CANADIAN 2011 AGENTS’ CHOICE AWARDS

Were thrilled to share that, once again, Sandals Resorts was victorious in three of the top Baxter Travel Media Agents’ Choice Awards this year, as voted on by Canadian travel agents.  The winning categories included:

• Favourite All-Inclusive - 12 years in row
• Favourite Hotel Chain - 5 years in a row
• Favourite Environmentally-Friendly Company - 4 years in a row

Please see a press release below with full details on these awards:

 SANDALS RESORTS VICTORIOUS IN CANADIAN  2011 AGENTS’ CHOICE AWARDS    

Voted “Favourite All-Inclusive”, “Favourite Hotel Chain” and “Favourite Environmentally-Friendly Company” by Canadian Travel Agents   

Toronto, Canada – There is no other resort company that has received the recognition from the Canadian travel agent community than Sandals Resorts International.  Once again, Canadian agents have overwhelmingly voted Sandals as their favourites in the 2011 Agents Choice Awards, the largest sampling of Canadian travel agent opinions. The resort company (including its sister brand, Beaches Resorts) was named by Canadian agents as their “Favourites” in three leading categories in the 12^th annual Agents’ Choice Awards, including: “Favourite All Inclusive” for the twelfth year in a row, “Favourite Hotel Chain” for the fifth year running; and “Favourite Environmentally Friendly Company” for the fourth straight year. 

 “To win three prominent Agents Choice Awards is indeed an honour and something that we do not take lightly.  We strive every day to ensure that Canadian agents are equipped with the best and most sales and marketing tools available in the travel industry,” says Maureen Barnes-Smith, Director of Sales & Marketing, Canada, Unique Vacations Inc., worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts. “These awards are further testament to the support and trust that Canadian agents place in the Sandals brand.” 

This year, over 4,700 Canadian travel agents voted in 24 industry categories – marking an impressive 22% increase in voters from the previous year. The awards were launched in 2000 by Toronto-based Baxter Travel Media and its flagship publications, Canadian Travel Press and Travel Courier.  The annual Agents’ Choice Awards have become a landmark in the Canadian travel industry giving voice to agents who select their top three favourite travel suppliers in various categories with their votes weighted accordingly – three points for a first place vote, two for second and one for third.

 Sandals Resorts came out on top as “Favourite All-Inclusive”, just as they have done every year in this category since the Awards’ inception.  A convincing winner, Sandals received 5,713 points – more than double the number of second-place RIU which garnered 2,171 points and more than triple the number of third-place Bahia Principe which claimed 1,594 points. 

Canadian agents also reaffirmed that Sandals is viewed not only as an all-inclusive company but as one of the world’s leading hotel brands by selecting Sandals as their  “Favourite Hotel Chain”, with a total of 3,576 points – well ahead of the nearest competitor, Fairmont Hotels who scored 2,047 points. 

 Canadian agents have recognized Sandals for its environmental, educational and community outreach throughout the Caribbean region by choosing Sandals as their “Favourite Environmentally Friendly Company” for the fourth consecutive year, with a total of 2,948 points to claim top spot in this category.