September is National Honey Month, this marks the end of the honey collection season for many beekeepers. With bees on the decline – and 60% of all fruits and vegetables consumed by humans have bees as the primary, if not the only pollinators – there has never been a more crucial time to create buzz around the time and ensure these worker bees stay employed long-term. Below are a few ways to celebrate the sweet bees at various renowned hotels and resorts all around the world:
Barcelo Hotels & Resorts – Barceló Hotels & Resorts does all it can to deliver distinctive experiences that anticipate the desires of all guests. As renowned upscale resorts, they feature a blend of multi-resort, all-inclusive complexes and stylish urban-centric properties located in the best locations around the globe. During National Honey Month, this group of hotels offer guests an array of special and can’t miss honey-related activities, spa treatments and culinary options:
At Barceló Ixtapa’s renowned U-Spa, guests can delight in an exquisite treatment called Wine Bath, that involves immersing completely into a tub of red merlot wine combined with honey. The antioxidants from the wine and the nutrient benefits from the honey will provide softening, moisturizing and rejuvenating properties for the skin.
A specialty mezcal and honey infused cocktail, The Mezcamiel, available at any of Barceló Huatulco’s four on-property bars. The cocktail fuses the sweet flavors of pure honey and the savory mezcal liquor with the following ingredients: 1 tablespoon of honey, ½ glass of Mezcal, 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of orange juice.
The exquisite Sancuts Lotus expedition available at Barceló Maya Grand Resort. A unique experience that takes guests through the archaeological zone of Chunyaxche, for a gastronomic workshop of traditional food from the region, a visit to a temazcal, a cenote and a typical Mayan dinner. Within the excursion, travelers will have the chance to taste the characteristic honey produced by the native Melipona Bees – straight from the bee farm. Another special tour includes a visit to Vallarta Botanical Gardens, the second largest Botanical Garden in Latin America, located just 10 minutes from the spectacular and newly renovated Barceló Puerto Vallarta. Guests can connect with nature during a long walk along the garden’s gorgeous trail while observing several spots where natural bee pollination occurs throughout the 64-acres of gardens.
Occidental Hotels & Resorts: Occidental Hotels & Resorts is a collection of distinct properties that each offer unique, destination specific touch points that immerse guests in their cultural surroundings. The resorts range from idyllic waterfront locations on the Caribbean to lively European city centers. This group of hotels offer distinct culinary options that infuse that sweet honey nectar including:
A delicious breakfast buffet at Occidental Costa Cancun filled with sweet favorites like waffles, hot cakes and French bread paired with fresh honey locally sourced directly from honeycombs to the table. Sampling specialty cocktail, The Mayan Sacrifice, at Occidental at Xcaret Destination, that features Xtabentún a delicious traditional liqueur from the Yucatan Peninsula made from anise and honey extracted from Xtabentún flowers, which are native to the area.
Royal Hideaway Playacar (Playa del Carmen, MX) – Located in Playa del Carmen, the all-inclusive, adults-only Royal Hideaway Playacar is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. One of the hotel’s most up-scale dining options include favorited restaurant, Las Ventanas, headlined by the resort’s gastronomic director and Michelin Starred chef, Alejandro Sánchez. The restaurant features various dishes that incorporate the sweet taste of locally sourced honey from the stingless Melipona Bees found in the region. Additionally, every day at 3:00PM guests can enjoy high tea and delicious treats paired with sweet honey during tea time located in the restaurant’s gorgeous terrace.
