New Jamaican resort part of its offerings
RIU Hotels & Resorts is entering the busy winter season with both a new resort and new-look resorts available for those eager to temporarily flee Old Man Winter. Representatives of the Spanish hotel firm — which has a large presence in this hemisphere — teamed up with Sunwing this past Wednesday to update Toronto-area travel personnel on what RIU resorts are offering in the coming months. RIU and Sunwing work closely together.
“We’re going through a process of evolution,” RIU’s Paola Roldan told the gathering.
May saw the opening of the Riu Palace Aquarelle in Falmouth, Jamaica, RIU’s seventh property in that country. Roldan noted that 95% of its rooms have ocean views or partial ocean-views. Resort features include an aquatic park and elevated swim-up suites. Roldan also told the gathering that Dec. 7 will see the reopening of RIU Negril, with that Jamaican resort having undergone what she said was a “complete renovation.”
RIU likes to note that it renovates its resorts around a decade after their opening. Slated for renovation is Costa Rica’s RIU Guanacaste, with the work taking place from April 28 to Oct. 4. RIU already decided to add a 300-room extension, two more pools and a children’s club to it.
Roldan said her company’s Latin American and Caribbean resorts are seeing changes that will appeal to North Americans, including some now offering restaurants bearing the American Country name, which serve American-style dishes, and ice cream parlours found in some others. RIU has decided to feature “earthy colours” as part of its decor, she continued.
Seven Americas resorts found in Punta Cana, Los Cabos, Aruba, Cancun, Montego Bay and the Riviera Nayarit now have Elite Clubs, which have added amenities and services.
Roldan cited a host of other enhancements, including RIU now having larger queen beds for guests and the availability of rooms linked by interior doors or private hallways, seen as attractive for families.
RIU resorts host weddings that Roldan said enable couples to tie the knot “by the sea.”
Roldan also said RIU lends a helping hand to around 100 projects, most of them assisting local children.
Meanwhile, Sunwing’s Dave Wright welcomed ties between his employer and RIU.
“The partnership we have with RIU is strong,” he said, adding “Canadians love the (RIU) brand…You know what you’re getting.”
