• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Hyatt • Mexico  >  Thoughts, Questions Following Hyatt Ziva Cancun Active Shooter Incident
HyattMexico

Thoughts, Questions Following Hyatt Ziva Cancun Active Shooter Incident

Kyle Stewart Posted onNovember 7, 2021November 7, 2021 26 Comments

Tragedy and terror ensued at the popular Hyatt Ziva all-inclusive resort in Cancun. I have some thoughts and questions for our readers.


If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com.


If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today.

***Note: A prior version used the incorrect aerial image which has since been replaced.

Incident at Hyatt Ziva Riviera, Cancun

This week, an active shooter incident was reported at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun. Warring drug gangs opened fire and the two drug dealers were killed on the beach while guests were told to take cover and barricade themselves in their rooms. Twitter user, Mike Sington, offered comprehensive coverage in his feed:

Active shooter at Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun Resort. All guests confined to lobby now. Hotel staff huddled together in corner. Still no announcement or update from hotel, Hyatt, or police. Several guests have now told be they saw gunman come up from the beach, actively shooting. pic.twitter.com/fL9BP7Jisb

— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) November 4, 2021

Do Dangerous Incidents Keep You From Booking?

When tragedy strikes an area, does this make you less likely to book? I’ll share a personal story to illustrate.

A few years ago, my wife and I were considering North African destinations following some good experiences in Morocco. A friend of ours suggested her home country, Tunisia. As we explored options, an atrocity took place on the beach in a famous resort area frequented by westerners. We like to think that resorts and the beach are generally safe but this gave us pause.

We never looked at booking to Tunisia again, but not consciously because of the incident, it simply never again crossed our minds until now.

Hyatt Ziva

The alleged cartel combatants weren’t targeting the Hyatt Ziva as a brand in particular nor its guests according to reports. However, the name of the hotel has been widely circulated in a way that the hotel never otherwise would have been. It could have happened anywhere and logically, the hotel is safer now than before the incident as Ziva has added security to prevent a further attack.

Still, it will be tough for some to book the Hyatt Ziva knowing that the event took place there. Concerns about safety will remain, irrational as it may be. There will be a certain contingent of guests who know that the event was unrelated to the property but still find it too hard to book there as opposed to other properties in the area. It does not help that of the two Hyatt all-inclusive brands, Ziva is the family-welcome brand while Zilara is adults-only.

Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun

Cancun, Mexico

Cancun and the resort districts have, for the most part, remained safe from the drug war violence raging in other Mexican states. This incident brings that danger to the forefront and on the front page of every newspaper. Does that mean that Cancun, Quintana Roo, and other resort towns like Puerto Vallarta, or Cabo San Lucas are at risk in a way that hadn’t heretofore been a target?

Statistically, Cancun is no more dangerous than any major city in the United States – in fact, it’s safer than most despite cartel violence. Still, my gut tells me that some will avoid Cancun over this issue in a way that they do not avoid trips to more dangerous cities around the US.

What’s The Right Approach?

Assuming for the purpose of this post that guests avoid Cancun and the Hyatt Ziva, is this a rational approach? Should guests opt for Ziva Riviera specifically because staff will be trained, remain more vigilant, and additional security will be brought in? Will guests choose other destinations over Cancun more generally?

It may not just be illogical, it may be immoral to avoid either as a result of this issue. Those that work at the property were undoubtedly traumatized, but a lack of guests will put their jobs at risk as well.

The owners of the hotel have a new image problem, all-inclusive guests do not want to think about how much safer the hotel is by seeing heavily armed guards in the lobby. However, not having heavily armed guards in the lobby might make guests feel that they did not take the incident seriously.

And for the sadists out there, rates at the Hyatt Ziva are likely to drop as bookings do. Does that create an opportunity for those who are unafraid of future violence at the resort? Is scooping up deals only made available due to the traumatic event that took place there a moral hazard as well?

Conclusion

There are more questions than answers in this post. While I know that fear of violence at the property is irrational, illogical, and unlikely, I am as human as anyone else and wonder whether this will be a hindrance for others as it could be for me.

What do you think? Is the hotel safer now than it was before? Will guests book away from the property and/or Cancun, Mexico? 

Previous Article Review: Avianca A320 Business Class
Next Article Why Marriott, American Airlines Changes Seem Egregious

About Author

Kyle Stewart

Kyle is a freelance travel writer with contributions to Time, the Washington Post, MSNBC, Yahoo!, Reuters, Huffington Post, MapHappy, Live And Lets Fly and many other media outlets. He is also co-founder of Scottandthomas.com, a travel agency that delivers "Travel Personalized." He focuses on using miles and points to provide a premium experience for his wife and daughter. Email: sherpa@thetripsherpa.com

Follow us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter

Related Posts

  • Hilton Shreveport bed

    Review: Hilton Shreveport

    March 26, 2023
  • hyatt all-inclusive hyatt zilara rose hall

    Hyatt Acquisition Provides Hints About All-Inclusive Future

    March 19, 2023
  • gild hall thompson suite bedroom

    Review: Gild Hotel, A Thompson Hotel (New York City)

    March 19, 2023

26 Comments

  1. Adam W Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 8:24 am

    Kyle,

    Thanks for the article. We are booked at the Hyatt Rivera Ziva, flights and all, over Thanksgiving for five nights . We have decided to cancel our entire trip to Cancun as a result of the incident. Here’s our perspective on the situation and reasoning for canceling. My wife and I are very adventurous travelers, and have traveled thought-out the world to several places which are significantly more dangerous the Cancun (I have been to Cancun many times). In all fairness, this incident certainly would not change our travel plans- actually we would welcome a more vacant resort due to the incident. However, eight years ago this very August something life changing happened to us…. we had a child, then another & another & another. So we are a family of six with four children 8 years old and younger. As with most parents, our mindset changed once we became parents, and started traveling with children. It’s true, that the resort areas of Mexico have been largely insulated from the cartel violence over the years. Nonetheless, we are asking ourselves- is this now an escalation of the violence? Perhaps, the Covid damage to the economy is Mexico is pushing crimes to higher levels than seen before and criminals are becoming more daring? Yes, we are aware that in all actuality things would be fine and this is simply an over reaction on our part. The reality component here is that we live right outside of NYC and you can even argue that Cancun is safer than NYC nowadays (which is probably is 🙁 ) … But, all that rational and irrational logic goes out the window as a parent, and we tend to make decision solely on one thing… our Gut feeling…. and it’s telling us not go.

    • Jorge Paez Reply
      November 7, 2021 at 9:01 pm

      Totally logical Adam. What if the dealers didn’t quite work out the “turf” problem? Young children exposed to war zone activity can develop PTSD easily. Also, all the extra security with long guns can be detrimental to their mental health as well. Some things aren’t worth the price…..

  2. Mike Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 8:35 am

    Wrong resort in picture. “Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun” vs “Hyatt Ziva Cancun.” Google is your friend.

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      November 7, 2021 at 8:53 am

      Corrected, updated, and notated.

  3. ryan Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 8:37 am

    wrong resort in the photo

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      November 7, 2021 at 8:53 am

      Corrected, updated, and notated.

  4. Robert Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 8:41 am

    This isn’t a question of whether or not the hotel is safe but rather is Cancun safe? There have been crazy nice hotel areas around the world that have been shut down due to local violence, this would be no different. If I choose to avoid Cancun it’s because drug violence had now moved into the resort area, not because just this hotel had an incident. I avoid certain parts of town here in the US for violence reasons, why wouldn’t I do the same internationally? Of course it’s a shame that people lose jobs but sometimes there’s no other option. And do I trust that Mexico’s govt can keep me safe? Everyone will have different responses to these situations.

  5. JoeMart Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 8:59 am

    The bigger question is how Hyatt will pinpoint the employees that sold the location information about the wanted victims to the drug gangs.

  6. Ray Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 8:59 am

    Apologies Kyle. I see previous comments pointing out the same thing and has been corrected

  7. Santastico Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 9:00 am

    You can’t pay me enough to take my family to Mexico. Never!!!

    • Bea Reply
      November 8, 2021 at 11:33 am

      We were just there, had a wonderful time. We have been going every year for 26 years. Safer than most towns in the U.S. all of our children have been there and love it. We will continue to go.

  8. Bec Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 9:23 am

    We were supposed to stay nearby over Thanksgiving and mental health has already been a struggle over the pandemic. Trying to relax and not remain hypervigilent the entire trip, whether on resort or doing the food tour nearby or visiting market, it just wasn’t going to happen.

  9. BRIAN STOUT Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 10:55 am

    I was there, in Cabana 5 at the pool on Thursday around 2:15 when about 8 gunman stormed the property and shot machine guns seemingly everywhere nonstop. As it was an LGBT vacation, I thought it was the next Pulse shooting and that we were all dead. Traumatized beyond belief. What’s so astonishing is that Hyatt had absolutely NO security with guns – the two “guards” they had ran for their lives like the rest of us. Many of us corralled panicked Hyatt employees, maids etc. into rooms where we barricaded doors with mattresses and pulled iron artwork from the walls to be used as makeshift weapons. Employees and guests alike cried and prayed together huddling in showers and ducking behind jacuzzi tubs – speaking our last words. Absolutely terrifying and a complete non-response from Hyatt afterwards calling it an “isolated incident.” I will be forever traumatized by this.

    • Christina Reply
      November 8, 2021 at 10:05 am

      I’m so sorry you went through that. We were in Cancun a couple of weeks ago and my husband was threatened and robbed by a Mexican police officer off the resort. We stayed at the Hyatt Ziva in Cancun. So many people down played our experience as isolated or told me that I should have expected it because he left the resort. The reality is when you have someone threatens your life, it is very tramatizing and those feeling don’t just go away. I would never go back to Cancun and I do not feel that it is a safe place for tourists.

    • Something Wicked Has Already Come This Way Reply
      November 8, 2021 at 7:18 pm

      @Brian Stout:

      I’ll bet you were among many who thought it was another Pulse type shooting. That whole idea of being hunted down in the manner that victims of Pulse were–I’d be surprised if many others didn’t feel as terrified as you. It would be hard to forget an experience like that.

      Remember Mumbai? Wouldn’t surprise me at all if Cancun experienced something like that. If the drug gangs behead politicians and put their heads on stakes alongside the road, your mistaken if you think they wouldn’t go after a fat juicy tourist target to pressure state officials.

      Mexico is a cesspool, a true failed state. I wish I could find the expose done in the last couple years by some newspaper in the middle of the U.S. It was about a pattern of tainted liquor, rapes, murders of American tourists, particularly spring breakers. Fantastic piece of journalism.

      I remember going to Acapulco in the mid-90’s, and it was a crash and burn then. We were told after they built the road from Mexico City to Acapulco, everything changed. I can’t imagine what it would be like now. As for Cabo, went there in the 90’s as well, much quieter and sleepier then. Wouldn’t go there now if you paid me. The last time I was in Tijuana my taxi rode about a quarter mile behind an open air army jeep with a massive machine gun pointed out the back–right at our taxi.

      If you’ve lived it, the safety comparisons of the U.S. to Mexico don’t jibe. At all.

  10. Jerry Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 12:12 pm

    Texas has eliminated all open carry restrictions licensing requirements, and you see people walking around wielding weapons all the time. There were 11 mass shootings in the US over Halloween weekend. But hey, two people involved in the drug trade were killed in Cancun. Yeah it’s too dangerous, better to stay away.

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      November 7, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      @Jerry – I was in Houston two weeks ago and try as I might, I didn’t see anyone “wielding weapons all the time.” They might have been concealed carrying but nothing visible during my trip.

      • Jerry Reply
        November 7, 2021 at 3:44 pm

        Well Kyle, I live in downtown Austin, I see it quite regularly, and I really don’t like it. I hope you had a nice stay in Houston.

  11. JoEllen Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 5:07 pm

    World conditions are worsening by the day. Being hypervigilant for crime, violence and degradation of morals and life is just another reason I do not plan to travel anytime soon. Quadrupled with Covid worries, over-crowding, noise and travel hassles (airports, lack of service, TSA circus, etc) – who needs it ? As a retired airline employee I am missing it but just doesn’t seem worth it anymore ….. maybe in 3 – 5 more years ?

  12. Hadassah Weinreb Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 8:13 pm

    Nice attempt to guilt people into booking Cancun vacations, Kyle.
    Point of clarification, Tunisia was an overt terrorist attack against Western tourists. Any tourist deaths in Cancun would have been “collateral damage” & as the reports of drone strike victims can attest, the world doesn’t care about collateral deaths.
    Next, Mexico is an open air slaughterhouse Journalists, college students are amongst those marked for death by the narcos. Civilians are just as readily snuffed as the gang members.
    Do you know if the resorts are/ are not paying protection money to the gangs at the present time? Certainly resorts would not admit to it but perhaps you’d be privy to whispering sources. That entire prospect is scary, don’t you agree?
    Resort goers in Mexico are sitting ducks.
    Maybe a vacation on the Gaza Strip instead?

  13. Jorge Paez Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 9:17 pm

    And guns are illegal in Mexico.
    Go figure…..

  14. Lupita Reply
    November 8, 2021 at 6:43 am

    There are absolutely more dangerous cities in USA than Cancún, to name one New Orleans there are murder cases Avery single day the only difference is that the media don’t focus their attention to it and never ever I hear the government warning citizens not to go there, but is easy to get attention to others countries in this case mexico for rarely cases like the one in Hyatt hotel,

  15. Ken Hooper Reply
    November 8, 2021 at 9:02 am

    My partner and I were supposed to be there but had to cancel due to a heart attack and open heart surgery. We are thankful that this ended the way it did with no tragedy.

  16. CLWho Reply
    November 8, 2021 at 10:01 am

    2 American women were shot in Tulum last week also. The problem is Mexico. Yes there are far more murders in any City in the USA any day of the week but most are not people “just minding their own business” Gangs don’t really care if you’re in the way. I live in Belize and we have a gang problem too, and I fear it’s only a matter of time for us.

  17. Agnes McCormack Reply
    November 15, 2021 at 11:41 pm

    My husband, two sons and I arrived in Cancun and stayed at Hyatt Ziva on Nov. 5, 2021, the day after the shooting. I felt totally safe while staying there the whole week and will definitely visit again. There are shootings all over the world, every day, and innocent people are killed but I refuse to live in fear. It’s sad to think that Hyatt Ziva will experience a decline in reservations because of this incident.

  18. Saba Khan Reply
    December 16, 2021 at 2:52 am

    I’m booked at Hyatt Ziva Cancun in Jan with my 7 year old son. I’m outside the 30 day cancellation period so I am now trying to see if the travel insurance would cover this: here are my reasons. I have been to third world countries and understand the dangers. But much like one of the above posts I have a child, and I’m a single parent. I would rather just stay home and save my $6k than be extremely stressed out and worried.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • Faroe Islands Trip Report
    Introduction: A Journey To The Magical Faroe Islands On Star Alliance March 30, 2023
  • United Airlines Wants Flight Attendants To Create “Wow Factor” Onboard March 30, 2023
  • Homeless Man Steals Luggage
    Homeless Man Helps Himself To Luggage In Atlanta Airport March 30, 2023
  • Delta SkyMiles Schedule Change
    UPDATE: Delta Air Lines Strands Senior Citizens In Middle East After Absurd Schedule Change March 29, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Kayleigh Scott United Airlines
    The Tragic Death Of A United Airlines Flight Attendant March 21, 2023
  • Delta SkyMiles Schedule Change
    UPDATE: Delta Air Lines Strands Senior Citizens In Middle East After Absurd Schedule Change March 29, 2023
  • Southwest Airlines Wife Slap
    Enraged Husband Attacks Man On Southwest Airlines Flight After He Bumps Wife March 8, 2023
  • United Polaris Lounge LAX Review
    Review: United Airlines Polaris Lounge Los Angeles (LAX) March 24, 2023

Archives

March 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Feb    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.