“A Curated Table” At Belmond Maroma

By AHL on 12.18.25

Set along Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Maroma, a Belmond Hotel stretches across 200 acres of jungle and white-sand, the kind of place where turquoise waters meet prehistoric palms. Last week, the hotel hosted Michelle Rago‘s inaugural “A Curated Table”, new and intimate global dinner series hosted by the global wedding and event producer and hospitality maven at Belmond properties around the world.

At the center of it all: Woodend, Michelin-starred Chef Curtis Stone‘s restaurant. Each meal unfolded like a story, a reflection of the land, the sea, and the cultural pulse of the Riviera Maya. Multi-course dinners shifted from local catch to heirloom vegetables, every plate a conversation between technique and terroir. Cocktails from Handshake speakeasy (voted North America’s Best Bar in 2025 and World’s Best in 2024) punctuated evenings with smoky mezcal and fresh lime, the kind of drinks that make you slow down.

In quieter moments, peace was found in the seventy-two rooms scattered among the lush grounds, with open-plan interiors that let in Caribbean light and private balconies framing the perfect view. Every detail invited guests into a world built for connection: the feel of soft linens, the flicker of candlelight, and visits to the Guerlain spa, where the scent of warm oils mingled with the calm of the jungle.

With Michelle Rago at the wheel, it’s no surprise that every detail was seen to. The hard-working New Jersey native started hustling at fourteen, babysitting, selling crabs, running a candy counter, eventually turning decades of ambition  into task-driven mastery. She honed her skills in floral design and hospitality in New York City before launching her own studio, eventually producing weddings for Brooklyn Beckham, Nicola Peltz, and a host of other A-list clients who understand that Rago is synonymous with perfecting a vision. Her emotionally insightful approach turns a hospitality moment into narratives that linger long after the champagne has been poured.

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