From the opening of a new resort in Haiti to Sandals Resorts International's expansion to Barbados, Travel Agent breaks down the top five hottest all-inclusive news stories of the year.
Occidental Hotels and Resorts Opens New Haiti Resort
In January, Occidental Hotels and Resorts opened the Royal Oasis by Occidental in Haiti. Occidental Vacation Club, a division of Occidental Hotels and Resorts, will be an important component that allows members to visit yet another destination included in their membership.
The property is sprawled over three acres in the heart of Petion-ville, formerly an upscale residential suburb which has now gradually evolved to become Haiti’s most important business and commercial hub.
Click here for the full story.
Hedonism II Undergoes $5 Million Makeover
In September, Hedonism II, the beloved inhibition-free resort in Negril, Jamaica, commenced a five million dollar refurbishment project. Plans for an upgrade to guest rooms and public facilities have been in the works since the hotel was sold to Marshmallow Limited in February.
For the full story, click here.
Unique Vacations, Inc. Gets New President
In early December, Unique Vacations, Inc. (UVI), exclusive representatives of Sandals Resorts International in the Americas, announced the appointment of travel industry veteran Ellen Bettridge as president. She will be based in Miami and begins her new role January 6.
The move comes about a week after Unique Vacations Inc. (UVI) announced the appointment of industry veteran, Randy Russell, to senior vice president, social commerce, a new position. He will also be based in Miami.
And that move came just a roughly two weeks after Unique Vacations Inc. announced that President Kevin Froemming resigned from the company in order to take up a new position.
For the full story, click here.
Karisma Looks to Expand Further in the Caribbean; New Jamaica Property Opens on December 20
As Karisma Hotels & Resorts prepared for the December 20 soft opening of its first-ever Caribbean property, Azul Sensatori Jamaica, Mandy Chomat, the company’s vice president of sales and marketing, already chatted with Travel Agent about expanding further in the Caribbean
The Jamaica resort marks Karisma Hotels & Resorts', a premier collection of 11 Gourmet Inclusive properties in Mexico that are comprised of El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels, El Dorado Generations and Azul Hotels and Villas by Karisma, first expansion beyond the Riviera Maya.
Chomat says other desired spots in the Caribbean for Karisma properties include the Dominican Republic and further expansion in Jamaica. For the full story, click here.
Sandals Resorts to Expand to Barbados
In October, Sandals Resorts International and the Government of Barbados reached an agreement following months of negotiations that saw one of the Caribbean’s leading resort company open the former Couples Resort in St. Lawrence as a Sandals Resort as well as managing a new Beaches Resort set to be built on the site of the former Almond Beach Resort in St Peter.
Sandals Barbados, which opened in early November, has a selection of 280 luxury accommodations, ranging from beachfront suites to guest rooms in the lush tropical garden. The brand new Beaches resort will be built on the site of the former Almond Beach Resort in St. Peter.
For the full story, click here.
Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com/Caribbean for all the latest Caribbean news and on behalf of the staff at Travel Agent magazine, have a Happy New Year!