Hotels
A Portal With Karisma
A new travel agency sales and marketing portal by Karisma Hotels & Resorts has only been online for a short time, but is quickly gathering praise for its user-friendliness and selection of business tools. “We’ve been getting great feedback, the buzz has been really good,” said Sabrina Filatow, sales director for Karisma. In this week's digital edition of Travel Courier, western editor, Ted Davis reports that part of that buzz is being generated by travel agent Kim Crosby, owner/operator of Sun Lovers Travel of Victoria, who says that “to have all of these resources...
AMResorts Adds Second Costa Rica Property
AMResorts' Secrets Papagayo Resort & Spa will be the company's second Costa Rica property, following the Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica, which opened late last year. AMResorts assumed management of the Hilton Papagayo Costa Rica Resort & Spa on Feb. 28 and will operate the resort under the name Papagayo Resort & Spa until May. The property will then close for six months to undergo renovations. The project includes enhancing the resort’s 202 suites, facilities and amenities to offer AMResorts’ Unlimited-Luxury vacation concept, such as premium accommodations and...
Grand Case Offers Fifth Night Free
St. Martin's Grand Case Beach Club, located on two beaches adjacent to Grand Case Village, is offering a fifth night free from June 1 through Oct. 31 (blackout dates June 27-July 11). To take advantage of this offer, bookings must be made by April 30. All rate categories are included. The free night is valid only at the end of the stay, and is not available for groups or with any other promotions. Promotional code is 5NF2015. Included in room rates are continental breakfast daily; use of all non-motorized watersports equipment; and a bottle of red or white wine on...
Survey Says: Win A Spot On Club Med Fam
In order to improve its travel agent's web site, clubmedagents.ca, Club Med has launched an online survey to respond to its travel partners’ needs. “We value our travel partners’ opinion and as we’re looking to make improvements, we would appreciate their feedback and suggestions regarding our clubmedagents.ca web site. The survey should only take a few minutes and will help provide direction for the enhancements to our travel agent web site,” says Jacinda Lowry, national sales director, Club Med Canada. “As a thank you for taking the time to fill out this survey, you will...
Business As Usual
Despite an 80-cent dollar and an increase in everything online, it seems the state of business travel in Canada is just fine with participants in a Best Western Business Travel Summit yesterday (Feb. 26) in Toronto reporting stable or increasing numbers. Taking part in the summit were Chris Vukelich, VP Egencia, Dorothy Dowling, senior VP of sales and marketing for Best Western, Ian Race, senior VP Vision Travel Solutions, and Tony Pollard, president, Hotel Association of Canada. If there's one thing trending in the travel industry today, all participants agreed it's “mobility”...
Something Special In The Air
These are heady days for Delta Hotels & Resorts as the icon Canadian hotel group hosted the official grand opening of its flagship property in Canada – the Delta Toronto. And in the next 30 days or so, the definitive deal that Marriott International signed to acquire Delta Hotels & Resorts should be completed. Not surprisingly, the grand opening of the Delta Toronto was a gala affair, featuring both Toronto Mayor, John Tory and Marriott International Inc.'s president and CEO, Arne Sorenson. Mayor Tory said that the opening of the Delta Toronto was a great addition to the...
Atlantis Introduces All-Inclusive Groups Experience
Atlantis, Paradise Island has introduced an all-inclusive experience for groups, now bookable for stays fall 2015 through 2017. The all-inclusive plan allows groups to bundle a host of Atlantis activities, varied dining opportunities from Bahamian Club to Virgil’s Real BBQ, and daily amenities such as WiFi all under one comprehensive pricing structure. “We are thrilled to now offer our valued meeting planners this all-inclusive option for the first time in Atlantis’ 20-year history,” says John Washko, VP of Group Marketing & Sales. “We’ve made it a priority to...
Grand Opening Celebration at Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta
The latest product of a bold partnership between Hyatt Hotels Corp. and Playa Hotels and Resorts was given its official debut last night, with the grand opening beach party at the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta. Fireworks, performances, mariachi music and a Mexican party on the beach welcomed about 200 attendees. Located on a scenic beach cove just minutes outside Pacific coast Puerto Vallarta, the Hyatt Ziva PV brings new life to the formerly Dreams-branded property. It was closed for a year, during which $14 million was spent on a rethink and recreation of the property, including an...