cicopo
Contributor
So there isn't any confusion I'll start by using it's current name some see when shopping for lodging. According to the sign on the wall outside it's "Cozumel Hotel & Resort Trademark Collection by Wyndham" which some refer to as the Wyndham. Either way it's the Hotel situated a bit south of the Palace & the now closed Scuba Club. It is privately owned and is not owned by Wyndham. They simply joined the Wyndham Franchise system hoping that might help fill the rooms during the Covid Era.
Now that I’m home from my annual 3 week visit to Hotel Cozumel (by Wyndham which I heard may be terminated when the contract runs out) I have several news items to pass on. First the bad news for now is that the big investment they made 2 years ago to upgrade to a WiFi 6 system throughout the property was a flop and for now there is no “in room” service and at times it’s iffy at other areas of the property. A lot of guests are upset about this and they know it but it seems finding a reliable Internet Service Provider on the island isn’t all that easy. Most if not all of the Huawei Routers / Transceivers were removed while we were there. I’m hopeful the existing wiring will be OK for whatever it’s replaced by or that will add delays to getting it up and running again.
Also after last years trip I had reported that all of the rooms were getting a furniture upgrade however as it turns out that didn’t quite work out. The hotel wasn’t happy with the quality of the dressers (chest of drawers) they had planned to use and has been shopping for a better quality product at an affordable price. I was told they have found a potential supplier that is currently building a prototype for their inspection which will be ready soon. If it meets their requirements they will be ordered and are that last thing needed to complete the full updating / upgrade in time for my next visit. .
Now for the good news which I’m sure will have an impact on all guests. There is a new Restaurant Manager as well as a new Chef. Both are very receptive to suggestions on how to make us happy at meal time. I had a short talk with Dave (food manager) on the first or second day there at Breakfast & one of the things I mentioned was many guests wanted to see the Pasta Station brought back. It was a very popular thing before Covid seemed to shut it down. I passed on a few other suggestions based on things I hear guests talking about and in less than 1 week the Pasta Station made a comeback and was bigger & better than ever. I think about 80% or more of the guests used it the first night leaving the buffet area to me and a few other guests. Each night they set it up it was busy enough to show that guests like the added variety it offers. It has a huge selection of things to add to your custom cooked meal as well as 2 cooks to keep the lineup moving along. (I have issues digesting Cheese and have always avoided eating foods I associate with Cheese however I did join the lineup and try it myself and survived). I do see the draw and will do it again next visit. The current plan will have the Pasta station in use 3 nights of the week which seems logical thanks to there being a Caribbean Night and a Mexican Night already
There were other important changes to the menu during our stay including one to the menu served at the “Catch of the Day Beach Party” (Lunch on Wednesday) which is served at the Beach Club (weather permitting) and in general caters to sea food lovers with very little for those who can’t or won’t eat seafood. In the past those people could go over to the snack bar and order from the menu there however it’s now closed Wednesdays in order to use the Snack Bar staff to help out at the beach. On our last week (actually our last full day there) a cook station for beef, pork and chicken had been added which totally made up for the Snack Bar being closed.
My final comment is just how Dave decided to please all the football fans that wanted to watch the Super Bowl. In the past it was shown in the Grand Salon using a projection system and unfortunately the acoustics in there made it very hard to hear the commentators. The meal was also served in there and had a Taco Station which made a lot of smoke. Not the best way to enjoy a special event which caused many of the guests to jam themselves into the Sports Bar which was usually packed to it’s limit. Dave’s solution (which I’m pretty sure had to be approved by management) was to place a giant screen TV in the outdoor theater along with a great sound system with crystal clear speech we could easily hear all around the pool area. Tables were set up, the Snack Bar made many of the popular snack style foods a sports bar might serve (burgers, hot dogs, wings etc) and guest could either go get what they liked or ask one of the waiters to do it. Guest got to watch the Super Bowl on a beautiful night under the stars. Who could ask for more other than maybe a different score? (The Sports Bar was almost empty).
My final note for now relates to the waiters & waitresses. This year we had the very best service staff ever. Friendly and helpful and as much as possible watching to see if we needed something. It’s kind of funny just how busy the restaurants can get for maybe a 15 minute period now and again and then suddenly it’s nearly empty. Guests seemed to arrive or leave in waves which tied the staff up at times but they handle it very well and keep smiling. I as well as my wife & travel companions salute them. They are a big part of why we stay there. We get 5 star service from all of them.
I have a lot of photos to go with this but it will take a while for me to edit and select which ones to use and they will be a very big update to my on line Hotel Photo Tour album. It may take a week or 2 to get that done.
For other news there are 3 optional no cost (to AI guests) specialty meals during the week, a Mexican Night, a Steak Night & an Italian Night. They are by reservation with limited seatings at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30. There is also a Mexican Night held Friday Night and weather permitting it’s held outside by the stage area. It had a huge selection of food to choose from. Caribbean Night is held at the beach on Thursdays. Most of our meals this trip were at the Beach Club or outdoors.
This year evening entertainment had changed big time but I was told the 2 main acts were there every second week rather than weekly. Thursday night featured a professional Fire Dancing act which was very impressive and the Friday night show (which was presented after the meal on the stage) was by another professional crew performing a Mayan Story which also used some fire and a lot of scented smoke. Some may not enjoy the smoke part of the show so if you’re sensitive to smoke choose seating well back from the stage. Both shows were VERY good. There is a movie night, a Karaoke night and a night or 2 of alternating shows performed by the activity staff. Sunday Nights 2 members from the band Tequila Shot and a female vocalist perform on the stage and I think it was Wednesday nights that a duet performed in the lobby. At this time Tequila Shot is not playing at the Catch of the Day Beach Party but the owner said he intended to find out why. He & I both agree they are a great band.
Now that I’m home from my annual 3 week visit to Hotel Cozumel (by Wyndham which I heard may be terminated when the contract runs out) I have several news items to pass on. First the bad news for now is that the big investment they made 2 years ago to upgrade to a WiFi 6 system throughout the property was a flop and for now there is no “in room” service and at times it’s iffy at other areas of the property. A lot of guests are upset about this and they know it but it seems finding a reliable Internet Service Provider on the island isn’t all that easy. Most if not all of the Huawei Routers / Transceivers were removed while we were there. I’m hopeful the existing wiring will be OK for whatever it’s replaced by or that will add delays to getting it up and running again.
Also after last years trip I had reported that all of the rooms were getting a furniture upgrade however as it turns out that didn’t quite work out. The hotel wasn’t happy with the quality of the dressers (chest of drawers) they had planned to use and has been shopping for a better quality product at an affordable price. I was told they have found a potential supplier that is currently building a prototype for their inspection which will be ready soon. If it meets their requirements they will be ordered and are that last thing needed to complete the full updating / upgrade in time for my next visit. .
Now for the good news which I’m sure will have an impact on all guests. There is a new Restaurant Manager as well as a new Chef. Both are very receptive to suggestions on how to make us happy at meal time. I had a short talk with Dave (food manager) on the first or second day there at Breakfast & one of the things I mentioned was many guests wanted to see the Pasta Station brought back. It was a very popular thing before Covid seemed to shut it down. I passed on a few other suggestions based on things I hear guests talking about and in less than 1 week the Pasta Station made a comeback and was bigger & better than ever. I think about 80% or more of the guests used it the first night leaving the buffet area to me and a few other guests. Each night they set it up it was busy enough to show that guests like the added variety it offers. It has a huge selection of things to add to your custom cooked meal as well as 2 cooks to keep the lineup moving along. (I have issues digesting Cheese and have always avoided eating foods I associate with Cheese however I did join the lineup and try it myself and survived). I do see the draw and will do it again next visit. The current plan will have the Pasta station in use 3 nights of the week which seems logical thanks to there being a Caribbean Night and a Mexican Night already
There were other important changes to the menu during our stay including one to the menu served at the “Catch of the Day Beach Party” (Lunch on Wednesday) which is served at the Beach Club (weather permitting) and in general caters to sea food lovers with very little for those who can’t or won’t eat seafood. In the past those people could go over to the snack bar and order from the menu there however it’s now closed Wednesdays in order to use the Snack Bar staff to help out at the beach. On our last week (actually our last full day there) a cook station for beef, pork and chicken had been added which totally made up for the Snack Bar being closed.
My final comment is just how Dave decided to please all the football fans that wanted to watch the Super Bowl. In the past it was shown in the Grand Salon using a projection system and unfortunately the acoustics in there made it very hard to hear the commentators. The meal was also served in there and had a Taco Station which made a lot of smoke. Not the best way to enjoy a special event which caused many of the guests to jam themselves into the Sports Bar which was usually packed to it’s limit. Dave’s solution (which I’m pretty sure had to be approved by management) was to place a giant screen TV in the outdoor theater along with a great sound system with crystal clear speech we could easily hear all around the pool area. Tables were set up, the Snack Bar made many of the popular snack style foods a sports bar might serve (burgers, hot dogs, wings etc) and guest could either go get what they liked or ask one of the waiters to do it. Guest got to watch the Super Bowl on a beautiful night under the stars. Who could ask for more other than maybe a different score? (The Sports Bar was almost empty).
My final note for now relates to the waiters & waitresses. This year we had the very best service staff ever. Friendly and helpful and as much as possible watching to see if we needed something. It’s kind of funny just how busy the restaurants can get for maybe a 15 minute period now and again and then suddenly it’s nearly empty. Guests seemed to arrive or leave in waves which tied the staff up at times but they handle it very well and keep smiling. I as well as my wife & travel companions salute them. They are a big part of why we stay there. We get 5 star service from all of them.
I have a lot of photos to go with this but it will take a while for me to edit and select which ones to use and they will be a very big update to my on line Hotel Photo Tour album. It may take a week or 2 to get that done.
For other news there are 3 optional no cost (to AI guests) specialty meals during the week, a Mexican Night, a Steak Night & an Italian Night. They are by reservation with limited seatings at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30. There is also a Mexican Night held Friday Night and weather permitting it’s held outside by the stage area. It had a huge selection of food to choose from. Caribbean Night is held at the beach on Thursdays. Most of our meals this trip were at the Beach Club or outdoors.
This year evening entertainment had changed big time but I was told the 2 main acts were there every second week rather than weekly. Thursday night featured a professional Fire Dancing act which was very impressive and the Friday night show (which was presented after the meal on the stage) was by another professional crew performing a Mayan Story which also used some fire and a lot of scented smoke. Some may not enjoy the smoke part of the show so if you’re sensitive to smoke choose seating well back from the stage. Both shows were VERY good. There is a movie night, a Karaoke night and a night or 2 of alternating shows performed by the activity staff. Sunday Nights 2 members from the band Tequila Shot and a female vocalist perform on the stage and I think it was Wednesday nights that a duet performed in the lobby. At this time Tequila Shot is not playing at the Catch of the Day Beach Party but the owner said he intended to find out why. He & I both agree they are a great band.
