - Will the unnamed tower that has been under construction since prior to February 16, 2009 open in 2015?

• Nuevo Vallarta - Will units in the south side of the Residence Tower be finished by November, 2015?

2014 was the year for Riviera Maya. Cirque du Soliel opened in November, 2014. The beach is under reconstruction. The new French Restaurant opened. And, construction of the new Luxxe registration building finished.

Let's all see how the rest of the year evolves. The addition of the Grand Mayan in Puerto Penasco is certainly a good one. Acapulco, Nuevo Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo are now in the spotlight!

You know what I'm going to say.....Stay tuned....

December 31, 2014

This will be our last post until next year. The Residence at the Grand Luxxe is creating great expectations. Accomplishments are in hand. As many say, we have come a long way and there is more to come. But, for sure..."it is getting there".

More on this and much more next year. Now, we have to sign off by thanking everyone who has participated in Aimfair. Our extended family continues to grow. There are many exciting things to come. Let's share it all as they happen.

In the meantime, have a wonderful, healthy, fun filled new year.

Happy New Year everyone!

December 24, 2014

We received a message from jharhart sending all Aimfair members his best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and Holiday Season. It was in the form of an ecard, which we were unable to post here.

Thank you jharhart for your very warm sentiment. Thank you for your wonderful Christmas gift. We hope you all will be enjoying the day with family and friends. It is a time for sharing. Enjoy the day and celebration with jharhart.

Cheers!

November 27, 2014

Thanks to our dedicated support team, the maintenance went smoothly and is complete. We are now running on a new server that has solid state hard drives, which means processing all our photos, Owners Forum posts and frequent updates will be presented three times faster than before. In addition to faster processing, the server operating system offers higher levels of security as well.

The electronic world is constantly changing, so we have to be ready to keep up too. We truly appreciate the support of all Aimfair members, especially those who subscribe to our site to help offset those continuing operating and maintenance costs.

Thanks to the dedicated staff at the Vidanta resorts, especially the Luxxe family of resorts for making our visits feel like home. Every time we leave Nuevo Vallarta, it is as though we are leaving our second home.

Thanks to all the Aimfair members for making this website possible. Through your sharing of comments, photos, updates and general comments, all of us remain in touch.

Finally, thanks to all the new friends we have made since we started Aimfair in 2008. Many of you have been with us since the beginning, and for that we are very grateful.

Thanks to all of you for being part of the Aimfair community....on we go....

November 26, 2014

Tomorrow, November 27, 2014 we will be performing maintenance on the Aimfair website. There may be interruptions that will not last too long, if at all. The end result will be increased access speed and restored email delivery from the website.

A mid October service provider maintenance event caused Aimfair outages, and the system changes prevailed even after several attempts to restore settings to their original levels.

In the meantime, access speeds have varied, the server has gone off line occasionally and individual aspects of our platform are not performing up to our standards.

We truly appreciate your patience with us and your continuing support. Mary Ann and I are looking forward to an amazing new year, filled with many changes and improvements.

So, on we go...with great anticipation and excitement...come along and join the fun...

November 24, 2014

It was a group of 16 or so members and non-members who stopped by to introduce themselves, provide updates, share experiences and generally get a chance to make a new acquaintance or two.

It is always fun to meet up with friends who have been coming to the resort at the same time each year. One of the couples has attended every gathering since we held the first one in 2009.

Much has changed since then, and we all agreed the changes have been for the betterment of members. A few bumps along the road have been smoothed out over time. There is no question that those in attendance on Tuesday felt the property is improving and that it is nice to see construction moving away from the existing towers for the time being.

That is not to say all construction has ceased. The lake in front of the SPA Towers should be completed by the middle of December. The new access structures could be finished in time for the Holiday push. The new Tower 5, which is home to the newest product to be offered by Grupo Vidanta called a Loft-Like Studio is at the ground floor. Footings are in place. Plans are the tower will be finished by next November.

The SPA Tower pools are open as is the Kids Club. The Kids Club is different from the Grand Mayan Kiddies Pool because fees are charged for the Kids Club. At the time we were there, the charges are $80 peso per hour, $150 pesos for the day with in and out privileges and without meals, and $350 pesos for the day with meals. Activities are varied. Sort of like ski school without the snow or skis.

The new Greg Norman golf course is well underway. Lakes are in place. Greens are exposed with their drainage in place. The resort is growing its own grass, which is different from the grass on the current Nicklaus course. A bridge walking bridge will be constructed by Spring to allow guests to use this new course by then.

Attendees ventured from all over Canada and the US. No question about it. These gatherings, though not large in number are fun ways to not only meet new people but also get updates that might not otherwise be available.

Hope to see you next year. Hope others start these on their own at different times of the year.

Thank you all for participating....Stay tuned...