Secrets Aura & Sunscape Sabor outcome

[Christi]

I was at a cave diving presentation earlier this week and the presenter said there is no such thing as logic or reason in that particular part of Mexico (referring to the Yucatan Peninsula). I guess this is yet another example of that.

"So sad to hear how poorly the management at the hotel is operating. Rafael Nadal should know how badly his management team is handling his investment property!" RR Owner

 

[gopbroek]

I am sorry to here this but I am not surprised at the outcome. If they can succeed with this then I think more resorts and hotels will start pushing it. I think they are eyeing the cruise industry model of containing the guests within their universe and pushing them towards hotel associated vendors. Vendor from which they have a financial stake in. The $2 fee is probably an introductory value and will most likely increase with time. Iberostar got away with it with their pier and Dressel and the other hotels are now following suit.

 

[Christi]

I am sorry to here this but I am not surprised at the outcome. If they can succeed with this then I think more resorts and hotels will start pushing it. I think they are eyeing the cruise industry model of containing the guests within their universe and pushing them towards hotel associated vendors. Vendor from which they have a financial stake in. The $2 fee is probably an introductory value and will most likely increase with time. Iberostar got away with it with their pier and Dressel and the other hotels are now following suit.

Iberostar and Secrets are the only ones charging for use of their piers. A bit of a difference too, Iberostar OWNS Dressel Divers - so they have a definite financial stake.

Secrets does not own either of the 2 dive shops onsite, they pay rent to the resort for being there.

Park Royal does not actually have their own pier, so they don't charge for pier use, it's the owner of the closest pier that does - but at least they give guests the opportunity to purchase them by the day or week. - They have a reasonable solution.

 

[TiogaTerry]

I’ve been at Secrets all week and will be for another 5 days - and I’ve showed the front desk this note from Christi along with my voice that this is not MY dive ops responsibility. A few phone calls later by the guy at front desk, I was told that this is much to do about nothing and that my $2 payment can be made by me rather than ops. We shall see in the am.

 

[Christi]

I’ve been at Secrets all week and will be for another 5 days - and I’ve showed the front desk this note from Christi along with my voice that this is not MY dive ops responsibility. A few phone calls later by the guy at front desk, I was told that this is much to do about nothing and that my $2 payment can be made by me rather than ops. We shall see in the am.

PLEASE let us know how that goes for you Terry!

That response is pretty funny coming from them! Maybe they are taking us seriously now. They've been delaying and delaying since our meeting with them on the 9th. We honored their requests in good faith - we want a solution, not drama. We sent them a reminder yesterday that we were waiting for their response by end of business yesterday as they had promised. We reminded them that we were prepared to share their decision publicly, whatever that decision was - but we needed an answer so that we could proceed accordingly. As of 4:52pm today, still no response or acknowledgement. In the meantime, our message has reached thousands of divers and visitors.

 

[ggunn]

If that solution was unacceptable, then the most logical conclusion (from someone who wasn't in the room where it happens) is that Sunscape/Secrets didn't want a solution and instead wanted to prohibit other dive boats from coming to their pier but didn't want to say so explicitly. Offering only an unreasonable system gets them to the same outcome.

That's been my opinion all along.

 

[nwflyboy]

February 1, 2018

Dear Valued Cozumel Guests,

On behalf of 40+ aquatic sports providers, we have unfortunate news for guests of Sunscape Sabor and Secrets Aura. As of February 1st, a large group of aquatic sports operators will suspend courtesy pick-up service to the Sunscape Sabor and Secrets Aura pier...

Respectfully,

Scuba Tony
Blue XT~Sea Diving
3 Pelicanos
Liquid Blue
Living Underwater
Scuba with Alison
Bottom Time Divers
Albatros Charters
Aquatic Adventures
Diving Adventures
Scuba Life
H20
Scuba Shack
Salty Endeavors
Deep Blue
Papa Hogs
Sea Robin
Aldora Divers
Alex Adventures
Challenge Divers
Manta Raya Divers
Blue Project
Tortuga Carey
Pepe Scuba
Wildcat Divers
Cozumel Sports
Dive with Cristina
Rey Diving
Dive with Martin
Caribbean Divers
Island Divers
Mar Azul Aquatics
+ several others who are not named

I for one stand with you. Although for my upcoming trip (less than 2 weeks!) I will be staying at a major hotel where there are currently no such barriers to dive ops, I plan to pro-actively let the management there know that I am supportive of the recent efforts of local dive op businesses, and if the hotel takes steps to block dive ops in the future (or otherwise hinder their access a la Secrets et all), I will be taking my business elsewhere on future trips.

The kind of nonsense these few hotels are pulling needs to be stopped so it doesn't spread. I'd urge others to have similar conversations with their hotel's management - not confrontational, not rude, not making a stink, just to let them know we are aware of what's happening, and that we will be watching and making our accommodation choices in the future based on this criteria (among others, of course), but that any hotel that blocks 3rd party dive ops like Secrets and the others are doing, will be off my shopping list.

@Christi - I hope the group of businesses named above continues to coalesce and work together. Got a name yet? How about "ANDAC" (Asociación de Negocios de Deportes Acuáticos de Cozumel)?
When you have t-shirts and stickers, I'll buy one.



Good work organizing this effort thus far, and good luck going forward. Don't hesitate to let us customers know how we can help.

 

[Christi]

Hotels/condos with available pier pick-ups for their paying guests are:
El Cantil
Cozumel Palace
Hotel Cozumel & Resort
Blue Angel, Casa del Mar
La Ceiba
El Presidente
Landmark
Fiesta Americana
Explorian
Landmark
Residencias Reef
Allegro
Occidental Grand
Park Royal - although they do not own their own pier, guests can purchase daily or weekly passes for the pier across the street at a very reasonable rate
Residencias Reef - We encourage people to continue staying here, simply contact your condo owner/manager and/or dive op for available options prior to your arrival.

 

[mcohen1021]

Park Royal - although they do not own their own pier, guests can purchase daily or weekly passes for the pier across the street at a very reasonable rate

Are you referring to the del mar pier? I've never paid a dime to use their lockers or pier. Not saying they don't charge, but I never have been and I dive with a personal friend.

 

[nodakdive]

Are you referring to the del mar pier? I've never paid a dime to use their lockers or pier. Not saying they don't charge, but I never have been and I dive with a personal friend.

It's on there next to Blue Angel. CDM owns the pier, I think. Del Mar Aquatics used to be the dive concession, but now it might be Dive Palancar and, oh, I forget. It's been a few years, but I was never charged either. I remember when I couldn't even rent a locker, but that changed years ago.