At Marival Resorts in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, a growing number of guests are leaving their all-inclusive vacation with more than sunburn and souvenirs; some are boarding their flight home with a rescue dog by their side. The resort chain has formed an unusual partnership with a local rescue organization that turns hotel stays into adoption opportunities, allowing travelers to meet dogs in person before deciding whether to bring one home. The resort’s program is built on a simple idea: guests already come to Riviera Nayarit looking for a getaway, and some leave having changed a dog’s life, and their own, in the process.
The partnership between Marival Group and A Dog’s New Life, a nonprofit rescue based in nearby Bucerías, started with a single volunteer. Jessica Garibay, founder of A Dog’s New Life, said Jorie Rizzuto discovered the charity after seeing a post looking for flight angels and offered to escort a dog to Toronto. After completing that trip, Rizzuto asked to see the shelter in person.
“The second time they visited was when we discussed a partnership between Marival Resorts and our organization,” Garibay said, adding that Jorie later joined the rescue’s board. What began as one flight has grown into a standing program across Marival’s properties.
The scale of the problem
Mexico is one of just seven countries that account for the vast majority of homeless pets worldwide, according to a large-scale global study on pet homelessness. This is the reality Bucerías-based rescue A Dog’s New Life confronts every day.
On property, that reality looks like adoption events at Marival Emotions Resort & Suites Riviera Nayarit and Marival Distinct All-Suites & World Spa, where rescue staff bring adoptable dogs for guests to meet. Adriana Rizzuto, director of sales operations and strategy for Marival Group, said the goal was never simply writing a check. Hosting events on-site “raises awareness, fosters emotional engagement and allows guests to interact with the dogs, learn their stories and become part of the solution in a meaningful way,” Adriana said.
Each property plays its own role in the partnership. Armony Marival Resort & Spa supports the cause through guest education and concierge referrals, connecting interested travelers with the rescue even in the absence of an on-site event.
1 flight, 1 new home
Garibay said one of the biggest misconceptions travelers have is that adopting or transporting a dog internationally is complicated or risky. In practice, her organization manages the full process, “from medical preparation, including vaccinations, sterilization and parasite treatment, to travel logistics and required documentation.” Guests can sign up as flight angels in person during an adoption event or through the rescue’s website.
Garibay said no single story defines the partnership for her. Instead, it is a pattern she sees repeat itself: guests arrive curious, hear a dog’s story of rescue and rehabilitation and decide to act. “Those moments, when awareness turns into action, are the stories that truly define the impact of this partnership,” she said.
Chai, and the newest arrival
Not every dog in the program leaves the property. Chai, a senior rescue dog whose early history is not fully known, has found an unexpected role at Marival Distinct All-Suites & World Spa, where she now greets guests and staff in the lobby. Marival Group is in the process of adopting a second resident dog for Armony Marival Resort & Spa, continuing a small tradition of rescues that stay on as fixtures rather than guests passing through.
What comes next
The program also includes children’s sessions on responsible pet ownership, covering animal welfare, spay-and-neuter awareness and basic animal care. An annual fundraiser called Wines for a Cause channels support to both A Dog’s New Life and the Marival Foundation, which funds education, health and community programs across Riviera Nayarit.
Looking ahead, Garibay said the goal is to keep expanding awareness and increase adoptions and transports beyond the local community. “Our focus is always on growing our impact and helping as many dogs as possible find safe, loving, forever homes,” she said.
Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she’s also a co-founder of Food Drink Life, where she shares expert travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a deep passion for high-end experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations, Jennifer explores the world with curiosity, depth and a storyteller’s perspective. Her articles are regularly featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.