We have exciting news about group bookings!  We have made some changes to our policies in order to make it easier for our clients to book more groups to Sandals and Beaches Resorts.

 Below are the revisions that have been implemented for new group bookings:

 -  Special pricing for groups of 36 – 100 rooms

 -  A private dinner is now included for all incentive groups of 10 rooms or more

  -  Set-up fees for incentive group functions have been reduced

   - Special internet rates for Incentive groups

    - We have increased the allocation of Single rooms allowed on ‘contracted’ groups from up to 15% to 20% of the total group size at the following resorts

        Sandals Grande Riviera

        Sandals Whitehouse

        Sandals Grande St. Lucian

        Sandals Regency La Toc

        Sandals Royal Bahamian

        Sandals Emerald Bay

        Sandals Grande Antigua

In addition, please find below a special Fall 2012 promotions for groups traveling between August 26 – December 16, 2012.

One (1) Complimentary room for every 10 paid rooms * applicable to the following resorts:

           Sandals Grande Riviera

           Sandals Whitehouse

           Sandals Royal Bahamian

           Sandals Emerald Bay

           Beaches Turks & Caicos

           Beaches Negril

Group inclusions for 10 or more rooms will be extended to groups of 5 or more rooms on all groups traveling August 26 – December 16, 2012

For complete terms and conditions or if you have any questions regarding groups please contact me at gtsirmpas@uvisandals.ca.

Cheers,

Gina

Whether your marriage is fresh in your mind or is an ageless passion that has stood the test of time, Sandals makes it easy for you to do it all over again and if you book by January 27^th, 2012 for travel between September 4 to November 10, 2012 you will receive all the inclusions below for free:

The Renewal of Vows Package includes:

    Personal pre-planning vow renewal consultant

    Personal on-resort vow renewal consultant

    Ceremony styled by Martha Stewart

    Wife's bouquet and Husband's boutonniere

    Pre-recorded musical accompaniment

    Vow Renewal officiant

    Sparkling wine & chilled hors d'oeuvres reception for wife, husband and six guests

    An elegant reception table set for eight with a floral centerpiece

    Two-tiered wedding cake

    Wedding gift from Sandals Resorts

    One (1) 5x7 honeymoon photograph

    Honeymoon dinner for wife and husband at a resort specialty restaurant with white-glove service and a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine

    Decorated honeymoon room

    Full breakfast-in-bed and mimosas on a morning of your choice

To take advantage of this offer or for complete terms and conditions please call 1-800-545-8283.

 Cheers,

Gina

Sandals Resorts celebrated The Tenth Annual Sandals Travel Agency Recognition (S.T.A.R.) Awards on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at the newly transformed Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort.

More than 400 travel agents from around North America and the UK traveled to Ocho Rios, Jamaica last week as they were recognized for their diligence and fortitude in selling the world’s best Luxury Included® Vacations. The weekend consisted of activities and celebrations at Sandals Grande Riviera, as agents were awarded with trophies for their hard work this past year.  Agents were also able to experience and enjoy first-hand the exclusive Luxury Included® amenities at the newly renovated Sandals Grande Riviera as well as neighboring Ocho Rios resorts including Sandals Royal Plantation and Beaches Boscobel, with an itinerary that combined relaxation, Island Routes Caribbean Adventure Tours and private events hosted by Sandals Resorts’ Chairman, Mr. Gordon “Butch” Stewart and CEO, Adam Stewart.

Sandals Resorts created the S.T.A.R. Awards in 2002 as a way to recognize top travel agencies and showcase the newest in resort products and on-island attractions.  In addition to top product, regional and national categories, the S.T.A.R. Awards announced the Worldwide Top Ten Travel Agencies, the newest inductees to the Sandals Hall of Fame and introduced a new prestigious category this year: The Lifetime Achievement Awards.  Awardees in this exclusive category were honored for proving their ongoing investment in the resort company’s brands year after year.

This post is coming to you from the beautiful Sandals Montego Bay. I arrived here yesterday and I had the opportunity to see all the new upgrades and best of all the new eco- friendly suites. The Presidential Suites at Sandals Montego Bay have been converted to self-contained (eco-friendly) suites. The eco-lifestyle village concept combines solar-energy generation through solar panels, with green-room controller system in the building and the application of energy-saving equipment. The solar system converts sunlight to electricity and is used to power electric devices. The installation of the inverter technology, which works with the air conditioners will represent a 65% energy savings, while refrigerators, microwave ovens and light bulbs would represent an 80% energy saving. This is just another way we our reducing our carbon footprint.

Cheers,

Gina

Due to popular demand, Beaches Resorts once again is offering their ever-popular B.F.F. Girls Getaway package for two different travel dates in 2012, from April 26-30 and October 18-22, 2012.

On the heels of the most successful B.F.F. event to date, the Luxury Included® resorts for everyone will once again offer this package for ladies looking to relax and enjoy a fabulous four-night vacation getaway at the beautiful Beaches Turks & Caicos Resorts Villages & Spa in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos.

This past October, 141 BFFs enjoyed skincare classes, a beach-bonfire PJ party, a private catamaran cruise, a jewelry & champagne soirée, beach yoga, self-discovery sessions, and more. As a part of the B.F.F. Girls Getaway Package, these lucky ladies also received a $200 Red Land Spa credit, a 10% at all gift shops, a free 5x7 picture, and a welcome goody bag, compliments of Beaches Resorts as well as participating sponsors including, the leading publisher of women's fiction, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, yogaspirit^® studios, Boys Before Business: The Single Girls Guide to Having It All, Colombian Emeralds® International, FitPregnancy magazine, SHAPE magazine, NaturalHealth magazine, Dermalogica® skincare and Island Routes Caribbean Adventure Tours.

The B.F.F Girls Getaway Package offers the perfect way for girlfriends of all ages to enjoy some quality bonding time and fun in the sun, whether for a birthday celebration, bachelorette getaway, mother-daughter vacation or just a Caribbean escape with friends!

For more information visit  www.beaches.com/bff or call 1-800-545-8283.

The Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International is proud to partner with Hasbro, Inc., one of the world’s leading toy manufacturers and valued partner for Beaches Resorts, for their annual Holiday Toy Drive, delivering toys and smiles to underprivileged boys and girls throughout the Caribbean this holiday season. Bringing the “gift of play” to underserved children in community centers, orphanages, adopted schools and children’s homes across five islands, Hasbro, Inc. and The Sandals Foundation have launched this year’s Holiday Triple “Play” campaign. With any donation of $10 or more to the Sandals Foundation Holiday Triple “Play” Toy Drive, Sandals Resorts International will match this financial contribution and Hasbro will also donate a toy – growing the gifting three-fold. Additionally, the funds raised this year will go to purchase brand new toys from Hasbro at reduced prices for children in the communities.

Founder and President of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, Adam Stewart, stated “We are so blown away by the generosity of Hasbro in working with us on this year's Holiday Toy Drive.  You couldn't ask for a better, truer partner when it comes to reaching children in need and making their wishes come true.  Because of their commitment to this program, together, we will be able to provide brand new toys making it an unbelievable Christmas for thousands of undeserved boys and girls living in the Caribbean.”

The Holiday Toy Drive plans to reach a quota of 10,000 new toys to be delivered to impoverished children across the Caribbean where the Sandals Foundation actively engages in bettering the lives of less fortunate communities. The toys are sure warm the hearts of the many families facing financial hardship this year.

To participate in the Holiday Triple Play Toy Drive, log on to www.sandalsfoundation.org to make a tax deductible contribution or mail a check or gift card in the amount of your choice, to: Holiday Toy Drive, c/o Unique Vacations Inc., 4950 S.W. 72nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33155 by December 15, 2011.

The Sandals Foundation is 501 (c) (3) a nonprofit organization rooted in three decades of community service and has helped change the lives of thousands and continues to make the region a better place every day. The Foundation’s mission is to harness the resources, talents, partnerships and awareness behind the Sandals Resorts International’s brands to tackle a myriad of issues affecting the Caribbean under three broad headings: community, education and the environment.

~ Sandals’ newest Luxury Included® Resort Honored as One of the Best Hotels in the World in 2011 ~

Sandals Emerald Bay in Great Exuma, Bahamas has been recognized as a 2011 Fodor’s 100 Hotel award winner by Fodor’s, the leading name in travel guides. This honorable award distinguishes the Sandals Emerald Bay property as an outstanding resort in the opinion of Fodor’s editors and travel experts.

The resort has been specially recognized in the new “Most Trusted Brand” category, an honor reserved for the most stand-out resorts among familiar and trusted brands. This novel category highlights world-class international hotel chains, noted for their superior amenities including exceptional cuisine, lavish spas and remarkable design.  

Each year, editors at Fodor’s travel the globe in search of fabulous new locations and lodgings. The prestigious award given to Sandals Emerald Bay is a true testament to the consistent standards of excellence displayed by the Luxury Included® resort chain for two people in love. As a 2011 Fodor’s 100 Hotel Award-winning property, Sandals Emerald Bay will be featured on www.Fodors.com and celebrated at the announcement event in New York City.  A complete list of all 100 selected hotels is available at http://www.fodors.com/world/hotel-awards/2011/.

I am so proud to share this with you:

Sandals Resorts International is proud to announce being awarded top honors at the World Travel Awards 2011 Caribbean & The America’s Awards Ceremony.  Sandals Resorts International received an impressive 11 total awards, the highest amount of awards ever won by the Luxury Included® resort company. These awards are a true testament to the continued evolution of the brand and its resorts.

In addition to winning a record-breaking number of awards, Sandals Resorts International also received the distinguished title of Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand for the 18^th year in a row. Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts top honors included:

Caribbean's Leading Hotel Brand: Sandals Resorts International (18^th consecutive year)

Caribbean’s Leading Luxury All-Inclusive: Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas

Caribbean's Leading Family All-Inclusive: Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa, Turks & Caicos

Caribbean's Leading Honeymoon Resort: Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa (2^nd consecutive year)

Antigua & Barbuda's Leading Resort: Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa

Bahamas' Leading Spa Resort: Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island

Jamaica's Leading Hotel: Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa (2^nd consecutive year)

Jamaica's Leading Resort: Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort

Jamaica's Leading Spa Resort: Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa

Saint Lucia's Leading Resort: Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort (2^nd year)

Saint Lucia's Leading Spa Resort: Sandals La Toc Golf Resort & Spa

The World Travel Awards further honored Sandals Resorts when it presented Chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart with the first-ever Tourism Pioneer Award, which recognizes individuals whose passion, commitment and trailblazing vision significantly improve the tourism industry.

This year’s ceremony was held on Wednesday, October 19 in Montego Bay, Jamaica at Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort and Private Island. The World Travel Awards were established in 1993 for the purpose of recognizing and celebrating achievements in all areas of the world’s travel and tourism industry. This year’s voting campaign reached a total of 183,000 travel professionals in more than 160 countries.