"Starwood Destinations" Newest Module Highlights Bali

Starwood Hotels & Resorts reports the launch of its sixth destination concentration for its ProLearning module – Starwood Destinations. Now available at www.starwoodpro.com, the new course was developed to educate travel professionals about Indonesia’s Bali, an island with diverse vacation experiences and home to four current Starwood resorts and three under development.
 
In this module, travel professionals are offered unique story selling ideas for their customers incorporating the island’s activities and Starwood’s signature resorts. This destination is part of Starwood’s overall global growth strategy,  Starwood  says. Brands including St. Regis, Westin, W and the Luxury Collection are already present in Bali, and growth plans include additional Sheraton, Westin and Luxury Collection properties.
 
“Consumers are exploring and traveling the globe seeking the best customer experiences, and we want to make sure that our best partners in travel have access to the latest information on these unique and truly magical destinations,” said Chris Austin, vice president, global retail leisure & luxury sales at Starwood. “Adding Bali to our portfolio of training options is critical in providing our travel professional partners with truly unique vacation experiences as they look to satisfy their most discerning customers.”

This new module, like the other ProLearning destination concentrations, will provide an overview of transportation, geography, tourist activities and options as well as an in-depth look at the regions of Bali and Starwood resorts located in those regions.

In the very popular five-star resort area of Nusa Dua, travel professionals will learn about water sport, golf, shopping and dining options and how to incorporate those into a stay at one of Starwood’s three properties there including The St. Regis Bali Resort, The Languan Resort & Spa, a Luxury Collection property; and The Westin Resort Nusa Dua.  Travel professionals will also learn about the more rural and residential area of Seminyak, home to the W Retreat & Spa Bali and the high-end eco boutique Sarasvati Bali, a Luxury Collection resort, opening in January of 2014.
 
Starwood said it will expand its Bali footprint to the cultural capital of Ubud and nightlife capital of Kuta Beach this summer with two new resort openings, including the Sheraton Bali Kuta, opening in July, and the Westin Ubud Resort & Spa in August of this year.
 
Existing ProLearning destination modules, all incorporating Starwood’s signature story selling examples and recommendations, have already been viewed by thousands of current StarwoodPros.

The Hawaii module focuses on the four islands of Oahu, the Big Island, Maui and Kauai and the 11 Starwood resorts that call these islands home.

The Caribbean module focuses on Aruba, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. John and the Mexican Caribbean destination of Cancun and highlights the six Starwood Caribbean resorts in the region.

The Mexico module includes Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, and Cancun.
The Maldives features Fesdu Island, home of the W Retreat and Spa and Furanafushi Island, home to the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa.

Fiji explores where Starwood has three properties that are part of a five-star integrated resort complex on Fiji’s Denarau Island.
 
Each module can be explored one island at a time and travel professionals can return to their last completed section at any time. Certificates and a virtual concierge are provided for each module. Additional destination selling modules will debut throughout the year.
 
More than 25,000 travel professionals have completed the first ProLearning module and are now qualified for STARPRO travel professional rates, bookable at www.starwoodpro.com and starting from just $69 a night. Travel professionals must be a StarwoodPro Module 1 graduate in order to gain access to the new Starwood Destinations modules and other benefits.

Visit www.starwoodpro.com