A Wave Of Hospitality With Sandals

with Suzanne Christie

You might think that using an elegant yacht would be a great way to promote your cruise line. But when Sandals chooses to promote their resorts using the lovely yacht Lady Sandals for some reason it really works.

That’s what several lucky groups have been discovering on board this private, personal yacht of Gordon “Butch” Stewart of Sandals fam. The Lady Sandals has been in Canadian waters since June, visiting Halifax, Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto and Kingston. All along, hosting a mix of travel agents, industry partners and consumers in a series of luncheons and dinners.

Toronto events included functions hosted by Sandals as well as their industry partners Air Canada Vacations, Transat Holidays, WestJet Vacations, Thomas cook, Flight Centre, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Carlson Marketing Group and itravel2000.

On board we got to meet with some of the group’s senior management including Maureen Barnes-Smith, Director of Sales and Marketing. “Only we can provide agents with the array of sales tools and resources like branded cars, collateral materials and co-op advertising that will help them achieve their personal and agency sales goals.”

She is also especially proud that the company has a team of 20 sales people in Canada, more than any other hotel group.

Needless to say we had a lovely time, with the sun sparkling on Lake Ontario while on board we were invited to browse around the bridge, lounge and staterooms before and after a delicious buffet lunch. Ah, how the other half lives!

News from the uber-successful resort chain includes the fact that they have toned down the style and colours of their resort decors. And the group will be offering agents workshops in 53 cities this year across Canada. You can find out dates and locales at Open Jaw’s event register, where you can also sign up.

As we reluctantly stepped off the yacht and back into our daily routines, I think all of us lucky sailors agreed: Sandals sure does it in style!