30-34 client match 23/1/09 09:59 Page 30
Caribbean selling tips
Client
match
With so many options in the Caribbean,
narrow the choices by defining exactly
what your client wants. We asked
Ben Poole
travel consultant,
the experts for their inside tips
Traveltalk, Harrogate
Luxury
from bobsleighing and zipwiring to
swimming with dolphins, which you can
Roger Mallock also do in Cuba. Jamaica also has Dunn’s D
iscerning clients often like to return
to familiar places, as they know
they can rely on the standards of
service and quality of the hotels.
area manager, River Falls, where visitors can get active But we also get a lot of customers who are
Chichester Travel and walk up through the waterfalls. keen to do the “next big thing” – there’s an
For golfers, there are 18-hole courses on element of one-upmanship about it.
Sports and activities St Lucia, Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica, If your clients are looking for an established
B
arbados is a great starting or you can go for real luxury and head favourite, Sandy Lane in Barbados is an
point, as it offers the complete for Raffles Canouan. obvious choice, popular with A-list celebs, and
range of sports and activities, If your clients are keen on deep-sea customers know exactly what they’ll get there.
from surfing on the wild fishing, then St Lucia, Barbados and If you’re looking for something a bit more
Atlantic coast to sports such as horse St Barths are great places to try it. contemporary, then Carlisle Bay in Antigua
racing and polo. You can pick out any range of activities is relatively new and offers something a bit
In August the sports camps, run with across the Caribbean, and resorts such as different from the usual Caribbean decor, with
the help of famous sporting stars, are a Sandals, Almond Resorts and Superclubs its modern furnishings and sleek design.
great way to keep youngsters entertained, will have a good selection to try. In St Lucia, Discovery at Marigot Bay and
with coaching in cricket, football, rugby Because these resorts are often all- the Jade Mountain Resort near the Pitons are
and netball. inclusive, they can offer a cost-effective more secluded and offer a piece of luxury
Family-friendly Antigua (pictured, right) way of being able to get active, particularly away from it all.
is good for watersports, including during the current economic climate. For customers looking for the next hot-spot,
snorkelling and sailing. There is great I’ve been recommending Raffles Canouan in
diving across the Caribbean, including the Grenadines. It is a private island resort
in Grenada and Tobago – the latter is (pictured, above), and guests get a private jet
also good for rainforest trekking and transfer from Barbados included in the price.
birdwatching. You could either sell them a twin-centre
If your clients are keen to get back with Barbados, or they can take the jet transfer
to nature, St Lucia offers excellent hiking in the same time it would take them to reach
and mountain biking around the Pitons, some of the resorts in Barbados by road.
and there’s even a walk-in volcano. The St Barths has been in the newspapers over
Windjammer Landing resort is perfect Christmas and the New Year, with lots of
for the family, with watersports and a celebs staying there. The Eden Rock Hotel
range of accommodation types. is one of the most elite properties, and the
Nevis is also good for nature lovers, Hotel Guanahani isn’t far behind.
with eco-rambles on offer, while My final tip for agents making bookings for
St Vincent has its turtle sanctuary. luxury clients would be to investigate the
Jamaica has a fine sporting tradition, concierge services on offer in advance. You
and is on the up following Usain Bolt’s can pre-book excursions and events for
victories at the Beijing Olympics. It’s a big special occasions, and a lot of operators will
island so there’s lot of activities to try, pay commission on those elements.
30
TTG Knowledge – January 2009
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