All-Inclusive Holidays ALL BAR NONE
The all-inclusive concept has spread far beyond its Caribbean roots and is now embraced in destinations as far flung as Sri Lanka and Brazil – which leaves a world of options for agents, says Jane Archer
A
ll-inclusive giant Sandals is celebrating its Pearl anniversary this year, marking 30 years
since it opened its first resort in the Caribbean, with all food, drinks and selected activities paid for up front with one inclusive price. Within 10 years, the Caribbean was the
all-inclusive capital of the world but now the concept has spread to every continent as resorts see how popular the model is with clients who prefer to budget for their holiday in advance. The resorts have always had their detractors, those who object that holidaymakers on all-inclusive packages
36 April 2011 •
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don’t go to local restaurants and bars and plough money into the local economies of the places they are visiting. But try telling that to cash-restrained families and couples who love the way they allow them to control their spending. Of course the current economic climate
makes this the perfect time for agents to brush up on their knowledge about all- inclusives – especially as the sector’s high headline price means good commission- earning opportunities. Says Elite Island Resorts' European managing director Paula Whitehead: “Guests who wouldn’t previously have considered all-inclusive now see it as a
way to get more for their money and plan their holiday budget … there aren’t any nasty surprises on the credit card bill at the end of a holiday.” Beware that the all-inclusive concept comes in many guises. There are all- inclusive properties that offer a basic package of local drinks, all-buffet food and cheap-to-run sports such as tennis and kayaking, and others that throw in meals at their top restaurants, premium brand drinks and motorised watersports. At the very top end, Sandals and SuperClubs, the other heavyweight all- inclusive company in the Caribbean, offer free scuba diving and weddings. Increasingly, hotels are offering all- inclusive options in response to demand. Indian Ocean-based Naiade Resorts launched Pure Discovery, an all-inclusive package of meals, drinks, a couple of excursions and yoga classes at Legends in Mauritius in 2008, when the financial crisis started, and it sold so well it’s now available at four of its properties. Prestige marketing manager Nicky
Shafe said the operator's all-inclusive sales are up this year. “Clients don’t mind paying for a four- or five-star break but they want to keep within their budgets and this offers them an easier way of doing so."
What’s New Hard Rock International has opened its first hotel in the Caribbean, the all- inclusive Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The property has 1,800 rooms, branded Rock Star Suites and a Rock Spa. Sainte Anne Resort and Spa in
Seychelles will have a new all-inclusive option from May 1 2011, from £35 a day for adults. This covers all food, drinks, snacks, land and water sports, including bicycle hire and access to the kids’ club. Harlequin Hotels and Resorts will
fully open its first resort, Buccament Bay in St Vincent, this month (April). The five- star resort will have a Liverpool FC soccer school, Pat Cash tennis academy and a diving and watersports centre. Tanjung Rhu in Langkawi, Malaysia, has
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