Transat’s Paula De Campos (left) and ACV’s Teresa Pereira (right) flanking Denys Montes de Oca of Velas
The select group enjoyed a evening of fine dining at Montecito Resto in downtown Toronto
VIP guests included Tim Morgan and Morris Chia of TPI.
During an evening of appreciation and genuine affection,
Velas Resorts’ Sophie Raymond and Denys Mondes de Oca said thank you to a
select group of their key agents and partners over dinner in Toronto this week.
It’s clear the all-inclusive resort group with just five
locations has created a product and a class of service which is exceptional. Do
you know another resort which is happy to put a Christmas tree
in your client’s suite?
Offered by ACV, Sunwing, Transat Holidays and WestJet
Vacations, the Velas group has properties in the Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta,
Riviera Nayarit and its newest, in Los Cabos.
Three of the properties are “Grand Velas” which bring your
clients luxury unheard of in typical all-inclusives, according to Montes de
Oca, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for the Grand Velas resorts in Los
Cabos and the Riviera Maya. “All accommodation is a minimum of 1,000 square
feet, our guests are treated like royalty and our family programs – including
ones for teens, sometimes our ‘toughest’ customers, are exceptional.” For clients with babies, for example, there’s
a baby concierge and the policy is “You bring the baby. We’ll provide all the rest – in your suite before
you arrive.”
In a class of its own is the Casa Velas, an 80 suite
boutique hotel in PVR featuring original artwork by famed Mexican artists such
as Sergio Bustamente, its own Ocean Club, and even a free designer handbag
loaner program, in case you left your Chanel clutch at home!
And when even product buyers, such as Paula De Campos of TS,
rave about a hotel group, you know it’s got to be good. De Campos, who has a whopping 400 hotels in
her portfolio, told me “The attention to detail at Velas properties is
outstanding and the food and beverage is out of this world.”
Clearly the decision five years ago by group founder Eduardo
Vela to put the emphasis on Canada was a wise one: in the past year alone, the
sales from here are up 50 per cent. No doubt helped by one spectacular two week
booking from somewhere in Canada - Montes de Oca was too discreet to say where
- into the most expensive suite (US$11,000/nt) at the Grand Velas Los Cabos.
About Cdn $200,000 we worked out. Nice
booking!
Martha Chapman Columnist
An OJ columnist since 2006, Martha is responsible for the Biting Questions features as well as special seasonal series. A travel industry lifer known to all in the biz, she frequently covers industry events for Open Jaw.
