ning 30% up year on year, compared generally to other long-haul destinations which have seen an 8% rise, and the Caribbean which has experienced a 1% increase. Exact figures are not available.
First Choice Tropical marketing manager Denise Hibbert said: “Cancun bookings have been particularly strong since Christmas. It attracts mostly couples and I think a lot of people have decided millennium year is the year to travel. Hoteliers have been realistic with their prices despite the boom of the last two years. There are so many new builds that they can’t afford to lose holidaymakers to cheaper competition.”
The excellent value for money of a Mexican holiday has also seen more people trade up, according to Hibbert. “Most of our customers are booking four-star hotels as they get a fantastic product at great prices. Our Classic Premium class – enhanced economy for a small supplement – on board our Air 2000 charter has also been a success,” said Hibbert.
Airtours sales, marketing and development director Ed Sims claimed the operator has been overwhelmed by demand for Cancun. “We’ve increased capacity by 40% for summer 2000, adding the resort of Tulum to our programme.
“Although Caribbean Mexico now compares favourably in price to the Dominican Republic, where prices have gone up a little, the other reason it’s so popular is that Airtours clients feel comfortable with its Spanish flavour but high US standards,” added Sims.
Cancun bookings are up 300% for winter 2000/2001, according to JMC Holidays. Product director Alan MacLean said:”The huge increase in bookings is largely due to the development of new properties and improved infrastructure.”
Unijet is recording a 20% increase in bookings to Cancun this year, with weddings proving particularly popular. Sales and marketing director Alan Hopley said:”Cancun has even knocked St Lucia off its perch as the top weddings destination worldwide. It now accounts for about a fifth of all our weddings worldwide.”
Like most other operators, Unijet has recognised that all-inclusive properties continue to be the best sellers and has added three new all-inclusive resorts for summer 2000 – the Presidente Inter-Continental in Cancun and the Bahia Principe Tulum and Aventura Palace along the Riviera Maya.
Hopley said there has been a slight shift away from Cancun this year towards the less built-up, more traditional resorts of Playacar and Playa del Carmen.
“As the market matures and people go back for a second time, they are looking for a slightly more laid-back, Mexican experience,” said Hopley.
Specialist operators also appear to be reaping the benefits of Caribbean Mexico’s current run of popularity.
Hayes and Jarvis Caribbean product manager Paul Shields reports that the Moon Palace Resort near Cancun is the company’s best-selling hotel worldwide.
“We’ve expanded quite a bit this year, adding properties in Playacar and Cozumel and the Allegro Reef Club in Cozumel has also been added to our dive brochure,” said Shields.
CARIBBEAN Mexican resorts are outperforming not only the rest of the Caribbean but also the whole of the long-haul market, according to latest industry figures from Stats MR.
UK bookings to the premier resort of Cancun and its satellite resorts of Playacar, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel are running 30% up year on year, compared generally to other long-haul destinations which have seen an 8% rise, and the Caribbean which has experienced a 1% increase. Exact figures are not available.
First Choice Tropical marketing manager Denise Hibbert said: “Cancun bookings have been particularly strong since Christmas. It attracts mostly couples and I think a lot of people have decided millennium year is the year to travel. Hoteliers have been realistic with their prices despite the boom of the last two years. There are so many new builds that they can’t afford to lose holidaymakers to cheaper competition.”
The excellent value for money of a Mexican holiday has also seen more people trade up, according to Hibbert. “Most of our customers are booking four-star hotels as they get a fantastic product at great prices. Our Classic Premium class – enhanced economy for a small supplement – on board our Air 2000 charter has also been a success,” said Hibbert.
Airtours sales, marketing and development director Ed Sims claimed the operator has been overwhelmed by demand for Cancun. “We’ve increased capacity by 40% for summer 2000, adding the resort of Tulum to our programme.
“Although Caribbean Mexico now compares favourably in price to the Dominican Republic, where prices have gone up a little, the other reason it’s so popular is that Airtours clients feel comfortable with its Spanish flavour but high US standards,” added Sims.
Cancun bookings are up 300% for winter 2000/2001, according to JMC Holidays. Product director Alan MacLean said:”The huge increase in bookings is largely due to the development of new properties and improved infrastructure.”
Unijet is recording a 20% increase in bookings to Cancun this year, with weddings proving particularly popular. Sales and marketing director Alan Hopley said:”Cancun has even knocked St Lucia off its perch as the top weddings destination worldwide. It now accounts for about a fifth of all our weddings worldwide.”
Like most other operators, Unijet has recognised that all-inclusive properties continue to be the best sellers and has added three new all-inclusive resorts for summer 2000 – the Presidente Inter-Continental in Cancun and the Bahia Principe Tulum and Aventura Palace along the Riviera Maya.
Hopley said there has been a slight shift away from Cancun this year towards the less built-up, more traditional resorts of Playacar and Playa del Carmen.
“As the market matures and people go back for a second time, they are looking for a slightly more laid-back, Mexican experience,” said Hopley.
Specialist operators also appear to be reaping the benefits of Caribbean Mexico’s current run of popularity.
Hayes and Jarvis Caribbean product manager Paul Shields reports that the Moon Palace Resort near Cancun is the company’s best-selling hotel worldwide.
“We’ve expanded quite a bit this year, adding properties in Playacar and Cozumel and the Allegro Reef Club in Cozumel has also been added to our dive brochure,” said Shields.
Caribbean Mexico
First Choice Tropical: 14 nights all-inclusive at the four-star Jack Tar Village in Cancun costs from £1,059. Combining one week at the hotel with a week’s Yucatan tour taking in all the main Mayan highlights costs from £1,199.
JMC Tropical Shores: seven nights all-inclusive at the three-star Hotel Reef Club in Playacar costs from £769. The Hotel Reef Club opened last year and is a small, intimate property built in Mex-ican/Caribbean style.
Unijet: a 14-night all-inclusive package combining a week in Cancun with a week in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, which incorporates the beach resorts of Playacar and Playa del Carmen, starts at £919. Accommodation is in the El Pueblito in Cancun and in the El Dorado in Playacar.