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Allegiant Air to offer scheduled service to Mexico

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Allegiant Air today filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation to offer scheduled service between the United States and Mexico.

Allegiant Air currently serves more than 450 domestic routes. This will be the company’s initial venture into scheduled international service.

“Unlike other U.S. carriers, Allegiant has always been laser-focused on leisure travel and providing access to affordable, non-stop flights for those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to go on vacation,” said Maury Gallagher, Allegiant chairman and chief executive officer. “Offering service to Mexico will provide a whole new array of options for travelers to discover world-class destinations that may have been previously out of reach.”

“We believe that providing scheduled service to Mexico will also be of great economic benefit, by stimulating traffic and providing additional competition in the international leisure market,” he continued. “It will not only bring exceptional value to travelers, but will also enhance both tourism and business impact in the communities we serve.”

The DOT application is the first step in the process for Allegiant to begin scheduled service to Mexico. Projected dates and locations for commencement of service will be announced at later dates as the process moves forward.

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Top Easter season destinations for US travelers revealed

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Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom are among the most popular destinations for travelers in the U.S.1 this Easter period, according to analysis conducted by travel experts.

As of 7 April 2019, more than 95,000 advanced bookings had been made2 in the U.S. through all global distribution systems (GDS) for return flights to Mexico scheduled between 16 April and 22 April 2019. Flight bookings to second placed Canada and third placed U.K stood at 44,975 and 32,515, respectively.

Amongst the top 10 most popular destinations, the ones which had seen the greatest year-on-year increase in Easter flight bookings were Spain, up 33.6% (+4615 bookings in 2018), Canada, up 25.7% (+9198 bookings in 2018) and a close third, Puerto Rico, up 25.6% (+4279 bookings in 2018).

Global distribution systems (GDS) are vast hi-tech reservation networks that allow travel agents, travel management companies and large corporations, among others, to search and book airline seats, hotel rooms, rental cars, and other travel related items.

“Mexico remains by far the most attractive destination in terms of volume, for travelers in the U.S. over the Easter period. A big reason for this is the proximity and great weather all-year round. The proximity, and some great tourist attractions land Canada at the second place. Breathtaking festive celebrations and shopping sales in U.K, boosted by affordable flight options, definitely make it a top destination.

Top Easter season destinations for travelers in Spain booked through global distribution systems

Destination Flight Bookings

Mexico 96,451
Canada 44,975
United Kingdom 32,515
Dominican Republic 32,229
Italy 25,311
China 24,636
Puerto Rico 21,008
France 20,780
Jamaica 19,215
Spain 18,369

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Excellence Group Luxury Hotels & Resorts rebranded

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With a mission to exceed guests’ highest expectations in every aspect possible, Excellence Group Luxury Hotels and Resorts has become the Caribbean’s most trusted name in all inclusive luxury travel. The family-owned and -operated group, which owns and manages five-star, award-winning resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, will continue to deliver stunning properties and unmatched service as it enters its next chapter with The Excellence Collection.

The Excellence Collection will encompass the group’s three high end brands: the adults-only Excellence Resorts with all inclusive properties in Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Punta Cana, and Montego Bay; Beloved Hotels for boutique adults-only all inclusive escapes; and Finest Resorts offering modern all inclusive luxury for all ages.

With last year’s opening of Excellence Oyster Bay and plans for a Finest Punta Cana in 2020, the company has focused on new ways to meet the ever-changing needs of the market, and has created The Excellence Collection to do so. The Excellence Collection brings a new brand identity with modern, updated logos and dedicated hyperfocus on the unique offerings of each of group’s properties.

These new elements mark an important milestone for the hospitality group, which has been experiencing rapid growth in the last decade. With three key pillars of Bespoke Service, Extraordinary Moments, and Innovative Curation at the core of The Excellence Collection, the parent brand is a promise made to each and every Excellence Collection guest.

“The Excellence Collection is an evolution of Excellence Group Luxury Hotels & Resorts. Our three pillars have been thoughtfully defined, with the end goal to deliver an authentic experience that lasts well beyond the guests’ stay. We do so through a personal and curated approach to luxury,” said The Excellence Collection’s Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mr. Domingo Aznar.

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New Cancun resort: Vacation like a Hollywood star

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Guests can get close to authentic Hollywood Memorabilia in a beachfront setting and dine at any of 16 world-class restaurants including Guy Fieri’s Burger Joint when the highly-anticipated Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun rolls out the red carpet in late 2019 on the vibrant beaches of Mexico’s Costa Mujeres.

Following the successful opening of Planet Hollywood Costa Rica in late 2018, this new Planet Hollywood resort invites guests to vacation like a star. Located just north of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, Planet Hollywood Cancun brings a Vacation Like a Star™ experience to travelers of all ages looking to rewrite the script on all-inclusive vacations. ​

With no detail overlooked, Planet Hollywood Cancun brings curated entertainment experiences with refreshing pools, luxurious rooms, nine bars, four swimming pools, a lazy river, trampoline park, kids/teens club, and a mini-golf course, making it the ideal destination for work, family, romance and play.

Planet Hollywood Cancun’s professionally designed wellness program, PHIT, brings active vacationers the top-trending fitness regimes straight from Hollywood. Wellness enthusiasts can refuel at the Fix Juice Bar with refreshments such as freshly-prepared Watermelon Cucumber Juice on the menu. The Planet Hollywood wellness story continues at the PH Spa & Beauty Bar, featuring celebrity favorite and award-winning Eminence Organics Skin Care products.

Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts is now offering an introductory 50% off web-exclusive offer, making it even easier to Vacation Like A Star™.

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Volaris: Passenger demand continues to be strong

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Volaris, a low-cost airline serving Mexico, the United States and Central America, reported their preliminary year to date traffic results.

In March 2019, capacity measured by ASMs (Available Seat Miles) increased by 13.5% vs last year, with demand measured by RPMs (Revenue Passenger Miles) showing a strong increase of 16.7%.  Volaris carried 1.8 M passengers in total (19.4% increase vs last year), with load factor increasing 2.3 pp to 86.6%.

During the month, Volaris started operations on ten domestic routes from key cities Mexico City, Chihuahua, Merida, Hermosillo and Tijuana; and launched an additional ten new domestic routes for sale linking existing cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Chihuahua, Monterrey, Durango and Queretaro, and two international routes: between Mexico Cityand El Salvador; and also, Guadalajara and El Salvador.

Volaris’ President and Chief Executive Officer, Enrique Beltranena, commenting on the results, said: “Passenger demand for Volaris continues to be strong.  We carried a record number of passengers for the month of March this year, despite last year´s figures including Holy week which will be in April this year.  In addition, our unit revenues continue to improve as a result of our new Plus fare launch.”

The following table summarizes Volaris traffic results for the month and year to date.

March
2019

March
2018

Variance

March

YTD 2019

March

 YTD 2018

Variance

RPMs (in millions, scheduled & charter)

Domestic

1,234

1,037

19.0%

3,386

2,902

16.7%

International

468

422

10.9%

1,358

1,253

8.4%

Total

1,702

1,459

16.7%

4,744

4,155

14.2%

ASMs (in millions, scheduled & charter)

Domestic

1,381

1,190

16.0%

3,971

3,446

15.2%

International

584

541

8.0%

1,733

1,609

7.7%

Total

1,965

1,731

13.5%

5,704

5,055

12.8%

Load Factor (in %, scheduled)

Domestic

89.4%

87.1%

   2.3 pp

85.3%

84.2%

1.1 pp

International

80.1%

78.2%

 1.9 pp

78.6%

77.9%

0.7 pp

Total

86.6%

84.3%

  2.3 pp

83.2%

82.2%

1.0 pp

Passengers (in thousands, scheduled & charter)

Domestic

1,469

1,212

21.2%

4,004

3,383

18.4%

International

329

294

11.8%

958

880

8.9%

Total

1,798

1,506

19.4%

4,962

4,263

16.4%

http://www.volaris.com

 

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Holland America Line explores Mexican Riviera in 2019-2020

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Holland America Line guests looking to bask in the Mexican Riviera’s sun-kissed climate and vibrant culture will have 20 cruises and three ships to choose from between October 2019 and April 2020. A seven-day series of itineraries will be offered aboard Oosterdam and Eurodam, while Maasdam’s popular EXC In-Depth Voyages expand to Mexico in 2020. All of the regular-season cruises conveniently sail roundtrip from San Diego, California.

Each itinerary features three Mexican ports of call, including an overnight at Puerto Vallarta, providing extra time to take a zip-line tour through the lush Sierra Madre Mountains, go whale-watching in Banderas Bay or take a side trip to one of Mexico’s enchanting Pueblos Magicos. All cruises also include calls at the popular Mexican ports of Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas.

“Mexico continues to be a top cruise choice among our guests because it offers such a rich experience, from warm weather and beautiful beaches to diverse cultural and culinary landscapes,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “By visiting several iconic ports within this captivating country, we’re able to provide guests with an authentic, immersive experience that leaves them with a deeper understanding of this colorful part of the world.”

Oosterdam kicks off the season Oct. 6, 2019, with one of 14 seven-day cruises offered through April 18, 2020, including two holiday departures Dec. 21 and Dec. 28. Guests can enjoy an identical itinerary aboard Eurodam Oct. 19, Nov. 2 and Nov. 9, 2019. Cruisers interested in a longer sailing can extend Eurodam’s Oct. 19 voyage by embarking four days earlier at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for an 11-day cruise that adds a call at Santa Barbara, California.

For an even deeper exploration of the Mexican Riviera, Maasdam’s 12-day EXC In-Depth Voyage departs April 3 and April 15, 2020, and includes seven Mexican ports that rim the Sea of Cortez. Along with Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta, guests will enjoy La Paz, Loreto, Guaymas and Topolobampo. Maasdam’s April 15 departure can be extended for an 18-day Collectors’ Voyage that also visits Santa Barbara, Monterey and San Francisco, California, before arriving at Victoria then Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where guests will disembark.

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Puerto Vallarta Beach Club has a new director of operation

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Puerto Vallarta Beach Club announces the appointment of John Douponce as Director of Operations of Puerto Vallarta Beach Club.

John Douponce brings a wealth of hospitality management expertise to Puerto Vallarta Beach Club, most recently as general manager of the Chamberlain West Hollywood for the past six years. During his tenure at the OLS Hotel & Resorts property, he was responsible for the execution of a $15 million redesign of the hotel’s accommodations, public spaces, rooftop pool deck and bar. He also worked with two other OLS properties, Le Parc Suite Hotel and Le Montrose Suite as general manager, and as area director of operations for Le Montrose Suite.

John is thrilled to be a part of the luxury Estate in Puerto Vallarta.  “I have been visiting here for many years, and this is a very comfortable home for me. I am delighted to introduce Puerto Vallarta Beach Club to new guests who will appreciate what I’ve come to love, the privacy and special personalization that distinguish it from luxury resorts among the world,” he notes.

John’s extensive background in hospitality covers management, operations, profit and loss, staff training and development as well as marketing and guest relations. His business management approach focuses on identifying the distinguishing aspects of a property, repositioning the property as needed, and creating a hospitality experience that is unparalleled in the industry, one that inspires guests to return year after year. His nearly 30 years in the hospitality industry have taken him from Michigan where he worked in both restaurants and hotels to hotels and resorts in North Carolina, Orlando, Hawaii and Los Angeles, with positions in sales, marketing and management.

John originally hails from Michigan and he has spent most of his career in California. Beyond his hotel positions, John has been active in the hospitality world as a member of California Travel & Tourism Association.  He also served on the boards of the West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau as well as of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.  He is also active in the non-profit sector, serving on the board of directors for the AIDS Project Los Angeles.

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