Change is on the horizon
Wow, this fall is flying by isn’t it? This time of year is always busy for me because it is travel agent training season. The fall is when many of the resorts, cruise lines, airlines, vacation package suppliers, and others provide training to agents. It’s to help us get prepared for next year and update us on any recent or upcoming changes. Just in the last 2 weeks I’ve attended events with Sandals, Hard Rock, Exclusive Group Travel, Blue Diamond Resorts, Funjet, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, Jamaica Tourist Board, AMResorts, and more! There are still plenty of training events to come in the next few weeks. It is important for me to attend these events so I am current and updated on the ever changing world of travel!
Speaking of changes…
October 15, 2015 Houston Hobby opened its new 5 gate International Terminal. During this ceremony Southwest Airlines formally announced their Houston to Jamaica flight service! The daily non-stop flights will begin on November 1, 2015! This is a great option for your Jamaica weddings, honeymoons, and vacations!! They will offer one flight each day departing Houston Hobby at 10:35AM arriving in Jamaica at 2:50PM; the return flight from Jamaica leaves Montego Bay at 3:45PM and arrives back in Houston at 6:15PM.
As of Friday, Oct. 16, USAirways will cease to exist. A historic flight US1939, to honor the founding year of the company, will depart from Philadelphia at 10:05 a.m. and make stops in Charlotte, Phoenix and San Francisco, before departing there at 9:55 p.m., making it the last USAirways flight to operate as USAirways.
Beginning Saturday, Oct. 17, all flights will be American Airlines. If you are flying on American Airlines this weekend, it is advised to arrive a little earlier than normal this weekend, as employees, mostly in former USAirways strongholds, will be using a new system. At many airports, USAirways flights will relocate to American Airlines gates. Please make sure to check your flight status and gate information prior to departing for the airport. You can check it up to 24 hours in advance. Because of the changes, many airports have adjusted check-in and baggage drop off times. Please arrive at the airport early!
Hard Rock Resorts, part of the All-Inclusive Collection is introducing Woodward at the Punta Cana and Riviera Maya resorts. It is an area that is designed specifically for teens and extreme sports! No adults allowed in this area. There will be no excuse now for a teen to ever say they are board at an all-inclusive resort! As an example, next year Woodward Riviera Maya will offer skiing, snowboarding, parkour, cheer, and trampolining and more to go along with a state-of-the-art skate and BMX park. Open to every age and every skill, it’s time to add some high-flying action to your day at the beach.
Karisma Hotels (parent company for El Dorado Resorts, Azul Resorts, and Generations Resorts) has announced a major expansion in to Jamaica! They are opening 9 additional resorts in Jamaica. They are currently building Azul Seven, a 149 room family friendly resort in the Negril area. This will be bring a much needed additional family friendly resort to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island! The expected start date for their other resorts is slated for 2017 and 2018. Their only resort on the island right now, Azul Sensatori Azul Sensatori “was sold out for the entire year less than a month after opening,” leading the company to expand the resort with an additional 149 suites. Karisma’s expansion in Jamaica is good news not only for Jamaica, but for everyone that loves El Dorado and Azul resorts, but wants a location other than Mexico!
Speaking of Jamaica, AMResorts (parent company of Secrets, Dreams, NOW, Zoetry, and Sunscape) has also announced expansion in to Jamaica! They will be opening 2 Sunscape Resorts in December of this year, Zoetry in December 2016, and Breathless opening in late 2016 as well.
There is a new Secrets resort opening in Mexico on November 1, 2015. The new Secrets Akumal is sure to be an amazing adult only experience in the heart of Riviera Maya!! There are also 3 Breathless Resorts coming to Mexico. There will be one in the Cabo, 1 in Playa del Carmen, and 1 in Riviera Cancun.
There are also management changes, renovations, promotions and more to keep up with! As I say all of the time, the only constant in the world of travel is change. Attending all of these events allows me to stay current and provide you with the best information possible during our planning sessions!
Happy travels.