Hotels & Resorts
Sandals Looks Back, So Agents Can Leap Forward
Sandals Resorts has retooled and rereleased some of their most popular webinars, created exclusively for Canadian travel agents. These carefully curated webinars will help agents brush up on important skills and strategies, especially critical to have during and after the current pandemic. Agents who participate in all three webinars – in sequence – will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of several three-night, land-only stays to a Sandals or Beaches resort. Maureen Barnes-Smith, director of sales & marketing for Unique Vacations...
Sandals, Agents Say Thanks To Healthcare Workers
Sandals Resorts joined forces with a group of six travel agents from the Greater Toronto Area to spread some Caribbean vibes and express their thanks to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 25. With the sound of Bob Marley blaring from their radios, a convoy of Sandals-wrapped vehicles drove by The Village of Taunton Mills in Whitby, Ontario to bring a bit of joy and deliver some donuts to the facility’s staff as a small token of gratitude and support. The gesture was a little more personal for one agent, Karen Lippett, whose mother is a resident at the...
Wild Times In Harrison Hot Springs
It’s Friday and we all need a bit of a lighter look at the world around us. Too much COVID-19 all the time. So, a tip of the hat to True Key Hotels & Resorts who brings a touch of humour to us today. The BC hospitality company reports that with COVID-19 keeping everyone close to home, the world is seeing the rewilding of animals in cities and towns. It points to stories of dolphins returning to Venetian canals; wild boars wandering the streets of towns in Italy and … yes, believe it or not … the return of the legendary Sasquatch to its natural habitat of the village of...
Caribbean Gets Ready For The Bounceback
During a recent webinar, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) CEO and director general, Frank Comito talked about how the Caribbean hospitality sector and destinations were marshaling their crisis management experience to be able to bounce back stronger and better once the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis has subsided. Comito commended resort owners for using the opportunity to refresh their offerings and facilities and train staff on advanced aspects of the sector - albeit at a social distance - while the region remains closed to new visitors. He also...
Hope For Healing 2020
Today, it should be all about hope. To that end, the Sandals Foundation and Island Routes have teamed up to offer a message of hope and healing in a new, online campaign to mark Earth Day 2020. The ‘#HopeforHealing2020’ Campaign, launched by both companies on their social media platforms, invites people to light a candle as a symbol of healing and share a message of hope for the planet and each other. Over the last 50 years, the world has come together on April 22 to mobilize support and action for environmental protection. This year, in light of the unique reality of...
Join The Sandals Sing Along
Don’t worry about a thing… and sing along with Sandals and beat the Monday morning blues. Echoing the earlier message from the Hon. Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, talented Sandals’ team members from across the Caribbean share a special song to travel agents. So, join the virtual choir and sing along… it might not change the world, but it will bring joy to your heart! #SandalsStateOfMind #WeAreInThisTogether...
Karisma Committed To Staff, Communities, Partners
Karisma Hotels & Resorts says it remains committed to supporting its employees, communities, guests and travel agents and cites the delivery of 800 meals daily by Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana to those who need it most in the Dominican Republic. “Karisma has always strived to do the right thing, with a focus on its employee and community-centric culture, authenticity, and genuine warm hospitality. In addition to its ongoing initiatives, Karisma has taken extraordinary measures in support of its employees and communities impacted by COVID-19,” the company...
COVID-19 Hits Travel Search Hard
In a newly released study, trends data provider, SEMrush has analyzed the impact of COVID-19 on online behaviour to reveal that travel sectors and travel companies have been hit the hardest. According to SEMrush data, Google search volumes for the major global airlines fell significantly between January and March 2020 as the outbreak spread and flights were grounded. Branded searches within the overall industry average declined 16.2% from January to February, followed by an additional decrease of 6.7% between February and March. The worst-hit overall were China Southern (down...