HOTEL NEWS YOU CAN USE


Hotel representation firm seeks agents for training


Ben Ireland ben.ireland@travelweekly.co.uk


A recently launched training company that helps the trade learn about hotels and their surroundings is looking to boost its agent numbers.


Unique Training Collection


works with hotels that don’t have UK-based representation to educate agents and operators on their product. Business development manager


Sharan Bearman, previously sales manager at Centara Hotels & Resorts, will visit agencies on behalf of hotels to train agents face- to-face. A similar service is offered to operators’ reservations staff. “There was a niche in the


market for helping hotels that don’t have UK representation,” she said. “We can take the pressure off hotels coming over here, and be their face at UK trade shows and events. We can help them get their brands in front of agents, which is really important and is more


Palladium to open Rafa Nadal facility at new Mexico complex


Palladium Hotel Group is to open a luxury complex near Cancun, Mexico, which will be home to a Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre. The tennis star will be at the


launch party on Tuesday as the 673-room family-friendly Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa, and 473-room adult-only TRS Coral Hotel, are officially unveiled following a three-month soft launch. Both have access to a large


Rafa Nadal


spa and wellness centre, and a purpose-built village with restaurants, bars, kids’ clubs, an amphitheatre and a chapel. Man- made canals and rivers connect the areas of the resort, which also


30travelweekly.co.uk14 February 2019 VIETNAM: Unique Training Collection showcases 36 partner hotels


effective face-to-face than through webinars. Bearman said: “I’ve spent


three months asking agents and operators what they want to know. Now we really want to let them know we are here to give detailed training and information about our hotels, and give more of an insight into the destinations they’re in.” Unique Training Collection has 36 partner hotels in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and the


Maldives. Recent additions to its growing portfolio include the Hard Rock Hotel Bali, The Boathouse Phuket and Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81 in Ho Chi Minh City. Launched in August 2018, the company works with more than 80 operators and a “large agent database”. It also hosts agent fam trips and is planning an educational


to southeast Asia this year. uniquetrainingcollection.co.uk


offers snorkelling, diving, yoga and Pilates classes. The Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre Costa Mujeres will offer tennis programmes for all levels and ages, developed by the Spanish player and his technical team. It will feature eight clay courts, a paddle-tennis court, football pitch, gym, bar and exhibition area. The complex has nine


restaurants, four swimming pools, including one just for children, and a convention centre with capacity for 1,380 people. On-site entertainment includes


live music and cabaret shows. palladiumhotelgroup.com


NEWS IN BRIEF


AMResorts to open its first new-build on Riviera Maya


AMResorts will open a new hotel in Mexico in November. The Now Natura Riviera Cancun is the all-inclusive resort group’s first new-build on the Riviera Maya. Funway Holidays offers seven nights’ all-inclusive from £1,645 per person with BA flights. funway4agents.co.uk


Tui to unveil third Blue hotel in Austria with Fieberbrunn


Tui is expanding its portfolio of Tui Blue lifestyle hotels in the Alps. Its third own-brand hotel in Austria, the 144-room Tui Blue Fieberbrunn is planned for the 2019-20 winter season. tui.co.uk


Relais & Chateaux adds first property in Bulgaria


Relais & Châteaux is to open its first property in Bulgaria next month in the Melnik wine region. The Zornitza Family Estate has six villas and nine studio suites, a restaurant, spa, vineyard and eco farm. tinyurl.com/rcbulgaria


New Ikos Aria will feature Mini Drive Adventure


Ikos Resorts has revealed its new complex in Kos, Ikos Aria, will open in May and give guests the use of a Mini as part of their stay. The Mini Drive Adventure is also available at Ikos Dassia, Corfu; and Ikos Oceania and Ikos Olivia, both Halkidiki. Prices lead in at €164 a night for Ikos Aria. ikosresorts.com


If Only teams up with Long Beach for agent dinners


Representatives from Mauritian resort Long Beach will attend agent dinners hosted by If Only, which will produce videos of the complex for agents to use on social media. Seven nights’ half- board, with flights, starts from £1,609, based on a May departure. ifonly.net


PICTURE: VINPEARL LUXURY LANDMARK 81


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