A few weeks ago, Recommend attended an event in Miami to get the 4-1-1 on AMResorts’ new AMRewards program. There, the senior director of sales, Matt Mullen, mentioned the brand was expanding in Latin America—Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica opened on Nov. 1—and the Caribbean, as well as adding more properties in Mexico.
We caught up with Mullen after the event to find out more about this expansion. “People are coming back from the [Costa Rica] opening already saying it’s going to be the flagship of the Dreams brand,” notes Mullen. The new 447-all-suite property, set in the middle of the jungle on the northern Guanacaste region of Costa Rica and located about 1.5 hours from Liberia International Airport, features seven a la carte restaurants, five bars and lounges, and an entertainment complex—the Explorers’ Club, a fun-filled center for kids ages 3-12 that incorporates both Playstations and outdoor fun by providing big screen movies on the beach, camping nights, and more. Amenities include a 44,000-sq.-ft. pool, La Cascada waterslide, a kids’ pool, a whirlpool, non-motorized watersports, a fitness center, a daily activities center, and Dreams Spa by Pevonia. Guests will also have access to Unlimited Connectivity for complimentary app-to-app calling, access to activity schedules, local destination information, and the ability to create a user profile to schedule spa treatments, excursions, and gain direct contact with resort staff.
Next on the list of expansions is Dreams Sugar Bay St. Thomas in USVI, which is expected to open on Dec. 21. “We’re very happy to be on the island of St. Thomas,” says Mullen. “We’re trying to expand our reach in the Caribbean.” The 294-room property is a rebrand of the former Sugar Bay Resort. All restaurants, public indoor and outdoor facilities, and guestrooms have been renovated and enhanced, plus new restaurants have also been added. The hotel is located about 25 minutes from the airport.
Another new property is the Zoëtry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres, which opened on Nov. 1 in Mexico. The 35-suite property houses one of the best restaurants on the island, Villa Rolande, according to Mullen. November 15 saw the opening of Secrets Playa Mujeres, located about 20 minutes from the Cancun airport. This property is a brand-new build featuring up to 20 Master Suites on the beach with private plunge pools. The resort is located in a secluded area across from Islas Mujeres. Secrets Playa Mujeres houses seven restaurants and eight bars and lounges. This adults-only property is part of the brand’s Unlimited Luxury concept. Looking into the future, the 434-suite Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya is expected to open in Riviera Maya at the end of 2015; and in 2016, there are plans for a new Dreams property with 500 suites that will open adjacent to Secrets Playa Mujeres. Additionally, Dreams Buena Ventura Panama is slated to open beachfront with 500 suites, approximately seven restaurants, and nine bars and lounges. Plans for this property are still in the developing process, but it’s also expected to be part of the brand’s Unlimited Luxury portfolio. Finally, Breathless Riviera Cancun is slated to open in 2016.
Mullen mentions that rooms will be available for the travel agent community as well as FAMs, but none are currently scheduled. Also, Master Agent rates and regular travel agent rates are available at the new properties. “[Agents are] extremely important. They represent 90-plus of the business we get in all of the hotels,” says Mullen. “We provide two major tools to learn more and be rewarded more: The Master Agent Program, which gives agents perks and educational materials to become familiar with AMResorts, and allows agents to get promotions first; and the Master Agent Certificate, which provides agents a card with their photo on it, as well as complimentary passes at hotels, and rates that differ from the general agent community.” AMResorts also recently launched AMRewards to help agents gain perks for their bookings. For more information on the AMRewards program, click here. For more information on AMResorts, visit amresorts.com.
