Almond Resorts
Tell me more: Almond have five four-star all-inclusive hotels in the Caribbean – three in Barbados and two in St Lucia.
What does Almond Resorts offer agents? You can earn free stays. By enrolling in the Team Almond Rewards programme, agents receive three complimentary nights for two people as a welcome gift.
In addition, agents booking clients to Almond Resorts combined with British Airways flights can qualify for free British Airways flights to either Barbados or St Lucia. To request an application form email team.almond@almondresorts.co.uk or call 0871 871 2828.
What’s new? Almond Resorts is launching Family Suites which sleep two adults and up to three children. Bookable for 2011, these consist of two interconnecting bedrooms with two full bathrooms.
Couples Resorts
Tell me more: Couples operates four upmarket, all-inclusive, adults-only resorts in Jamaica. Each is individually styled and is geared towards romantic breaks. The group has been operating for more than 30 years and aims to provide more inclusions than other all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean.
What does Couples Resorts offer agents? By registering and completing the training modules at gptrainingacademy.com, agents receive two free nights’ all-inclusive for two people.
An additional free night for two on the same basis is offered for every booking of seven nights or more made and logged online, up to a maximum of seven nights.
Once registered on the training academy agents are entered into a monthly draw, with prizes including Jimmy Choo shoes, Tiffany jewellery and a Ferrari day experience.
Superclubs
Tell me more: SuperClubs operates 13 properties across the Caribbean and Latin America. Nine come under the Breezes all-inclusive brand for singles, couples and families, there are two Hedonism adult-only all-inclusive properties in Jamaica, plus two Rooms accommodation-only hotels in Jamaica.
What does SuperClubs offer agents? SuperClubs is planning fam trips to Panama and Brazil in 2010.
What’s new? Breezes Buzios, Brazil, which is close to the capital Rio, is scheduled to open in June, and the company’s first property in Panama opened late last year.
Sandals
Tell me more: There are 16 Sandals and Beaches (for families) properties across five Caribbean islands – Jamaica, St Lucia, Antigua, Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos – along with two Grand Pineapple Resorts in Jamaica and Antigua, and the high-end Royal Plantation Collection in Jamaica and the Bahamas.
What does Sandals offer agents? Sandals’ Roving Reporter incentive gives agents the chance to win a trip for two to a Sandals resort, and then be featured in Travel Weekly reporting back to travel agents on their personal experience.
In addition, the Sell & Go incentive allows agents to earn nights at Sandals or Beaches resorts based upon their sales. The higher the category booked, the more nights agents earn. For example, a booking for a Butler Category room for six nights or more earns agents a three-night stay. There are also 20 fam trips scheduled for the year ahead.
What’s new? Sandals Emerald Bay in Great Exuma, Bahamas, opened in February and is the first Sandals to offer a Greg Norman-designed golf course and world-class marina. Meanwhile, Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa, Jamaica, reopened in December 2009 following four months of upgrades and renovations, offering clients the chance to experience the island’s quieter, laid-back south coast.
Barceló Hotels & Resorts
Tell me more: Barceló Hotels & Resorts is a Spanish, family-owned company established in 1931 with a portfolio of 181 hotels in 17 countries. Properties are spread throughout Europe, North America, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and range from budget options to upscale properties and all-inclusives.
What does Barcelo offer agents? Each client booking generates points that can be redeemed for free stays by joining the Barceló Partner Club. The club also offers agents online training courses, special offers, promotions and incentive gifts. Find out more at barcelopartnerclub.com.
What’s new? The group added six hotels to its portfolio in 2009, including Barceló Cairo Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt; Barceló Mediterránea Saidïa in Morocco; and Barceló Bávaro Family Deluxe, part of the four-in-one Barceló complex, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Starwood
Tell me more: Starwood Hotels & Resorts has 1,000 properties in nearly 100 countries. The company’s brands are St Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft and Element.
What does Starwood offer agents? Agents can benefit from travel agency rates if they wish to experience the company’s properties. Those who take the training modules on StarwoodPro benefit from greater discounts. Visit starwoodhotels.com/pro.
What’s new? W New York Downtown, a luxury property in Manhattan, is opening in June; two properties, The Romanos and The Westin Resort, are set to open in June as part of the first phase of the new Costa Navarino resort on mainland Greece; W Koh Samui, Thailand, located on a 26-acre site on Maenam Beach, is opening in August; the Sheraton Milan Malpensa, in Italy, and the W London Leicester Square will be premiering this summer; and the first Aloft hotel in Europe, the Brussels Schumann, is set to open in Belgium this autumn.
Iberostar
Tell me more: Iberostar Hotels & Resorts is a family-owned, Spanish hotel chain comprising more than 100 four and five-star hotels concentrated in the Mediterranean, Africa, the Caribbean and South America. The group’s premium brand, Iberostar Grand Collection, comprises seven luxurious properties in Tenerife, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Mexico.
What does Iberostar offer agents? Throughout May and June 2010, agents and a companion can stay at any of the group’s 74 properties in the Mediterranean on a two-for-the-price-of-one basis. To book, log on to iberostar.com/payonegettwo
What’s new? The five-star Iberostar Saphir Palace in Tunisia opened in January 2010 and the four-star Iberostar Club Boa Vista in Cape Verde opened in December 2009.
Kempinski
Tell me more: Founded in Germany in 1897, Kempinski is the oldest European luxury hotel group. Kempinski has 62 properties in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
The properties vary from grand city hotels to leisurely resort properties, luxury safari lodges and quirky properties including a museum-hotel at the Great Wall of China and a ski resort in the middle of Dubai.
What does Kempinski offer agents? Kempinski offers discounted accommodation rates to travel agents.
What’s new? Openings in 2010 include Yinchuan, China, and New Delhi, India.
Amathus
Tell me more: Amathus operates two five-star properties in Cyprus, one in Limassol and one in Paphos, and another in Rhodes, Greece. The hotels in Cyprus are both members of the Leading Hotels of the World.
What does Amathus offer agents? Reduced accommodation rates.
What’s new? In 2009 Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol completed a €15 million refurbishment.
Centara
Tell me more: Centara operates a chain of 43 hotels and resorts in Thailand, the Maldives, India and Egypt. It has two brands: the Centara Boutique Collection of designer properties, and Centara Hotels, a 3.5-star value brand.
What does Centara offer agents? Centara’s Seeing is Believing programme offers discounted accommodation rates for travel industry staff.
What’s new? Centara Grand Resort, Phuket is due to open in November 2010, with Centara Manila also opening in late 2010.
Marriott
Tell me more: Marriott International has more than 3,400 properties in the US and 66 other countries. The company’s brands are: Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari.
What does Marriott offer agents? Marriott’s travel trade website offers services including commissionable bookings, future rate searches, Fam-Tastic rates and Marriott International brand profiles.
What’s new? Marriott currently operates 174 hotels in Europe and plans to double its presence by 2015. New openings for 2010 include the Renaissance Moscow, the Courtyard by Marriott in Budapest and the JW Marriott Hotel Ankara.
Shangri-La Hotels
Tell me more: Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts has 66 properties throughout Asia Pacific, North America and the Middle East. Its two brands are Shangri-La and Traders.
Shangri-La properties are generally five-star, deluxe city centre and resort hotels. Traders is a midmarket brand of mid-priced city centre hotels consisting of 11 hotels in Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Changzhou, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Penang, Singapore, Shenyang and Yangon.
What does Shangri-La offer agents? Shangri-La gives reduced rates to Touchdown, the travel trade offers provider, for agents’ personal holidays. The hotel company also supports fam trips arranged by tour operators.
What’s new? Shangri-La will this year open new hotels in Beijing, Shanghai and Mumbai, plus its first property in Europe, in Paris.
Hyatt Hotels
Tell me more: The company’s worldwide portfolio consists of 424 properties in 45 countries. Its brands are Hyatt, Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Place and Hyatt Summerfield Suites.
What does Hyatt offer agents? Hyatt hosts fam trips and conducts agent training days. Agents can check out commission rates and confirm reservations for themselves at up to 50% discount at hyatttravelagents.com.
What’s new? Andaz Wall Street, New York opened in January and Andaz San Diego opened in February. Hyatt Regency Curaçao Golf Resort, Spa & Marina welcomed its first guests last month.
