The all-inclusive resort has become the newest frontier for some of hospitality’s biggest lifestyle brands.
It started with SLS, which broke new ground with its all-inclusive resort in Playa Mujeres. W Hotels followed, opening its first all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana last year. Now another name known for contemporary design, social energy and creative hospitality is entering the space.
The former Hyatt Vivid Grand Island is becoming Mondrian Cancun All Inclusive, marking the first all-inclusive resort in Mondrian’s global portfolio and another sign that lifestyle brands are reshaping one of the Caribbean region’s fastest-growing hotel segments.
Reservations are already open, with the resort welcoming its first Mondrian stays on Aug. 19.
The transition is about much more than a change in branding. It gives Mondrian its first opportunity to bring its signature lifestyle approach to the all-inclusive world while giving a recently opened Cancun resort an entirely new identity built around design, dining, entertainment and culture.
A New Chapter For Hyatt Vivid
Unlike many hotel debuts, Mondrian isn’t starting with a blank slate.
The property previously operated as Hyatt Vivid Grand Island, the adults-only all-inclusive that introduced Hyatt’s Vivid concept to Cancun. Rather than constructing a new resort from the ground up, Mondrian is reimagining an existing property with an entirely different vision.
That makes this one of the more interesting hotel stories in Cancun this year.
The resort occupies a prominent location between the Caribbean Sea and Nichupté Lagoon, about 15 minutes from Cancun International Airport. Instead of spreading across a traditional beachfront campus, the property rises above the surrounding landscape in a contemporary tower, creating panoramic views across both the lagoon and the Caribbean.
It’s a setting that feels very different from many of Cancun’s long-established resorts, and one that naturally aligns with Mondrian’s urban-inspired personality.
For a brand whose portfolio includes hotels in Miami Beach, Los Angeles, Doha, Singapore, Seoul and Ibiza, the transformation represents a natural extension rather than a departure.
Why Lifestyle Brands Keep Choosing All-Inclusive
Not long ago, the idea of brands like Mondrian, W or SLS operating all-inclusive resorts would have seemed unlikely.
These were brands built around nightlife, architecture, destination restaurants and social experiences in major cities.
Today, the all-inclusive model has changed dramatically.
Luxury travelers increasingly expect resorts to offer much more than unlimited meals and drinks. They’re looking for memorable restaurants, cocktail programs, wellness experiences, music, design and cultural programming that create a stronger sense of place.
That evolution has made all-inclusive resorts an increasingly attractive opportunity for lifestyle brands.
SLS demonstrated that concept could work in Playa Mujeres. W expanded the trend with its Punta Cana resort. Mondrian is now taking the next step by bringing its own identity into the category.
Rather than adapting its brand to fit a traditional all-inclusive formula, Mondrian is adapting the all-inclusive experience to fit its brand.
What’s Changing Under Mondrian
Although the resort’s location remains the same, much of the experience is being reimagined.
Mondrian is introducing destination-inspired culinary concepts, expanded entertainment, elevated beverage programming and a design philosophy intended to create a more immersive stay.
You’ll find 10 restaurants and six bars, making food and beverage one of the property’s defining features.
The lineup includes Cuyo and Cuyo Ceviche, celebrating Mexican cuisine, Niko for Japanese dining, Gallery by Mondrian, Sun & Moon for coffee and cocktails, a Mondrian Market and the Uno Mas food truck.
One of the biggest additions is expected to be Allegra, home to what the company says is Cancun’s longest rooftop infinity pool.
Rather than functioning as simply another pool, Allegra is designed as a social destination that evolves throughout the day, becoming one of the resort’s signature gathering places as the sun sets over Cancun.
That rooftop atmosphere has become one of the defining elements of many lifestyle hotels, and Mondrian is bringing that same energy into its first all-inclusive resort.
A Beach Club With Its Own Identity
One of the more unusual aspects of the property is its relationship with the beach.
Although the hotel overlooks both the Caribbean and Nichupté Lagoon, your beach experience takes place at Bungalow Beach Club, a private beachfront destination elsewhere in Cancun’s Hotel Zone.
Complimentary shuttle service connects the hotel with the beach club throughout the day, allowing you to move easily between the two settings.
Once you arrive, you’ll find white sand, poolside lounging, bi-level dining and curated programming that gives the beach club its own personality rather than simply serving as an extension of the hotel.
That approach creates two distinct experiences during the same vacation, pairing the resort’s elevated lagoon setting with one of Cancun’s signature Caribbean beaches.
Rooms Designed Around The Landscape
Inside the guestrooms and suites, Mondrian is emphasizing contemporary design inspired by the natural beauty of the Riviera Maya.
Private terraces frame views across either the Caribbean or Nichupté Lagoon, while restrained interiors keep the focus on the scenery beyond the glass.
If you’re looking for something more exclusive, Mondrian+ introduces a premium experience with top-floor accommodations, expansive wraparound terraces and panoramic views.
Your stay includes butler service, a private check-in lounge, preferred seating at the beach club, enhanced beverage offerings and exclusive rooftop amenities, along with additional personalized experiences throughout the resort.
That layered approach reflects another trend reshaping luxury all-inclusive resorts, giving you more flexibility to tailor the vacation experience.
Entertainment Beyond The Evening Show
Entertainment is also taking a different direction.
Instead of focusing primarily on traditional nightly productions, Mondrian is building programming that changes throughout the day.
You’ll find wellness experiences, live music, DJ performances, cultural programming and social events inspired by the Mexican Caribbean, creating a resort where activity extends from sunrise well into the evening.
The goal is to create an atmosphere that feels dynamic throughout the day rather than saving most of the energy for nighttime.
More Still To Come
The Aug. 19 debut represents only the first phase of the transformation.
Later this year, Mondrian plans to unveil an expanded spa, an enhanced fitness center, a teens club, a signature steakhouse and a Cuban-inspired sunset bar, continuing to build on the resort after opening.
The development also introduces another first for the brand.
Alongside the hotel, Mondrian is launching its first branded residential project in Mexico, adding 328 one-, two- and three-bedroom residences overlooking Nichupté Lagoon. Pre-sales begin on June 15, expanding the development beyond hospitality into one of the fastest-growing segments of Caribbean and Mexican Caribbean real estate.
A Different Future For All-Inclusive
The transformation of Hyatt Vivid Grand Island into Mondrian Cancun All Inclusive is about more than one resort changing brands.
It reflects a broader shift taking place throughout the Caribbean and the Mexican Caribbean, where lifestyle hotel companies increasingly see all-inclusive resorts as an opportunity to showcase their identities rather than compromise them.
SLS helped start that movement. W expanded it. Now Mondrian is adding its own interpretation, built around design, destination dining, rooftop experiences and cultural programming.
You’ll have more choice than ever before. The all-inclusive vacation is no longer defined by a single formula. Increasingly, it’s being shaped by brands that bring distinctive personalities and creative hospitality to destinations long known for their beaches.
When Mondrian Cancun All Inclusive opens on Aug. 19, it won’t simply introduce another resort to Cancun. It will begin a new chapter for the former Hyatt Vivid Grand Island while giving Mondrian its first-ever all-inclusive resort—and adding another chapter to one of the biggest trends reshaping Caribbean hospitality.
What It Costs to Stay at the Mondrian
We found rooms for about $322 per night in August — that puts you in a Signature Bay King room. For a suite, you’re looking at about $399 per night for a “loft suite coastal king” with a sea view.
Caribbean Journal Staff
2026-06-28 17:49:00