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Tap into a new rewards program, 'green' resorts, girlfriend getaways and more.
AN ALL-INCLUSIVE resort is still considered a desirable attribute by the majority of vacationers, according to the MMGY Global 2014 Portrait of American Travelers. It also appears that the younger the client, the more desirable it becomes, with nearly two-thirds of Millennials and well over half of Generation Xers checking that box in the survey
The good news for these and all fans of the all-inclusive experience is that new resorts have opened over the last few months, more are on their way and established properties are sprucing up or positioning themselves to accommodate your niche clients, such as "green" travelers, the romance market and girlfriend getaways.
Here are some of the latest developments, beginning with a hotel that will be part of the highly anticipated Baha Mar mega-resort.
THE SOON-TO-BE MELIA BAH MAR: Travel Agent recently spent a night in Nassau,The Bahamas, at Melia Nassau Beach, which will soon become Melia Baha Mar. The name change will not be official, however, until after the resort complex opens in March. Melia still needs to complete the second phase of its ongoing renovations before it gets the official Baha Mar stamp. That phase will include a complete makeover of all guest rooms.
"I don't want people to go to Melia right now and think that's Baha Mar because Melia is not ready yet," says Paul Pusateri, COO of Baha Mar. "When Baha Mar is ready and Melia is ready, we will launch them together as one and that's where Melia helps us and we help Melia. That's where we thought we get the best advantage."
We stayed in a Premium Ocean View room, of which there are 180 here. Ours was a Club Level room on the ninth (and highest) floor. Club Level rooms can also be found on the seventh and eighth floors. Also, anyone staying in any of the hotel's suites gets Club Level privileges, including access to a cool private lounge on the fourth floor. It has two huge, flat-screen TVs and windows offering incredible views of the ocean. This is also where Club Level guests check in.
WHAT DREAMS MAY COME FROM AMRESORTS: From Apple Leisure Group subsidiary AMResorts,...