Home-Based Travel Agent - September 2007 - (Page 42)

Caribbean FOR THE AGENT CARIBBEAN UPDATE: NEW PROPERTIES TO PITCH TO CLIENTS Here’s the 4-1-1 for travel agents with clients looking for a new Caribbean property to enjoy (as do guests in all of the other villas). Penthouse bedroom at Grand Isle Resort & Spa Recreation: Guests of Grand Isle Resort and Spa can play on the 18-hole golf course and six lit tennis courts and have access to local excursions for such activities as fishing, sailing and snorkeling. Other activities the property offers include seasonal children’s camps and a state-of-the-art fitness center. Grand Isle Resort and Spa offers agents a 10 percent commission. Agents should call General Manager Tracy Stoltz at 242-358-5000 or e-mail tstoltz@grandislevillas.com for more information. I Maxim Bungalows (www.maxim bungalows.com) in the Dominican Republic are another option to suggest to clients. Maxim Bungalows at Cofresi Beach is scheduled to open in I Grand Isle Resort and Spa (www. exumahotel.com/grand-isle-resort-andspa.htm) is for those experienced clients who may be seeking something new in Great Exuma. I recently toured this community of luxurious ocean and golf course villas, which are located within the 500-acre Emerald Bay property. Sitting on 13 acres, the 78 Caribbean villas offer a variety of ocean views, water sports, a Greg Norman-designed golf course and a recently unveiled penthouse. Its spa will be complete in December. Accommodations: I stayed in room #3103, a Partial Ocean Front Suite. The two-floor, two-bedroom suite offered a partial view of the ocean, a patio and an outdoor balcony, and two 60plus-inch plasma televisions. The suite tallies in at about $600 a night in the low season and goes as high as $1,100. We loved the room, but preferred the Ocean Front Suites, which offer a front-and-center view of Great Exuma. I saw room #1413, which goes for about $1,200 in the low season and about $1,700 in peak season. The Master Grand Penthouse is by far the best room on the property. This $5.7 million accommodation sits on the highest point of Emerald Bay. In peak season, rooms here can cost as high as about $6,000 per night. I toured the 4,000-square-foot room, which is one of two penthouses the property plans to have. It also boasts four bedrooms, as well as four and a half bathrooms. Also, guests staying here have the option of in-villa dining October, and Maxim Bungalows at Juan Dolio is opening in early 2008. Start pitching these bungalows mainly to the Maxim readership—29 to 36-year-olds; singles and couples looking to live the good life. You should stress to clients that this property is not going to be risqué but rather geared toward upscale, trendy living; however, families are welcome as well. Maxim Bungalows at Cofresi Beach will feature 108 studios, as well as oneand two-bedroom luxury bungalow accommodations. Transportation: The property is about 30 minutes from the Puerto Plata Gregorio Luperon Airport and an hour from the Cibao International Airport in Santiago. Each guest will be driven to Continued on page 44 42 Home-BasedTravelAgent SEPTEMBER 2007 http://www.maximbungalows.com http://www.maximbungalows.com http://www.exumahotel.com/grand-isle-resort-and-spa.htm http://www.exumahotel.com/grand-isle-resort-and-spa.htm http://www.exumahotel.com/grand-isle-resort-and-spa.htm

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home-Based Travel Agent - September 2007

Contents Editor's Note - Last-Minute Travel Publisher's Note - Communication is Key Your Lifeline Agent Spotlight Your Technology Industry News Hot Deals Home-Based Networking Preventing Legal Woes Destinations: Turkey Cover Story: Walking Ireland Destinations: Caribbean Destinations: Boston Cruises: Forecast Hotels Tours New Products

Home-Based Travel Agent - September 2007

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