Founded by Salt Lake City businessmen, Inn at Mazatlan celebrates 25 years

Enterprise, The, Oct 31, 2005 by Rattle, Barbara

Founded by a pair of Salt Lake City businessmen who pioneered the: concept of timesharing in Mexico, the Inn at Mazatlan, a five-star beach-front hotel in Mazatlan, Mexico, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Now a 215-unit resort, the hotel rose from more humble beginnings. In 1979, Joyce and Warren Bames, who had honeymooned in Mexico in 1975, teamed with Wayne and Shirley Thornton to explore the possibility of building or purchasing a small hotel on a beach somewhere in Mexico. After visiting Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta, they settled on a 40-unit hotel in Mazatlan known as the Cantamar. Final purchase agreements were signed in 1980. Thereafter, Wayne Thornton, a building contractor, began remodeling and upgrade the property, leaving marketing efforts to Warren Bames. The men's wives contributed to interior design and landscaping plans.

In 1980, there were but two timeshare properties in Mazatlan-Torres Mazatlan and Islas Del Sol. Two young salesman, Neto Coppel and Mark Kroenemeyer, approached Bames asking for a job. They were working for Islas Del Sol and saw the potential in the newly re-named Inn at Mazatlan.

Bames recalled one of his initial conversations with Neto.

"Mark came to me and said, Mr. Barnes, you don't know what kind of shape I'm in. But I'm a good salesman. My refrigerator's broken and we're living out of polyurethane bags of ice and my partner, my brother-in-law, is having trouble with checks. We'd like to work to sell your project.' I finally gave them a 60-day trial and it just ignited. They were so good. With their help, we pioneered timeshare in Mexico, developed a system that the Hiltons and Marriotts now use."

Neto and Kroenemeyer quickly sold more than 2,000 weeks of rightto-use in the original building, then encouraged Barnes and Thornton to build a six-story addition to the property. It was sold out prior to completion. In rapid succession, an eight-story building was added, followed by a 19-unit addition.

Today, Neto Kroenemeyer are far from living out of plastic bags and having trouble with checks. Barnes said they now share ownership in at least five major properties known as the Pueblo Bonito Resorts in Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

In 1990, Thornton was killed in a plane crash. His family estate agreed to sell its interest in the resort to the Barnes family. The transaction was finalized in 1997, the same year Barnes decided to bring about the full utilization of the beach property. A 16-story tower was completed in December 2000. It continues to be a significant part of the Mazatlan skyline. The inn has nearly as many staff members as it has rooms.

Today, the hotel is not fully timeshare, but mixed use. Approximately 40 percent of its rooms are timeshares serving roughly 7,000 members. The balance of the rooms are dedicated to traditional hostelry. New members can join for between $2,000 to $30,000 for a week's stay, depending on the size, location and amenities of the room, suite or penthouse. The inn has two swimming pools, a specialty restaurant, complete spa, medical clinic and business center.

Early this year, Robert W. Barnes Jr., Salt Lake City, was elevated to president of the inn's parent company, Inns de Mexico S.A. de C.V., and Susan Barnes Nielson of Sausalito, Calif, was appointed vice president. Barnes, now in his 80s, continues as chief executive officer. He visits in the inn, whose high season is November through June, on a regular basis.

Will the parent company expand into other areas?

That, Barnes said, is for younger minds to decide. But tourism in Mexico, he believes, can do nothing but expand.

"Such a beautiful country," he said, "such wonderful people."