Hotels & Resorts
Sandals temporarily suspends Grande Riviera arrivals
Following substantial landscaping damage caused by Hurricane Sandy in the past 24 hours, Sandals Resorts International has announced the temporary suspension of new arrivals to Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort in Ocho Rios until Nov. 2 in order to undertake an extensive clean-up program. New arrivals will be offered the chance to stay at one of the group's resorts in Montego Bay, or on Jamaica's south coast at Sandals Whitehouse, which were unaffected by the storm, or rebook after Sandals Grande Riviera's reopening, subject to availability. Guests currently in-house will be...
RIU goes wireless
RIU Hotels & Resorts will introduce of wireless Internet in its hotels in the Americas. Guests at RIU resorts in Mexico, Punta Cana, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, Florida and Costa Rica can receive high-quality Internet connection in communal areas and rooms. In the Riu Palace range, the service will be free as of Nov. 1. Riu Classic hotels will still offer free Internet access in the lobby, and guests will also have the option to purchase a connection in the rooms and other communal areas. All RIU guests will be able to connect to the Internet using their own devices in all communal areas and...
Aqua Hotels’ appointments
Aqua Hotels & Resorts has announced hotel management positions on Oahu, Kauai and Maui. Matthew Pickett has been appointed general manager for the boutique Aqua Lotus Honolulu. With over 16 years of experience in Hawaii's hospitality industry, including Five Diamond service and a great record of improving revenue maximization and operational efficiency, Pickett recently guided the 51-room Aqua Lotus Honolulu through a successful $2.5 million room renovation and upgrade. His knowledge and experience in food and beverage is also a great asset as the hotel will launch a new full-service...
Sheraton Maui debuts room makeover
Following a $6.5 million renovation, the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa now features newly enhanced guest rooms. The 508-room resort has upgraded its in-room features with plush carpeting, traditional Hawaiian artwork, delicate drapery, freshly painted walls in warm hues, new tropical furnishings and newly installed wireless Internet....
Special rates at The Whaler on Maui celebrate renos
Recently completed are comprehensive renovations at The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach, by Aston Hotels & Resorts. The Whaler $14 million project included enhanced lanais with new tiles and a contemporary earth tone colour palette. This work was preceded by major pool, garden courtyard and porte cochere improvement initiatives two years ago. The 12-storey luxury condo resort on Kaanapali Beach is located across from two championship golf courses and adjacent to Whalers Village shopping centre. Each studio, one- and two-bedroom suite has a full kitchen and spacious, private lanai with views of...
RIU properties get Travelife Gold Awards
Seven RIU Hotels & Resorts properties in Spain and Morocco have received the Travelife Gold Award, which certifies them as environmentally and socially responsible. Travelife is an international system that establishes social and environmental indicators and, according to degree of compliance, tourist companies may be awarded a Bronze, Silver or Gold certificate. RIU hopes to have 75% of its hotels certified at the end of 2013 and 100% in 2014. The Hotel Riu Calypso (Fuerteventura, Spain), the Riu Garoe (Tenerife, Spain), the Riu Tikida Dunas and the Riu Tikida Beach (Agadir, Morocco), the...
Tropical Storm Sandy delays tournament
The 2012 Baxter Travel Media & Sandals Resorts International annual golf tournament for the Canadian Travel Industry has been postponed until Nov. 22, 2012. Mother Nature, in the form of Tropical Storm Sandy has forced the postponement of the popular event that was to have taken place from Oct. 25-27 at Sandals Resorts in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Rescheduling details for the tournament will be available...
The ‘Secret’ is out in Cancun
AMResorts celebrated the grand opening of the adults-only Secrets The Vine Cancun Oct. 14. The wine-inspired resort is AMResorts' 21st property in Mexico and a first for the Secrets brand in Cancun's Hotel Zone. It features 495 guest rooms with a private balcony overlooking the Caribbean Sea and Laguna Nichupte, Italian porcelain floors polished to mimic wood, custom covered headboards and teak wood furnishings, luxury linens and white glass wrapped bathrooms. All guests enjoy the benefits of Secrets Resorts & Spas' signature Unlimited-Luxury vacation concept, which offers 24-hour room and...