RIU doubles down on North American market as bookings continue to boom

team. European markets are already saturated for the brand with no room left for growth, so RIU is concentrating on North America right now.

On the renovation front, RIU Palace Macao Punta Cana and RIU Palace Pacifico Puerto Vallarta are both currently being refurbished.

By Chris Kinasz

TORONTO — The RIU Hotels & Resorts team, in town courtesy of Sunwing to share updates with the trade, reports that business for RIU properties has recovered strongly following the pandemic with 2022 being stronger than 2019.

“Clients who didn’t travel for a long time are now doing all the travelling they missed,” Armin Kaestner, VP Sales, Contracting & BD for RIU in Canada, USA, Caribbean, Mexico, Costa Rica & Panama, told Travelweek during a recent interview.

For the remainder of 2023, forward booking trends are positive, with double-digit increases. The Canadian market, at several RIU properties in the Americas during the winter, account for 400 rooms daily.

RIU is answering to two major trends, said Kaestner.

“The first, after the pandemic, people are willing to spend a little bit more,” he said. “They’re looking for higher room categories and higher amenities, so this is why we created the Elite Club. We actually never thought about the Elite Club before the pandemic. We started thinking about it when travel started coming back and agents told us that people are looking for higher room categories and are willing to pay extra for, for example, nice drinks.

“The second trend is that we see more and more groups travelling like groups of friends and multi-generational travel. We have a huge amount of connecting rooms and are the only hotel chain where you can book these rooms and have them guaranteed. This is a huge selling point for us.”

New With Riu

RIU’s new ‘Elite Club’ is a preferred club concept being added in some of the adults-only Palace properties in Mexico and the Caribbean.

Included amongst the exclusive benefits of this new category are the best locations for rooms with the finest views, premium drinks, a private lounge, separate check-in area, guaranteed late check-out until 1 p.m., early check-in according to availability and a special beach area. Bonuses in the room are a welcome kit, snacks restocked daily in the minibar and premium brands of alcohol in the liquor dispensers.

One new build for the company is a Palace Hotel in Trelawny, Jamaica, with 700+ rooms. It will have its own waterpark, swim-out rooms, new colour concept in the rooms and improved bedding. The property is being designed with an increased focus on North American markets, says the

Closer to home, a new RIU city hotel is under construction in Toronto’s theatre district and is close to completion. Its façade has three heritage homes integrated into the front of the building, giving it a historical feel. The property is focused on the leisure market.

LOTS OF OPTIONS, FOR EVERY CLIENT AND BUDGET

“We have a property for everyone!” said Laura Castellanos Rodriguez, Sales Director D.R. and Associated to VP Sales, Contracting & BD for RIU in Canada, USA, Caribbean, Mexico, Costa Rica & Panama.

RIU has two product lines: Beach Hotels, which are either Classic or Palace, and Plaza Hotels, which are city hotels. Palace properties are aimed at markets with bigger budgets, versus Classic.

Kaestner noted that RIU’s adults-only Classic properties have been a big success, because they’re at a strong price point. That option didn’t necessarily exist before, since adults-only was traditionally a more expensive rate compared to family hotels. Classic properties have been selling like crazy following the pandemic, Kaestner added.

RIU properties are available exclusively through Sunwing in Canada. And travel agents can take advantage of RIU’s loyalty programs.

Visit RIU.com to learn more about all the properties, or check out Sunwing.ca.

Airlines

Air Transat has added Brazilian carrier Azul Airlines to its connectair by Air Transat platform. Quebec-based travellers can now combine select Air Transat and Azul Airlines flights to destinations such as Sao Paulo (VCP) and Manaus (MAO) in Brazil, via a layover in Fort Lauderdale or Orlando. This addition brings the total number of partners accessible through the connectair by Air Transat platform to 12 and the number of additional destinations available in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America and Canada to 280+.

Canada Jetlines has capped off a successful Q2 in 2023. The airline reported Q2 operating revenues of $8.8 million, compared to $5.1 million in the previous quarter, an increase of 72.8%. Canada Jetlines continues to increase the operation of charter and ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) flights, generating $6.34 million this quarter as compared to $3.38 million in the previous quarter, an increase of 87.5%. Total operating expenses for Q2 were $9.23 million, compared to $8.15 million in Q1, an increase of 13%. Total assets increased to $27,860,429 at the end of the current quarter, from $27,289,573 as at Dec. 31, 2022. Total liability increased to $33,753,436 at the end of the current quarter, from $28,948,171 as at Dec. 31, 2022.

Advisories

The Canadian government has updated its travel advice for travellers heading to Hawaii. At its U.S. Travel Advice page, the Canadian government is advising Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to Maui due to the wildfires. Meanwhile both Air Canada and WestJet have extended their flexible change policies, through Aug. 31, 2023, for passengers flying in and out of Kahului Airport (OGG). The Hawaii Tourism Authority is updating the trade via posts on its site and reports that hotels in West Maui have temporarily stopped accepting bookings of future reservations. “While efforts are underway to fully restore electrical power, municipal water and communications, visitors are encouraged to refrain from attempting to reach West Maui accommodations for reservation adjustments until the situation stabilizes,” says the HTA.

Destinations

The board of directors of The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) has mutually agreed to part ways with CEO, Dr. Jens Thraenhart. While the search for a new CEO is underway, CFO Craig Hinds will act as CEO until a replacement is found. “We have reviewed the BTMI’s business and operations and strategy going forward and we have agreed that the BTMI needs to go in a different direction to ensure the growth of Barbados tourism,” said BTMI’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Shelly Williams, on Thraenhart’s departure. “According to the Central Bank, tourism continues to drive the economy in Barbados, through employment and generating business. Our focus is on making sure we deliver growth by looking at new and emerging markets, increasing airlift and cruise business, and all of the ways that will allow Barbadians to see the financial returns from tourism,” she added.

START-UPS

Beond, billed as the world’s first ‘premium leisure all-lay flat airline’ completed a US$17 million seed round from a group of investors. North America’s not on Beond’s network yet, but the airline says its plans to initiate flights “from a variety of destinations with the latest aviation and luxury travel innovations.” Beond plans to begin operations in fall 2023, with a fleet of A320s in a unique luxury, lay-flat configuration, bringing passengers to Maldives from Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.