Acapulco on Apple TV+: A Sunny Legacy of Hospitality & Heart
The Show That Gets Hospitality Right: Why Acapulco Is My Favorite
There’s a show on Apple TV+ called Acapulco, and I’m just going to say it: it’s one of the best shows I’ve ever seen about hospitality. It’s colorful, it’s funny, it’s got a ridiculous amount of 80s flair—and it’s also full of heart.
Set at a fictional resort called Las Colinas in 1980s Acapulco, the show follows a young man named Máximo who lands his dream job as a cabana boy. But it’s not just about him. It’s about the entire staff—people from different departments, backgrounds, and skillsets—coming together to create unforgettable moments for guests and, over time, for each other.
Why This Show Really Hits Home for Me
As someone who’s spent decades in hospitality and trained countless people, I’ve always believed that the joy in this business doesn’t come from tasks. You can spend your day making beds, serving drinks, solving problems—and of course, those things matter. But the true purpose, the thing that fills you up? It’s the giving of joy.
When a team comes together to create something special, something personal, something that lights up a guest’s experience or uplifts a teammate—that’s the magic. That’s what sticks with you years later.
I couldn’t tell you all our RevPAR wins off the top of my head. But I can tell you about the time we helped pull off a perfect proposal, or gave a grieving family a little light during a hard moment, or celebrated one of our own. That’s the work that matters.
Just Like Las Colinas: One of My Favorite Real-Life Stories
At one historic hotel I worked at, we had this old-school mail chute—one of those vintage things where you drop a letter from the upper floors, and it lands in a box at the bottom. Officially, the U.S. Postal Service still picked up from it... unofficially, the staff joked you probably shouldn’t trust it with your power bill.
Well, one Thanksgiving weekend, our engineer noticed a letter stuck in the chute. He carefully dismantled the panel to get it out—and it turned out to be a letter to Santa from a child staying in the hotel.
That’s when the magic kicked in.
The team—engineering, front desk, sales, housekeeping—we all got in on it. We created a personalized response from Santa, filled it with little gifts and hotel-themed goodies, and mailed it back to the child’s home. We even took photos around the property to make it feel extra real.
Will that family ever forget it? Probably not. But just as important—we won’t forget it either. It brought us joy to create joy. We laughed, we brainstormed, we got to play a small part in something that felt big. That’s what Acapulco gets so right.
What Makes Acapulco Worth Watching
The show uses a dual timeline—modern-day Máximo (played by Eugenio Derbez) narrates his rise from cabana boy to owner of the resort, while the flashbacks show the trials, mistakes, and triumphs of his younger self (played brilliantly by Enrique Arrizon). Season 4, the final season, wraps this arc by focusing on a major restoration and reopening of Las Colinas, and—just like in the beginning—everyone has to pull together to make it happen.
It’s funny. It’s sentimental. And if you’ve ever worked in service, it will hit you right in the feels.
If You Work in Hospitality—or Train Others—Watch This
This show has inspired me during training sessions more than once. Whether it's a team rallying to surprise a guest or going the extra mile for each other, Acapulco models the kind of service culture that builds loyalty, connection, and pride. It’s sweet and silly—but it’s also full of real truths.
And if you’re teaching others, leading a team, or trying to build a culture that feels like people want to be part of it? There’s a lot to learn here.
Want help building more heart into your business—or your team? That’s my thing.
Click below for consulting, training, or just to chat more about how to make work feel more meaningful.
