Resorts
It’s All Good
A trio of top industry executives were in Toronto this week (May 7) for the annual Best West Leisure Summit, talking about the latest trends and issues that may or may not impact on the upcoming summer travel season. On hand for the event were Best Western's senior vice-president of marketing & sales, Dorothy Dowling; CAA's vice-president, travel, Brenda Kyllo; and TripAdvisor's head of industry relations, Brian Payea. The hour-long Q&A session was moderated by Granite Productions' Bryson Forbes. As for their forecast for the summer of 2015, well, each and everyone panelist...
Free Wi-Fi Reigns, But Wanes as Top Hotel Amenity
Global travellers' desire for free Wi-Fi is still the number one amenity when choosing a hotel for both leisure and business stays, but it is slowly declining according to the latest research from Hotels.com. Highlights of the research: Complimentary Wi-Fi is the top factor in choosing a hotel for leisure stays (30%), as compared to 34% in 2013. Canadian travellers ranked it slightly higher than the global average at 36%; no surprise considering the country has topped the list of highest Internet usage worldwide. 50% of respondents said free Wi-Fi is their must-have when...
Homewood Suites to Open in Santo Domingo
Hilton Worldwide has signed a management agreement to introduce its Homewood Suites by Hilton brand – an upscale, all-suite, extended-stay offering – to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Scheduled to open in 2017, the new-build 120-room Homewood Suites by Hilton Santo Domingo represents both the brand’s first hotel in the Caribbean and first hotel designed in line with its Caribbean and Latin America prototype. “The signing of Homewood Suites by Hilton Santo Domingo is a great milestone as it introduces a new Hilton Worldwide brand to the Caribbean and our third hotel in...
Some Like It Hot At Velas Vallarta
Guests at Velas Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta can get a real taste of Mexico with the luxury resort's new “Signature Hot Sauce Tasting Experience.” Those with adventurous palates can experience a guided tasting of hot sauce from Jorge Sierra, executive chef, poolside at the oceanfront resort. Inclusive of explanations on which sauce pairs well with which foods, the tasting is also a “bite” of a Chili 101 with explanations also given about the heat quotient of the different chilies. In addition, recipes are provided to recreate dishes at home. The first Hot Sauce Tasting...
Club Med Appreciates Agents
As part of Travel Agent Appreciation Day, Club Med has introduced the experience of a familiarization trip with a video, and has launched a contest in which agents can win a spot on its next fam trip. To view the video, go to https://youtu.be/8Rn00KVsMHE . The contest rules are simple: to participate, agents must send an e-mail to [email protected] by May 15. Club Med reminds that being subscribed to its web site dedicated to travel agents – clubmedagents.ca – as well as on the Facebook page – facebook/english.clubmed – will give additional chances to win. The...
Hands Up, Put Your Hands Up
Alright everyone, put your hands up and say happy birthday to Club Med as it celebrates 65 years of innovation that dates back to April of 1950 when, to all intents and purposes, the all-inclusive holiday concept was born. The story began with a pioneer, Gerard Blitz. In April 1950, he founded an association named Club Mediterranee, offering a new kind of vacation to “develop interest in outdoor living and sports.” The first Club Med resort opened in Alcudia in Spain. The amenities of this new leisure centre were simple, with tents as accommodations, but the clients loved the...
Hot Summer Deals From Velas
Velas Resorts has released details of its summer rates and resort inclusions featured at all four of its resorts. Velas Vallarta offers families a two-for-one special for kids ages five to 16, a city tour and cultural tour, a $30 spa credit per adult per night, and early check-in or a late check-out. Casa Velas, the all-inclusive adults-only boutique hotel and ocean club, has a summer package that includes unlimited golf, a $30 spa credit per adult per night, 10% discount at the resort boutique, and a city & shopping or cultural & tequila tour. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is...
Sheraton Centre Teams Up With A Legend
Toronto's Sheraton Centre enlisted Toronto Maple Leaf legend Darryl Sittler -- and the Stanley Cup itself -- to help show off the hotel's new renovation. Including all 1,377 guests rooms and meeting spaces, the refit will be finished in the fall, with the endeavour costing $101 million and comprising “everything – from floor to ceiling, right back to the studs.” After a tour of a suite, guests got to meet Sittler, who later entertained with hockey stories from his storied career, and posed for photos and signed autographs. Here the ex-Leaf captain poses with David Connor, Area...