Marriott has made a deal with an integrated travel company, Sunwing, that also operates charter and scheduled flights from Canada to United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean (to its resorts).
Sunwing’s Blue Diamond Resorts will have 19 of its 45 properties, which should be mostly all-inclusives, to join Marriott’s Autograph Collection-brand of independently minded properties by mid-2021.
You can access Marriott here.
READ MORE: Marriott Bonvoy Rate & Bonus Points And Miles Promotions
Here are the properties that are expected to convert:
Mexico
- 840-room Royalton Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa
- 343-room Hideaway at Royalton Riviera Cancun
- 566-room Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun
- 332-room Planet Hollywood Adults Scene Cancun
- 457-room Royalton CHIC Suites Cancun Resort & Spa
Dominican Republic
- 730-room Royalton Bavaro Resort & Spa
- 320-room Royalton CHIC Punta Cana Resort & Spa
- 525-room Royalton Splash Punta Cana Resort & Spa
- 317-room Royalton Punta Cana Resort & Casino
- 168-room Hideaway at Royalton Punta Cana
Jamaica
- 352-room Royalton White Sands Montego Bay
- 228-room Royalton Blue Waters Montego Bay
- 140-room Hideaway at Royalton Negril
- 407-room Royalton Negril Resort & Spa
St. Lucia
- 290-room Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa
- 166-room Hideaway at Royalton Saint Lucia
Antigua
- 294-room Royalton Antigua Resort & Spa
Costa Rica
- 294-room Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Costa Rica
Here’s the announcement from Marriott:
Marriott International Expects To More Than Double All-Inclusive Portfolio In An Agreement With Sunwing Travel Group
Company plans to add 19 resorts to its robust all-inclusive offering, expanding presence to Antigua and St. Lucia
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced a significant planned expansion of its all-inclusive portfolio through a long-term agreement with Sunwing Travel Group’s hotel division, Blue Diamond Resorts, which has an extensive portfolio of resort properties throughout the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico. The agreement is expected to propel Marriott into the list of top 10 global all-inclusive players by adding 19 franchised resorts totaling nearly 7,000 rooms across six destinations and more than doubling the company’s presence in the all-inclusive segment to 33 properties by 2025. The majority of the properties are expected to be converted into Marriott’s Autograph Collection by mid 2021.
“We are thrilled to work with Sunwing Travel Group and expand into two new leisure destinations – St. Lucia and Antigua,” said Tony Capuano, Group President, Global Development, Design and Operations Services, Marriott International. “Blue Diamond’s expertise in the all-inclusive segment and high-quality resorts will help ensure that these properties serve as excellent additions to the Marriott portfolio. Today’s signing is a testament to Marriott International’s scale and loyalty platform, and we look forward to providing travelers seeking an all-inclusive experience with more choices in the Caribbean and Latin America.”
Marriott International launched its multi-brand all-inclusive portfolio platform in August 2019 and has 9 open hotels across Costa Rica, Barbados and Mexico with an additional 5 hotels in the pipeline in Mexico, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Brazil. With today’s agreement, another 19 are expected to join the portfolio. The platform will provide the company’s 145 million Marriott Bonvoy members the option to earn and redeem points for the convenient, pay-one-price concept.
“We are excited to enter into this agreement with Marriott International, and introduce Blue Diamond Resorts’ portfolio of hotels to their Autograph Collection brand,” said Stephen Hunter, CEO, Sunwing Travel Group. “Our luxurious, award-winning hotels will benefit from Marriott’s world-renowned reputation and esteemed travel program, all while bolstering our mission to bring unparalleled vacation experiences to customers.”
Conclusion
Many of these smaller chains and operators may now feel that they had use for a more comprehensive distribution network and a loyalty program pull that companies such as Marriott, IHG, Accor, and Hilton can provide.
An interesting deal that Sunwing’s Blue Diamond Resorts made with Marriott to soft brand these under Autograph Collection.
There will soon be quite a few Marriott options to choose from in Cancun with all ex-SPG and all new properties that have recently come up and these new Royalton options.
