A Red Carpet Weekend in Puerto Vallarta
This past weekend was one for the record books. A hectic, champagne-fueled, celebrity-peppered with black-shirted security guards inserted appropriately between us and them. The occasion? The grand opening of The Tryst Hotel on Pulpito in Zona Romantica.
I interviewed Tristan Schukraft in the lobby of his condominium building here in Vallarta 13 months ago. He did not expect a year-long wait to inaugurate his first LGBTQ+ luxury hotel, but that’s how long the final touches took.
The soft opening of the hotel months ago was spectacular but nothing prepared me for the official opening. The beauty of this property – the almost serene, understated decor, wood touches sliding into neutral fabric underline what this hotel is for. Fun; LBGTQ+ Fun.
The planning for the weekend had to have been a logistical nightmare. Inviting more than 30 A-list celebrities and their people and the international press that sent reporters, many of whom had never been to Mexico. They fell in love with Vallarta, of course, and The Tryst. The exponential reach of this opening weekend should garner reservations for the hotel far into the future.
The Red Carpet was held on the main floor with members of the press allocated clearly with space mapped out on the floor with company names marking where we could stand and wait for the celebrities to make their entrances. Jerry Jones from Out & About Puerto Vallarta was next to me, and his interviews were live-streamed on Facebook. Neither of us recognized Mama Tits; she had lost so much weight! Tristan was among the first to make his way through the gamut of questions, bright lights, and cameras. It was lovely to hug him again and wish him so many congratulations on finally being open. I followed him up to the 8th floor, where the party was in full swing. There were a couple of places to sit and admire the lights of the city and I can imagine hotel guests finding a refuge there during the day.
I spent some time chatting with Diego De Leon Gonzalez from Colombia, who was the winner of the Mr. Vallarta contest a couple of months back at Coco Cabaret. He was apprehensive about dancing later in the evening – he need not have worried.
Fashionistas were out in force; I had never seen so many beautifully dressed and coiffed people in my life. A gigantic man held the most ornate and smallest handbag; it was a flawless look! Not recognizing a single one of the celebrities, I assumed they were all of equal importance and ogled and smiled to my heart’s content.
The rooftop opened, and the stream of people moved up the stairway to music, and a merman perched on the stairs to the pool. Imported DJs kept the tunes throbbing, Demi Lovato sang, and Diego and three compadres danced in signature pink Tryst speedos.
I found Bob Price and Jesus Reyes from the Vallarta Botanical Garden enjoying the sights and sounds. Jet De La Isla held court. Don Pickens, owner of Casa Cupula, enjoyed what the competition offered, and I briefly shared a table and bottle of Veuve Clicquot with Christopher M. Maluck, owner of the The Swedes Bar & Bistro restaurant at the intersection of Pulptito and Olas Altas streets.
Welcome – at last, Tryst Hotel. May you have decades of great fortune providing the LGBT+ community with the finest and most fun accommodations in Vallarta. Thanks to Emily Pope, Brian Rosman, and Tristan Schukraft for the invitation; I am grateful.
Come back in the morning to learn all about The Tryst Drag Brunch held every Sunday. Hoo-baby!