Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - (Page 43)

DESTINATIONS CARIBBEAN, THE BAHAMAS & BERMUDA CARIBBEAN DEALS Is it smart to cut rates during an economic crisis? BY JOE PIKE The Impact of TO DEAL OR NOT TO DEAL? As the U.S. economy continues to struggle, and concern that people will not travel during the holiday season continues to hover over the industry, we pose the questions: Is it smart to cut rates or is it a panic move? Will cutting rates at hotels decrease chances of repeat business when prices return to normal? Are add-on values the smarter way to go? Or are clients smart enough to realize the real worth of the discounted values they are getting during the Christmas holiday, which have lately been perhaps the best deals offered since the aftermath of 9/11? We spoke to some industry experts, some of whom are directly offering the deals, to see what the general consensus is. And we found the popular opinion is one we share: While discounted rates are never a bad deal—especially if resorts are looking to hedge their losses during the holiday season—add-on values are the safest bet. Since our last issue, we told you to expect some unusual deals and incentives during the Christmas season to combat the struggling U.S. economy. But there were some we didn’t see coming—and we didn’t think we’d learn of new ones on a daily basis. Let’s start with one of the best deals we’ve seen in years: Elite Island Resorts (www.eliteislandresorts.com) is offering guests $2,000 per room at The Verandah Resort and Spa in Antigua to offset the cost of airfare for the Christmas holiday through New Year’s Eve. Steven H. Heydt, president of Elite Islands Resorts, told Travel Agent, “It may never happen again, and we hope that it never happens again,” referring to the lengths that companies like his are being forced to go during these trying economic times. “You [had] the election, you got Agent Incentives Travel Impressions (www.traveimp.com) and Sandals Resorts (www. sandals.com) offered a special that included some of the best agent incentives we’ve seen all year. Although the booking deadline has since passed, it still bears mentioning that these two major players have also pulled out all the CONTINUED ON PAGE 45 November 24, 2008 TravelAgent | 43 PHOTO BY KAREN ROACH/BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM everybody worrying about their 401(k) accounts, so we’re basically saying, ‘Okay, you want to stop worrying? You want a great family vacation? Well, here you go,’” Heydt says. As a bonus, children stay and eat for free. All-inclusive rates start at $318 per night, per adult, based on double occupancy. A minimum seven-night stay is required. The normal Christmas price before Elite made this offer was $635 a night, plus $60 per child per night—so the room total was about $5,285 for seven nights. Guests were also paying more than $2,000 in airfare. If this special did not exist, guests would have paid $7,285, plus any airfare differential over $2,000. Now, the total amount with the kids-free accommodations and the airfare credit comes to about $2,840 for seven nights. But is this a sign of desperation that may decrease the chances of repeat business? Will this turn people off when they have to pay full price again? “A lot of major resorts are offering 50 percent off, so these deals are all over the place,” Heydt told us. “Is there fear that they won’t pay the full price next year? No, there isn’t because there will always be a market for travel. We know people will return gradually. For now, we would settle for having a full house and breaking even.” http://www.eliteislandresorts.com http://www.traveimp.com http://www.sandals.com http://www.sandals.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - November 24, 2008

Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 Reality Check On the Web Contents Advertising Index Contributors From the Editor From the Publisher Europe Pacific/Asia Las Vegas Mexico Caribbean Cruises Cover Story: 30 Under 30 Leaders in Luxury Hotels Agenda Luxury Travel Expo Hurricane Temporarily Shutters Nevis Four Seasons Agents, Cruise Lines Adapt to Economy A New Link to Adventure Travel In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index

Travel Agent - November 24, 2008

Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - (Page CW1) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - (Page CW2) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 (Page 1) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 (Page 2) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 (Page 3) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Reality Check (Page 4) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Reality Check (Page 5) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - On the Web (Page 6) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - On the Web (Page 7) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Contents (Page 8) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 9) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 10) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 11) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Contributors (Page 12) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Contributors (Page 13) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 14) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 15) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 16) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 17) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 18) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 19) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 20) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 21) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 22) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - From the Publisher (Page 23) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Europe (Page 24) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Europe (Page 25) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Europe (Page 26) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Europe (Page 27) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Europe (Page 28) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Europe (Page 29) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 30) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 31) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 32) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 33) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 34) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 35) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 36) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 37) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Mexico (Page 38) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Mexico (Page 39) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Mexico (Page 40) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Mexico (Page 41) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Mexico (Page 42) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 43) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 44) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 45) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 46) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 47) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cruises (Page 48) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cruises (Page 49) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cruises (Page 50) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cruises (Page 51) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cruises (Page 52) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cruises (Page 53) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 54) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 55) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 56) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 57) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 58) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 59) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 60) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 61) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 62) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 63) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 64) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 65) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 66) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Cover Story: 30 Under 30 (Page 67) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 68) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 69) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 70) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 71) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 72) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 73) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 74) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 75) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 76) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Leaders in Luxury (Page 77) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hotels (Page 78) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hotels (Page 79) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hotels (Page 80) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hotels (Page 81) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hotels (Page 82) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hotels (Page 83) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Agenda (Page 84) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Agenda (Page 85) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Luxury Travel Expo (Page 86) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Luxury Travel Expo (Page 87) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hurricane Temporarily Shutters Nevis Four Seasons (Page 88) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Hurricane Temporarily Shutters Nevis Four Seasons (Page 89) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Agents, Cruise Lines Adapt to Economy (Page 90) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Agents, Cruise Lines Adapt to Economy (Page 91) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - A New Link to Adventure Travel (Page 92) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - A New Link to Adventure Travel (Page 93) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 94) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 95) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page 96) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page 97) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 98) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page CW3) Travel Agent - November 24, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page CW4) 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