For clients in search of a cruise alternative this year, travel advisors should consider an all-inclusive resort, said Justin Heckman, Club Med’s director of sales for the U.S. eastern region, during Thursday’s Pitch Perfect web panel at CruiseWorld.
In fact, Heckman likened Club Med’s all-inclusive resort experience to “a land cruise,” citing the vast number of dining options, excursions and activities -- from sailing and water skiing to swimming with whale sharks -- available across the brand’s properties.
Structured as a 30-minute live selling session, the Pitch Perfect forum was moderated by Lone Star Travel president Donna Alkarmi and We Book Travel owner Jesse Morris, who both pitched potential client opportunities to a panel of all-inclusive resort suppliers.
In addition to Club Med’s Heckman, other participating suppliers were Claudia Espinoza, Palladium Hotel Group’s business development manager for South Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and South Florida; Tonya Joyce, AMResorts’ West Coast regional sales manager; Ash Tembe, AIC Hotel Group’s vice president of global field sales; and Andrea Wright, Playa Hotels & Resorts’ vice president of travel industry sales.
For Lone Star Travel’s Alkarmi, one of the current hurdles to booking all-inclusive travel to Mexico and the Caribbean has revolved around medical coverage, with clients expressing concern about what might happen if they contract Covid-19 while abroad.
According to Palladium’s Espinoza, however, the company is hoping to ease such anxieties with its recent launch of free medical insurance across its full portfolio. The initiative is designed to cover “any incidents directly related to Covid-19 that may arise,” including medical transfers, emergency transportation to the hospital, repatriation and extension of hotel stay, said Espinoza, adding that the insurance goes into effect “as soon as a guest checks in and regardless of where they book.”
Heckman also highlighted Club Med’s recently launched Emergency Assistance Program, which similarly comprises medical, repatriation and housing support, while AIC Hotel Group’s Tembe touted his company’s groups-focused Covid-19 support program.
“We looked at what was stopping groups [from booking] and did a Covid policy for future groups and weddings, so people can feel comfortable,” said Tembe. “There’s a cancellation opportunity for them, and if anything were to go wrong, there is medical assistance, emergency assistance, and they can stay for [a certain] amount of days until they get over their illness. All of that is covered.”
When asked about the multigenerational appeal of all-inclusive properties, Wright played up the ability of Playa Hotels & Resorts’ Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara side-by-side property concepts to cater to all age groups. She pointed to Playa’s new Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic as one example, offering a balance of family-friendly activities and dining at the Hyatt Ziva and adults-only options right next door at the Hyatt Zilara.
“They’re really close, so you can have families on [the Ziva] side, where you have pools, lots of different activities, tons of restaurants to choose from that everyone can take part in,” said Wright. “But then if maybe the adults want to peel off and do their own thing, they can just walk down the sidewalk and venture over to [the Hyatt Zilara]. Everyone can have the best of both worlds.”
Meanwhile, AMResorts’ Joyce emphasized the importance in educating clients about the fact that the all-inclusive segment has evolved significantly in recent years.
“Keep in mind, if your clients have gone to an all-inclusive years ago, the all-inclusive has changed,” Joyce said. “It’s not like it used to be. So, if you do get that pushback from your cruise clients that say, ‘I’ve been years ago, and it just wasn’t very fun,’ it’s definitely changed, and all of our brands here have a lot to offer. I think your clients will be pleasantly surprised."