Still Recovering: Post-Hurricane Caribbean Updates
You keep coming across updates on the post-hurricane situation in the affected islands for one simple reason: The situation keeps evolving. Here's the latest on five island destinations from a Caribbean Tourism Organization news conference.
Gansevoort Villas Debut with Special Intro Rates
The new luxury oceanfront Gansevoort Villas—part of the Gansevoort Turks + Caicos resort—are now available for booking and are also offering special introductory rates.
Saint Lucia Tourism Grows, Offers Special Agent Rates
After hitting record-setting numbers in 2017, current figures show continued robust growth of Saint Lucia's tourism sector, proving that the destination is an island vacation that appeals to a wide range of travelers.
The Dream Honeymoon
What is the dream honeymoon? Depends who’s dreaming, so here’s a look at dream honeymoons at six romantic Caribbean properties.
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
The Grand Hyatt Baha Mar property—part of Nassau’s Baha Mar resort complex, also home to the SLS and Rosewood properties—“is a reflection of something or somewhere in The Bahamas,” says Yvette Edwards, director of sales and marketing at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.
Bahia Principe in Samana, D.R.
The Dominican Republic’s Samana Peninsula is a gorgeous slice of Dominican beach and mountain views, and in this picturesque setting, there are four unique Bahia Principe properties that speak to each of your clients.
What is the Typical Destination Wedding?
You’ve asked such a good question (smart!) that I broke it down into several questions and sent them to the people of some top-selling Caribbean resorts.
Jamaica: News for Travel Agents
During a pre-Caribbean Week NYC conversation, Donovan White, the recently appointed director of tourism of the Jamaican Tourist Board, discussed the growth of travel to Jamaica and more.
Casa de Campo Welcomes Agents with Extra Perks
Travel agents heading to the Dominican Republic can stay at the luxury Casa de Campo Resort & Villas at a discounted rate with extra perks.
Saint Lucia Experts Reap Rewards
With Recommend's Saint Lucia Expert course, you can not only learn about what the island has to offer, you can also reap sales rewards and benefits.
BodyHoliday Announces Summer Renovation Plans
Health and wellness resort BodyHoliday St. Lucia announced that it will temporarily close this summer in order to complete a $20 million renovation.
Princess Cruises: New Ship, Sky Suites and More
Princess Cruises announced its 2019-2020 Caribbean season, including details of the new Sky Princess, first-time destinations and the cruise line's new Sky Suites.
Saint Lucia Properties Offer Agent Discounts
With Recommend’s Saint Lucia Expert course,you can not only learn about what the island has to offer, you can also reap sales rewards and benefits.
Stonefield Villa Resort Launches Wellness Brand
Stonefield Villa Resort launched Escape to Wellness,a new experience brand as part of the resort’s repositioning to a health and wellness boutique property.
Agents Win a Trip to a Luxury Bahia Principe Hotel
This month, an agent can win a 5-night escape to the Luxury Bahia Principe Fantasia or a Luxury Bahia Principe Hotel of their choice
Club Med is Headed to the Dominican Republic—Again
Club Med is headed to the Dominican Republic (again) with the brand's second property in the DR with the opening of a new property in Miches.
Become a Saint Lucia Expert, Enjoy Special Rates
Special agent rates for Saint Lucia Expert course graduates.
Trending Now in Luxury Travel in the Caribbean
For insights into how luxury is evolving, Recommend rounded up two executives at major tour packagers and three top-selling travel agents. Before we asked them about trends, though, we asked what “luxury” means nowadays.
Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado Welcomes Children
Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado, previously an adults-only property, is set to welcome a new group of travelers: children.
Update from DATE, Part 3: EP Resorts in the Dominican Republic
A few years ago the then-new Gansevoort and, even more so, Amanera properties expanded the D.R.'s boutique luxury niche, so this year's Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE), held in April, included some buzz about luxury EP resorts:
Update from DATE: All-Inclusive Resorts in the Dominican Republic
Much of the talk at this month's DATE (Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange) in Punta Cana was about the continued growth of travel to the Dominican Republic, but the focus was also on new and renovated hotels of all stripes.
Azul Beach Resorts Properties Get a Name Change
What's in a name...Well, a lot actually, especially if you're sending your clients to one of the Azul Beach Resorts which will receive a new name.
Send Mom to The Bahamas for Mother’s Day
Clients still searching for the perfect Mother's Day gift? Warwick Paradise Island- Bahamas has a deal that will have them packing their bags for a getaway.
Update from DATE, Part 1: Dominican Tourism Rises to the Occasion(s)
Recommend traveled to the Dominican Republic to attend the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange. These are the big picture tourism updates from the island.
Grand Classica to Sail to Bahamas
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line will welcome its newest addition to the fleet, Grand Classica, as she arrives in the Port of Palm Beach tomorrow
Why Cayman Islands Tourism Has Surged
The news that U.S. arrivals in the Cayman Islands were up 13.44 percent in 2017—definitely a stand-out in the Caribbean region—made this reporter eager for more details.
Apple Vacations Expands in Puerto Plata
Apple Vacations now partners with 13 hotels in this area, including these four all-inclusives. Rates quoted are for a couple staying one week, excluding air.
The Best Cultural Experience: Local Food
Although most travel is experiential travel (why would anyone visit Rome or the Grand Canyon and not look around?),...
Warwick Paradise Island Offers Spring Promotion
The Warwick Paradise Island-Bahamas is welcoming spring by offering savings on nightly rates through the Paradise Spring Fever Savings.
Apple Vacations in Puerto Plata: The EP Option
Two of Apple Vacations' hotel offerings in Puerto Plata serve as reminders of why some visitors to the Caribbean prefer the EP model.
Royalton Plans For New Cancun and Antigua Properties
Royalton Luxury Resorts has announced plans to open two new resorts in the next two years and in two coveted destinations: Cancun and Antigua.
Atlantis Gives Guests a Taste of Bahamian Culture
With travelers increasingly on the hunt for opportunities to interact with the people and culture of their chosen vacation destinations, Atlantis Paradise Island Resort is responding by bringing Bahamian culture straight to its guests.
Find Out Why The U.S. Virgin Islands Are #StillNice
U.S. Virgin Islands commissioner of tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty and her colleagues met with members of the media to share post-hurricane updates from the three islands.
Club Med to Expand All-Inclusive Offerings
Club Med will open five resorts per year, on average, over the next five years, and plans to execute renovations to its current resorts.
Disney Cruise Line: New Ports, Itineraries for Summer 2019
Summer 2019 may be more than a year away, but in just a few days, travel agents will be able to book their clients on a variety of Disney Cruise Lines voyages, many of which include new ports, new destinations and new itineraries.
Club Med Turkoise Unveils Renovations and Service Enhancements
Club Med has announced plans to transition Club Med Turkoise, an adults-only all-inclusive on Turks and Caicos' Grace Bay Beach, from a "3 Trident" resort to a "4 Trident" resort starting May 1, 2018.
Playa Hotels & Resorts Expands Portfolio in Jamaica
This week just days before its one year anniversary, Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. entered an agreement for a business combination with Sagicor Group Jamaica Limited, which will add a portfolio of five all-inclusive resorts and two adjacent oceanfront developable land sites to be owned and managed by Playa.
Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa
Although I attended Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa’s grand opening in 2017, I wanted to take a closer look, so I recently checked back in.
What’s New in Family-Friendly All-Inclusives
The unofficial focus in much of the Caribbean is still on families, so here’s a look at what’s new at family resorts in the islands.
Jamaican Villas Offer Peak Season Bonuses For Agents and Travelers
Bluefields Bay Villas, a collection of six beachfront villas on the western coast of Jamaica, is offering travel agents and their clients extra incentives to visit one of its properties during peak travel season.
New Cuba Sailings with Carnival
Carnival Cruise Line will offer 17 new sailing to Cuba aboard Carnival Sensation in 2019.
Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay Unveils 2018 Travel Agent FAM Rates
The all-inclusive Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay is offering a new FAM rate of just $127 per room, per night.
Apple Vacations’ New Flights to the Caribbean
On March 2 Apple Vacations will add nonstop Exclusive Vacation Flights between Pittsburgh and Puerto Plata, D.R., on Allegiant Air.
Carnival Fascination Resumes Schedule from San Juan
Carnival Fascination resumed its year-round schedule of 7-day southern Caribbean departures from San Juan this past Sunday.
5 Booked Nights = 1 Free Night
Travel agents who book up to five nights at Iberostar 70 Park Avenue can earn their clients a 1-night stay, complimentary, at any Iberostar resort.
Update on Puerto Rico, Part 2
So how is Puerto Rico doing 4-plus months after Hurricane Maria? Tourism officials addressed that question at the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association's Marketplace in San Juan, but I also wanted to get out and see things for myself.
Update on Puerto Rico, Part 1
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association's Marketplace, held Jan. 30-Feb. 1 in San Juan, featured updates on Puerto Rico's recovery from Hurricane Maria. Here's what tourism officials want you to know.
Takeaways from the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Marketplace
Fifty-eight percent of people in the Caribbean hospitality business are highly optimistic about 2018, and this is in the wake of two Category 5 hurricanes. But that's the big picture. Take a look at some of the details revealed at CHTA Marketplace's press conferences.
Major Airlines Increase Service to St. Thomas
With the U.S. Virgin Islands continuing to progress in post-hurricane recovery efforts, more demand for flights to the islands has led to three major airlines increasing flight service to St. Thomas.
Belizean Resort Offers Special Grand Opening Rates
The Mahogany Bay Resort & Beach Club may have opened its doors to guests in December 2017, but the property is continuing the celebration of its grand opening with a special introductory rate.
St. Martin Invites Travelers to Return to ‘The Friendly Island’
When representatives from the French St. Martin Tourist Office traveled to Miami last week to update members of the media on the island's post-hurricane recovery efforts, their overall message was heard loud and clear: St. Martin is open for business and eager to welcome visitors.
