DESTINATIONS HOTELS & RESORTS | ALL-INCLUSIVE HOLIDAYS


CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Domes Aulus Elounda, Crete; Westin Reserva Conchal; Ikos Oceania offers gourmet food PICTURE: Alejandro Ariel Rodriguez; Studiovd.gr


SELLING TIPS


Nikki Hain, product manager at Premier Holidays: “Book early!


The best prices for flights and hotels are all outside of three to six months in reality, and with the current limited air lift, flight prices are higher the later clients leave it. We have hotel pricing all the way up to January 2024, so we suggest clients book way in advance.”


with premium branded drinks, spa treatments, champagne and underwater restaurant experiences as part of the inclusions. The Maldives and Mauritius are prime examples of this.” A number of luxury brands have got involved of late; Marriott Bonvoy launched its all-inclusive platform in 2019, with 30 hotels across the Caribbean and Latin America now in the portfolio (among them Planet Hollywood and Royalton properties, as well as six Elegant Hotels resorts in Barbados). The company has plans for 10 more all-inclusive new-builds and conversions over the next few years, across a number of high-end brands including W, JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton. Marriott isn’t the only one moving into the sector. Hyatt acquired Apple Leisure Group last November, bringing AMResorts under its wing with brands including Zoetry, Secrets, Now, Breathless and Dreams.


Meanwhile, Club Med is opening its first Exclusive Collection


travelweekly.co.uk Club Med Val


D’Isere, will provide a personalised service and ‘elevated experiences’, including a nightly champagne service


mountain resort in December – Club Med Val D’Isere, designed to provide a personalised service and “elevated experiences”, including a nightly champagne service, gourmet dining, a yoga programme and ski-in/ski-out access.


CULINARY CREDENTIALS That shift to a more luxury model is translating into the culinary experiences, according to Ricky Wason, head of product and purchasing at Olympic Holidays. “Food in general always tends to get a bad reputation at all-inclusive resorts, but this has certainly


changed,” he says. “Guests can now choose from a huge array of à la carte restaurants with delicious fresh food, live cooking stations and a wide range of international fare, with different gourmet experiences available.” Many resorts now include


fine-dining experiences as part of their all-inclusive offering; Royalton Chic Cancun (part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection of All-Inclusive Resorts) offers a multi-sensorial chef’s table experience featuring gourmet dishes with a local twist, while Ikos Oceania’s menus have been crafted by Michelin-starred chefs. At Varu by Atmosphere in the Maldives, three of the four restaurants offer fine dining. The new Domes Aulūs Elounda, which opened in Crete this summer, offers a ‘Cool Inclusive’ concept that includes various epicurean experiences, from mixology evenings to cooking classes, and Ikos Resorts’ properties take it up one more level, offering a Dine Out option that includes complimentary meals at local restaurants.


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Alan Cross, head of trade sales at Jet2holidays: “There is a common


misconception that all-inclusive holidays only appeal to families and children, but this could not be any further from the truth. Adult-only areas are becoming increasingly popular, so don’t neglect this market when you’re selling.”


Leah Marshall, director of sales at Unique Vacations


UK (which represents Sandals and Beaches Resorts): “It’s well worth highlighting value for money. One of the main benefits to all-inclusive is that clients know how much their holiday will cost in advance. When agents book through our Unique Caribbean Holidays, the price is guaranteed when the deposit is paid, so there are no unexpected increases.”


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