Travel News

    AMResorts Continues Award-Winning Tradition with More Industry Recognition for its Luxury Brands

    Philadelphia (September 2010) – AMResorts, provider of sales, marketing and brand management services for Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets, Dreams and Now Resorts & Spas, continues to receive the travel industry’s most coveted distinctions by demonstrating high levels of performance and exceptional guest services. Below is a list of the most recent accolades received by its resort collection:

    2010 Apple Vacation's Crystal Apple Awards

    • Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Best Hotel Chain
    • Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun, Best All Inclusive Resort

    Travel + Leisure 2010 World's Best Awards

    • Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa, Top 20 Resorts in Mexico

    TravelAge West 2010 Wave Awards

    • Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya, Best in Romance
    • Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, Best New Resort Mexico
    • Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana, Best Major Renovation in the Caribbean

    MLT Vacations Quality Assurance Award 2010

    • Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun, Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa, Dreams Villamagna Nuevo Vallarta, Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa and Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa were all recognized for their outstanding quality, service and product delivery

    Distinctive “H” Award 2010

    • Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa, Food Hygiene

    Expedia's Insider’s Select List 2009

    • Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya, Top Hotel in Riviera Maya
    • AMResorts, Top Partner of the Year in Mexico and Top Mexico Chain
    • Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun, Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun, Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa, Dreams Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa, Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana and Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa earned a spot on the list, placing them in the top one percent of Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

    AAA Four Diamond

    • Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun

    Tourism Environmental Certificate

    • Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa, first resort in Cancun to receive the recognition

    Thomas Cook North America Customer Favorite Award

    • AMResorts

    Thomas Cook's Marquee of Excellence Award

    • Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa and Dreams La Romana Resort & Spa, outstanding guest survey results

    Thomas Cook North America Award

    • Dreams Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, Outstanding Sales
    • Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa, Best Family Hotel

    Les Clef d'Or

    • Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa's concierge Mario Cortez for outstanding service and commitment to guests and the profession

    The Caribbean Gold Coast Award

    • Dreams La Romana Resort & Spa for their overwhelmingly positive guest response

    Silver Anvil and SABRE awards

    • AMResorts and rbb Public Relations, Crisis Communication for the 'Flu Free Guarantee' travel campaign

     

    AMResorts (www.amresorts.com) is the provider of sales, marketing and brand management services to four brands of exclusive resort properties in Mexico and the Dominican Republic: ultra luxurious Zoëtry™ Wellness & Spa Resorts; adults-only Secrets® Resorts & Spas, luxurious Dreams® Resorts & Spas and Now Resorts & Spas. Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts is a member of Preferred Boutique and Leading Small Hotels of the World. Secrets and Dreams Resorts & Spas are members of Preferred Hotels® & Resorts. Vacation packages for these resorts are available online, via toll-free brand phone numbers and through leading travel professionals in North America, Mexico, and Europe.

     

    AMRESORTS Unveils New Lifestyle Resort Brand: NOW RESORTS & SPAS

    AMRESORTS Unveils New Lifestyle Resort Brand: Now Resorts & Spas to Offer Unlimited-Luxury® and Enriching Experiences

    First Resort Set to Open in Mexico's Riviera Maya

    PHILADELPHIA, PA (January 26, 2010) – Now Resorts & Spas , a new brand of luxury lifestyle resorts, has launched to provide guests the ideal vacation environment to relax and reconnect in a spectacular setting. The announcement was made by Alex Zozaya, president of AMResorts, provider of sales, marketing and resort brand management services.

    Set to open January 25, 2010 in Mexico's famed Riviera Maya, the first property, Now Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, is the latest addition to AMResorts family of upscale resort brands, which also include Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, The Zoëtry Collection, Secrets Resorts & Spas and Dreams Resorts & Spas. Now Resorts & Spas will treat every guest to Unlimited-Luxury® , where everything is included. The signature vacation concept caters to couples, friends and families with desirable locations, elegant accommodations with stunning ocean views and first-class amenities and services.

    While every property will offer a unique flavor, look and experience, overall brand features will be shared. These include: Finely appointed, oversized guest rooms and suites with ocean views and private terraces, wireless internet access, flat screen TVs with surround sound systems, daily refreshed mini bars, 24-hour room and concierge services, multiple gourmet dining offerings and full-service spa and fitness facilities. Wedding services and honeymoon packages also will be available at every resort.

    According to Zozaya, Now Resorts & Spas will foster a sense of understated luxury and comfort that, combined with the most sophisticated amenities and activities, will redefine how guests stay and play.

    Now Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa basks in the Caribbean sun near the quaint fishing town of Puerto Morelos, Mexico, 12 miles south of Cancun International Airport. Officially designated as a “National Park”, the resort is surrounded by nature, including private access to a long beach.

    The property's oceanfront setting and local surroundings inspired national and international designers to create warm and subtle textures in every space, including the 550 luxury suites. Room categories include: Jr. Suites, Family Suites, Preferred Club level.

    Guests also can find a wide range of top-quality culinary experiences within the resort's seven a la carte gourmet restaurants. Its five bars serve a varied selection of premium and local beverages (no reservations or wristbands required).

    Couples with children will appreciate the resort's signature Explorers' Club, which caters exclusively to younger guests ages 3-12 with dedicated facilities and fully-supervised activities. Daily, teen-focused activities also will be available.

    For those seeking relaxation, the spa offers a sublime atmosphere combining hydrotherapy and signature treatments. Treatment rooms, multiple private massage rooms, a hydrotherapy area featuring indoor Jacuzzis and showers, sauna and steam bath, complete the stimulating and peaceful experience. The spa also features a full service salon offering hair treatments, waxing, and manicure and pedicure services.

    Now Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa provides the perfect romantic setting for a destination wedding.

    Other in-resort amenities include: Three swimming pools with breathtaking views, six sport courts, motorized water sports, superior entertainment, meeting rooms, a theatre, business center, and a variety of stores.

    Zozaya is confident that the time is right to introduce the Now Resorts & Spas brand. “Our success with other brands, ranging from major awards and recognition to high occupancy rates and repeat guest ratios, encouraged our continuous growth. Significant positive awareness among agents and consumers and strong distribution channels should be key factors in our success,” he said.

    To learn more about Now Resorts & Spas visit www.nowresorts.com .

     

    The Royal Hideaway Playacar has just completed a $90 million beach restoration

    The Royal Hideaway Playacar has just completed a $90 million beach restoration making it now one of the best beaches in the Mayan Riviera.

    This luxurious 5-star all-inclusive resort offers a free wedding promotion, incredible discounted group rates and was voted as #25 top hotel in the world by Conde Naste Magazine.

     

    NOTE - Mexico Entry Requires Passports as of March 1st, 2010

    PLEASE NOTE - Mexico entry requires passports as of March 1st, 2010

    Starting on March 1, 2010 , Canadian citizens, including those with dual nationality, will be required to present a Valid Passport in order to enter Mexico. Canadians without a valid passport will be returned to Canada.

    On June 1, 2009, new document requirements were implemented to enter the U.S. by land or water. Also, since January 23, 2007, all Canadian citizens transiting the United States when travelling to and from Mexico by air must comply with entry requirements to the U.S.

    For more detailed information, please see the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) web site.

    Canadians are not required to carry a passport to enter Mexico. However, in order to avoid delays and misunderstandings, we strongly recommend that you travel with a passport valid for six months after your arrival date. It is the only universally accepted identification document, and it proves that you have a right to return to Canada. Mexican immigration authorities recommend the use of a passport to expedite passage through ports of entry. Canadian citizens arriving in Mexico from a third country without a passport may be denied entry.

    Furthermore, even though a passport is not required for entry into Mexico, most airlines departing from Mexico are now refusing boarding to Canadians returning to Canadawithout a valid passport even if the same airline accepted to board the passenger without a passport in Canada. We strongly recommend that Canadians carry a valid passport for all air travel to Mexico in order to ensure they may board their return flight to Canada. Canadian citizens should be aware that extra costs derived from being denied boarding inMexico can be considerably high and must be assumed by the traveller.

    This requirement will change on March 1, 2010 . As of that date, Canadian citizens, including those with dual nationality, will be required to present a valid passport in order to enter Mexico. Canadians without a valid passport will be returned to Canada.

     

    Matangi: Best Island of the World in May 2009's ISLANDS Magazine

    ISLANDS recently listed the world's 12 best private-island resorts for the magazine's April/May 2009 issue.

    Matangi Private Island Resort, Fiij recently listed in ISLANDS, April/May 2009 issue as “Islands. Best of the World”.

    As if the half-square-mile horseshoe-shaped island of Matangi isn't hidden enough, Fiji's only treehouse accommodations put the privacy literally over the top. Nestled in the foliage, these three split-level bures transport guests into the jungle. They and the other 10 bures all have beach views, of course. For an even more private beach experience, take a picnic lunch and snorkel gear over to Horseshoe Bay (and check it off Patricia Schultz's official 1,000 Places to See Before You Die list). If you do crave more human interaction, take a scenic boat ride west to join the excited divers in the incredible Somosomo Strait at the famous Great White Wall dive site. You'll have to climb down from your treehouse, though.

    Matangi Private Island Resort Website | ISLANDS Website

     

    RIU Hotels & Resorts Ranked High in Customer Satisfaction!

    RIU Hotels & Resorts is hailing the newly released 2008 Annual Market Metrix Hospitality Index, which said RIU ranked high in customer satisfaction and placed the all-inclusive resort group on top in the Upper Upscale Hotels category. The index was based on 35,000 customer interviews. The index had RIU on top in the Upper Upscale Hotels category, followed by Peninsula Hotels, Kimpton Hotels, Gaylord Entertainment, Walt Disney World Resorts and Hyatt Resorts. RIU now has more than 100 hotels, 27 of them in the Americas.

    RIU Website | Market Metrix Website

     

    10 Reasons to Have A Wedding & Honeymoon in Maui


     

Articles

    Recession-proofing Your Travel Agency

    Press Release November 22, 2008
    Recession-proofing Your Travel Agency

    With so much doom and gloom in the news lately, many travel agency managers and owners are asking themselves how they are going to be affected and what can they do to help alleviate any future strain. We spoke with Laurie Keith from Romantic Planet Vacations, a niche travel wholesaler of honeymoons, destination weddings and luxury travel, and the following are tips are recommended to help you weather the recession storm.

    1) Target those markets that are less likely to be affected. In particular, they say that weddings are recession-proof because, regardless of the times, brides will not give up anything for their important once-in-a-lifetime day. And destination weddings continue to be on the uprise. In 2001 there was $3 million spent on destination weddings and in 2006 it grew to $16 million. This is a 433% increase in five years! Presently 16% of all weddings are now done overseas and it's expected to climb to about 25%. As this is their specialty, Romantic Planet Vacations have wedding packages worldwide and advises they will do all of the work but provide you, the travel agent, with the commission.

    2) As the mainstream consumers begin to tighten their purse-strings and clamp-down on their wallets, it is known that the wealthiest of Canadians will continue to spend - recession or no recession. Create, market and sell high-end luxury travel packages, as developed in Romantic Planet Vacations' Luxury Travel Collection brochure or at Luxury Travel Collection

    3) Vegas baby! In past recessions, it has been proven that Las Vegas booms. Gambling tends to go up when economies go down. If you ensure consumers know that you have Vegas packages, they will come.

    4) Reach those budget travellers. Life still goes on in recessions and people still travel whether it's for business, to see their relatives or to escape the economic melancholy. However, as the financial crisis hits, we expect travellers of all segments to place even more emphasis on seeking value driven products. The travel industry is a $7 trillion dollar industry and the budget sector has always been seen in the industry as a recession-proof product. Despite the high cost of fuel, credit crunches, plummeting stocks and concerns of a recession, both Mexico and Cuba have seen an increase in arrivals. Cuba has grown 11% since the same time last year (reaching a record 2 million visitors this year to date) and Mexico has increased 6% between January and August 2008. Why the increase? The affordability of these pre-packaged holiday destinations makes it hard for any consumer to say no. This, combined with the recent lowering or eradication of fuel surcharges with air and cruiselines and higher competition between hoteliers for your spending dollars, will make this winter travel season a tantalizing invitation to all.

    5) Although businesses will be seeking ways to cut spending, they will also be seeking ways to reach other, more lucrative markets. This is why international business is also seen as recession-proof. When economies are tougher in some countries, global businesses will look at doing business in other, more stable countries. To reach these corporate travellers, keep abreast on news of who is going global and schedule a meeting with them to look after their travel arrangements.

    6) Increase your marketing efforts. Even though your gut may tell you to pull back on spending, this is the time to get your name out there. As cost-conscious consumers will be doing more shopping and your competition is cutting back on their marketing, you will be the one standing out and hence, getting the business.

    7) Economic down-turns can be beneficial to those who really take advantage of it. Keep a watch on the competitors that are closing their doors and you can get a steal of a deal. By buying another travel agency with strong sales, you can merge the overhead costs, decrease your competition and grow your business all at the same time.

    8) Sell more local. Romantic Planet Vacations is making efforts to greatly increase it's Canadian travel product in their new 2009 Honeymoon & Destination Wedding brochure and Luxury Travel Collection brochure, set to be distributed to all travel agencies in January 2009. When one can spoil themselves at a 5-star resort in Canada as opposed to a 5-star resort overseas, those more cost-conscious consumers will opt for the lower priced Canadian holiday, for the same experience.

    Romantic Planet Vacations Inc. can be reached toll free at 1-866-247-8123

     

    Romance Travel - A Big Industry

    Canadians must be romantics at heart - at least they are when it comes to travel.

    Canadians will spend an estimated $12 billion on romance travel this year alone, which is highest it's ever been. These romance-seeking couples are flocking to beach destinations such as Mexico, the Caribbean and the South Pacific and romantic city stays such as Paris and Rome in droves, leaving their children, friends and families at home.

    The destination weddings markets have also hit a record high. An estimated 10% of all weddings by Canadians are made outside of the country and this is expected to climb another 22% within the next 15 years. Hence the start-up of a new wholesale tour operator to solely specialize in honeymoons, destination weddings and romantic retreats. Romantic Planet Vacations Inc. officially opened it's doors on February 14th, 2005 (yes, Valentine's Day!) and sells romance travel packages to 45 of the most romantic destinations worldwide. "With the average destination wedding group size of 46 people, destination weddings is good business." states Laurie Keith, Director of Sales for the company.

    With more than 31% of all adults going on a romantic trip this year it's no wonder there's an increase in boutique hotels and hidden gems that specialize in serving couples. From mega-all-inclusives like Couples Resorts in Jamaica and Dreams Resorts in Mexico to unique hideaways like Rendezous in St. Lucia, many hotels have turned adult-only to ensure tranquility and peace to it's amorous guests. It's also the reason for the increase in private terraces with outdoor showers, suites with their own private plunge pool, and packages to include champagne, flowers and chocolates for those celebrating special occassions.

    For more information of romance travel packages, please visit www.romanticplanet.ca

    copyright 2006