RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -A free air promotion, a summer package
sale, agent incentives, midweek specials and a $3.5 million
renovation illustrate the proactive approach adopted by the Westin
Rio Mar Beach Resort & Golf Club here to drive business "in an
uncertain economy and unsettled times," according to Tina Bernard,
the resort's leisure sales director.
"The days of doing business in the same-old, same-old manner are
over," Bernard said. "The tensions surrounding the potential
conflict in Iraq, the economy and travelers' uncertainties and
fears demand innovative ways to motivate people to travel."
The resort has tackled the problems head-on in several arenas
and, on a companywide basis, Westin shortly will launch a Caribbean
cancellation/postponement policy to benefit and protect both
consumers and agents in the event of a war with Iraq or terrorism
in North America.
The following are some of the Westin Rio Mar's incentives:
• Through Dec. 19, the 600-room property is offering two free
roundtrip air tickets with every oceanview room booking of three or
more nights.
The deal requires a Sunday or Monday arrival; rates start at
$375 per room, per night, through April 26 and $345 for travel from
April 27 through Dec. 19.
Drew Toth, director of marketing and sales, said air fare
credits of up to $300 per person are applied to the guest's bill at
checkout and deducted from the final total.
• The resort eliminated shoulder-season pricing and will put its
summer rates into effect from April 27 through Dec. 19.
"Traditionally, we offered shoulder rates during the period
following Easter to the end of June, at which time our summer rates
took effect," Bernard said. "To make it more attractive for guests,
we are launching the lower summer rates much earlier this
year."
Eight packages, including golf, tennis, romance, spa and escape
plans, are tied to the lower rates and offer seven nights for the
price of five.
The starting rate of $1,000 per room, double, covers
accommodations, daily breakfast, shuttle transfers, tax and
tariffs.
• The resort will continue to pay 10% commissions on a weekly
basis and offer a $95 nightly rate to agents in the off season,
Bernard said.
"Agents are important components of the resort's business plan
and are critical to our success," she said.
Bernard recently led a sales blitz calling on agents in the New
York area. She and her team represented the Westin Rio Mar at a
series of spotlight presentations sponsored by the Puerto Rico
Tourism Co. in key U.S. cities.
• Through the end of the month, the resort is offering 10,000
AAdvantage frequent flyer miles on packages of five or more nights
booked through American Airlines Vacations.
"This promotion has proven very successful and is an added boost
to stimulate late-winter business," Bernard said. She described the
booking pattern this winter as "very good."
"We are holding our ground," Bernard said.
Villas, property still linked
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -- Although the Ocean Villas at Rio Mar
reverted to private ownership last year, the villa complex remains
intimately linked with its neighbor, the 600-room Westin Rio Mar
Beach Resort & Golf Club.
The facilities share the same 500-acre site on Puerto Rico's
north coast; guests arriving at the villa complex first check in at
a desk in Westin's main lobby and then are shuttled to their
units.
Villa guests have access to the facilities at the 600-room
Westin; Andy Papoutsis serves as the general manager for both
facilities; and agents can book the commissionable villas through
Westin's reservations system.
"The Ocean Villas opened in October 2000 and was owned and
operated by Westin until last year, when the units reverted to
individual, private ownership," said Tina Bernard, Westin's leisure
sales director.
Westin's equivalent of the Ocean Villas are its 72 one- and
two-bedroom Ocean Suites, targeted to high-end clientele.
Renovation of the suites is one phase of Westin's ongoing
renovation program.
Recent projects included a redo of the conference center and
meetings space; new flooring on the 10,000-square-foot deck of the
Ocean Terrace overlooking the resort's mile-long beach; and a
facelift for Club Coqui, the poolside dining facility.
New entertainment venues are the Players Bar and David's Cookies
Cafe, both near the Rio Mar Casino.
For reservations or for more details on the Ocean Villas or the
Westin Rio Mar, call Westin Resorts at (888) 625-4949 or visit the
properties' Web sites, at www.oceanvillasrentals.com or at www.westinriomar.com. -- G.N.M.