Funway and AMResorts have revealed plans for a substantial tie-up, including dedicated joint brochures and 60 fam trip places for travel agents.
A 10-year commercial deal between Funway and Caribbean resort specialist Sandals ended on April 9.
Funway managing director Melissa Tilling stressed that the new partnership was “absolutely not a Sandals replacement”.
She said: “We don’t need to replace Sandals because we are still working with them. AMResorts is another important partner and we will work on the same basis with others who want a purposeful relationship with us, based on joint investment.”
As well as the main AMResorts by Funway brochure, due out in September, there will be quarterly mini-brochures. The first of these is out this month.
The investment also includes six fam trips for agents to experience AMResorts’ properties. The trips, which will start in September and each host 10 agents, will focus on Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
The companies are also poised to work with key agent partners to produce tactical offers for clients.
AMResorts’ sales through Funway are up by 51% for the year to date compared with 2016, according to Tilling.
The rise has been fuelled by the launch of Funway’s first joint Mexico and Caribbean brochure in September, which added 130 hotels to its range.
AMResorts has 52 resorts across six destinations – Mexico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Curacao, Costa Rica and Panama. This will rise to 60 resorts in eight countries by 2019.
AMResorts deputy managing director Paul Bodart said: “Our focus is on the trade, and this campaign will increase our share of agent business.”
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