RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -- After experiencing a
"better-than-expected" December, the Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort,
Country Club & Ocean Villas here is offering a variety of deals
to generate increased winter traffic.
Occupancy levels in December were close to 50% above the
"conservative" projections set after Sept. 11, according to Dan
O'Byrne, vice president and marketing director.
Although final occupancy figures were not yet available, levels
for the post-Christmas week ranged from 90% to 95%.
"We expected to be significantly off the booking pace set in
2000, but we are ahead of our expectations," O'Byrne said.
Call volume in late December was up about 30% compared with the
same period in 2000.
O'Byrne said he hopes these inquiries translate into future
bookings.
He attributed the increases in occupancy and call volume to the
availability of "great deals for consumers," which include
discounted rates, free air, free nights and food and beverage
credits.
A sampling follows:
• Through April 6, clients on the resort's romance or family
packages pay rates traditionally offered in the low season, from
April 7 through June 29.
The seven-night Lovers Only plan, priced at $1,775 per room,
double, represents a 30% discount off last winter.
The five-night Sun & Fun Family plan, at $1,775 per room for
two adults and two children under the age of 12, is 25% lower than
last winter.
• Bookings on the "Fly Free to Puerto Rico" promotion, in
cooperation with the Puerto Rico Tourism Co., have been extended
through Feb. 22.
Included are two roundtrip air tickets for each room booked for
stays of five nights or more through April 14.
Free air is available from all three New York-area airports
(Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark); Chicago's O'Hare; and Miami and
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
For details on these and other packages, call the Westin Rio Mar
Beach Resort at (888) 625-4949 or visit the Web site at www.westinriomar.com.