Mondrian Enters All-Inclusive: Ennismore Tests Lifestyle Luxury Model

Ennismore, the fast-growing lifestyle hospitality group under Accor, is betting that its design-forward brands can thrive in the all-inclusive space—a segment long dominated by mass-market operators focused on volume and price.

The next real-world test of this thesis will be a Mondrian property in Cancún, Mexico. The move marks a deliberate departure from the conventional all-inclusive playbook, which typically relies on sprawling resorts filled with buffet lines and poolside bars. Ennismore believes that by applying the same attention to aesthetics, nightlife, and F&B programming that defines its urban hotels, it can attract a guest who might otherwise never consider an all-inclusive.

A Shift in the All-Inclusive Model

Traditional all-inclusive resorts have historically competed on scale: pack rooms, offer unlimited drinks and buffets, and keep prices low enough to lure families and budget-conscious travelers. While the model remains profitable for giants such as Riu, Iberostar, and Sandals, it has struggled to resonate with younger, experience-driven demographics who prioritize Instagrammable design, local dining, and curated entertainment over predictable all-you-can-eat packages.

Ennismore aims to bridge that gap. The group, which also runs the Hoxton, 25hours, and SLS brands, argues that lifestyle branding—think moody lighting, collaborative lobbies, rotating DJ sets, and chef-driven restaurants—can coexist with an all-inclusive pricing structure. The key, according to the company, is to ensure the bundled price still feels aspirational rather than transactional.

For Mondrian Cancún, that means retaining the brand's signature visual edge—bold art, modernist lines, a sculptural pool—while folding room, board, drinks, and activities into one upfront cost. The resort will likely draw on Ennismore's existing F&B partnerships to keep the culinary program well above the typical hotel buffet standard.

Why Cancún Matters

Cancún is one of the most saturated all-inclusive markets in the world, host to dozens of resorts that compete fiercely on price. By placing Mondrian there, Ennismore is essentially stress-testing its hypothesis in the harshest possible environment: a destination where the all-inclusive default is cheap and cheerful. If Mondrian can command higher nightly rates and attract guests who would otherwise book a boutique hotel in Tulum or a villa rental in the Riviera Maya, the strategy will validate the lifestyle-all-inclusive hybrid.

Industry observers note that the bet is not without risk. All-inclusive economics depend on controlling costs closely—fixed menus, limited à la carte choices, and predictable headcounts. Adding lifestyle elements—rotating chefs, custom cocktails, curated events—can inflate costs and endanger margins. Ennismore will need to balance the operational discipline of the all-inclusive model with the creative flexibility its brands demand.

What It Means for Travelers

If Ennismore succeeds, travelers can expect a new category of resort: one that blends the convenience of an all-inclusive with the distinct personality of a lifestyle hotel. That could mean no more generic buffets or forgettable cocktails. Instead, guests might find pop-up culinary residencies, artist-curated programming, and nightlife that rivals what you’d find in a top-tier urban hotel.

For now, Mondrian Cancún is the pilot. Should it perform well, it's reasonable to expect further expansion of the model into other Ennismore brands—perhaps 25hours in the Greek islands or SLS in the Dominican Republic. The all-inclusive segment, long seen as staid and homogeneous, may finally get a design injection.

Bottom line: Travelers who previously dismissed all-inclusives as too generic should keep an eye on Mondrian Cancún. If Ennismore proves its thesis, the boundaries between lifestyle hotels and all-inclusive resorts will begin to blur.