Black Meetings and Tourism

Black Meetings & Tourism February/March 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 59 please visit www.halfmoon.com. Wendy Cole, vice president of Sales and Marketing at the Almond Beach Resort, states, "Here at the Almond Beach Resorts, we actually have separate package deals for leisure travelers as apposed to the packages that are designed specifically for business group members." Almond Resorts in Barbados and St. Lucia offer five great all-inclu- sive resorts with one amazing experience. Almond Resorts is the premier all-inclusive resort of the Caribbean for groups, destination weddings, couples, families and singles. This is a spectacular island paradise for all those seeking a personalized vacation without rules and without worries. From kids programs to the most incred- ible Caribbean spa, Almond Resorts promises that your vacation will always be "For You. About You." Because this is the type of resort that specializes in providing the ulti- mate all-inclusive experience for large groups like confer- ences, family reunions, weddings, etc., the package system is designed a little differently. Unlike a leisure traveler the group trave0ler uses and will need different amenities dur- ing the stay such as usage of meeting space, banquet style meals, A/V equipment for presentations and other group/business related expenditures. Almond Beach is a great option for groups that want to bring their function to an all-inclusive environment. "Essentially the advantage of using our resort is that, unlike a conventional hotel we include all of our water sports and beach activities includ- ing instruction into the nightly rate," mentions Cole. For reservations call (407) 872-2220 or you can visit the web- site at info@almond-resorts.com . Typically an all-inclusive resort is designed to have everything a guest wants in one place. After all, the reason people choose an all-inclusive is to avoid spending bundles of money upon demand while on vacation. Everything is taken care of and a guest shouldn't have to worry about pulling out their pocket book except for the occasional expenditure that isn't covered in the inclusive price. However, what if a guest wants to experience something that isn't offered at a specific resort? This leads us to other questions. Like, what is the goal of an all-inclusive? Does management prefer to keep their guest onsite, experienc- ing activities that one already paid for in their package? Surprisingly, many resorts have different ideas and view- points on this matter. For the most part in this industry a guest is not expected to stay onsite for the whole duration of a trip. The activities and services provided can accom- modate individuals that want to do so, however. Most all- inclusive resorts are located in tropical, warm climate areas where sight seeing and exploring is a huge part of the vaca- tion. Almond Beach Resorts for example has a chain of five beautiful resorts spread about the Caribbean. "We want our guests to totally experience what each of these islands has to offer," says Cole. Some resorts go as far as provid- ing offsite experiences for their guests and including them in the flat rate. Now a guest can leave the premises and still experience activi- ties that are non-resort related without spending any additional money. With the shift in the economy and individuals having less money to spend on traveling more and more groups are looking at all-inclusive resorts as options for their conferences and meetings. Meeting planners actually love to refer their clients to these resorts. All-inclu- sive resorts are designed to provide a simplified cost structure, which is a ben- efit to a meeting planner. A planner can assure his or her client that there won't be any hidden charges or fees that aren't expected. Everything is taken care of up front. It's great to be able to tell a client that upon arrival they don't have to worry about a thing. And, for a group and its members, it is an incentive to not worry about extra financial responsibility while on a busi- ness trip. Conference members can enjoy all the amenities of an all inclusive and just concentrate on their meetings. "I have taken groups to Cancun and we had a set schedule which we stuck to. There were no hiccups or times where I felt that my clients weren't being taken care of," mentions Robert Countryman, president of Countryman Planning Group. The all-inclusive Sandos Playacar Beach Resort & Spa, located on the Riviera Maya, Mexico, offers a perfect relax- ing resort for corporate retreats and conventions with meeting facilities that accommodate groups of 12 to 300 persons. The resort features three meeting spaces com- prised of one boardroom and a large convention center, which can be broken down into two smaller rooms. Additional options are available throughout the property. All audio-visual requirements can be met for an add-on fee. The resort can customize dining options for breakfast, cof- Breezes Curaçao Resort Spa & Casino

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