Education Your First Resort on Selling Resorts

All-inclusive resort companies prize their relationships with home-based agents, which is clearly evidenced in the number and quality of educational programs designed to help them more effectively sell their products.

Here’s a rundown on what's available:

AMRESORTS

AMRewards offers its Master Agent Program through its AMRAgents.com portal. The program provides continuing education on each of the company’s six brands—Zoëtry, Secrets, Breathless, Dreams, Now and Sunscape. Information is provided on individual properties, wedding and honeymoon offerings, spa facilities, and amenities and services. The program also includes sales and marketing tools to help agents close sales. Upon completion of the coursework, travel advisors become Master Agents and are privy to complimentary day passes and discounted rates for their own resort stays.

CLUB MED

The company’s interactive Expert Agent program features a course detailing the Club Med experience, its international locations, enrichment programs, activities and multicultural resort style. The course also includes the “Check Your Knowledge” section, which features a test and enables agents to keep track of resort data.

ELITE ISLAND RESORTS

The Elite Island Resorts University enables agents to become Elite Island Resorts Specialists and learn how to match clients to the properties that best suit their needs. Travel advisors can take advantage of a dedicated agent concierge, who provides them with an array of selling resources. Agents who complete training receive a specialist certificate and are eligible for such benefits as gift cards, free resort stays, booking incentives and commissions of up to 20 percent.

AIC HOTEL GROUP/HARD ROCK HOTELS

AIC Hotel Group’s training programs include the Weddings on the Water Specialist Program (WOW), which provides agents with the tools to create destination weddings for their clients, including information on Colin Cowie Wedding Collections at Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico and the Caribbean. Agents also receive brand education, sales and marketing support, and lead-generation services. Each year participants attend one of four WOW events at an AIC Hard Rock property in Mexico or the Dominican Republic.

IBEROSTAR

The company offers agents familiarization trips designed to provide them with the personal experience they need to effectively its all-inclusive resorts. Fam trips are part of an incentive program that offers themed trips to top-producing agents approximately once every quarter. Iberostar said agents account for approximately 70 percent of its business.

OASIS HOTELS & RESORTS

Oasis offers oasisconnect.net, a portal through which agents can access the company’s Travel Agent Academy. Graduates qualify for higher commissions, among other benefits. Through this portal agents have 24/7 access to a variety of tools designed to help them better serve their customers and close more sales.Oasisconnect.net also provides travel advisors with customizable promotional materials, brochures, up-to-date videos for each resort and more.

MELIA HOTELS INTERNATIONAL

The Melia Pro agent portal includes a booking engine with competitive rates and the Melia Pro Rewards loyalty program, enabling agents to accrue points for bookings, which can be redeemed for complimentary stays, gift certificates, guestroom upgrades and more. A multimedia library features comprehensive information on Melia’s seven brands. Agents will also find tips on ways to improve sales and how to select the Melia hotel best suited for each individual client.

PALACE RESORTS

Palace Resorts’ PRO program offers agents training and tools to become brand specialists, and a digital interactive course on the company’s resorts and amenities. A dedicated inside sales team assists travel agents with product updates to help increase revenue. Agents can also take advantage of Palace Resorts’ PRO Destination Wedding Specialist Program to learn new techniques on how to market and sell destination weddings and honeymoons.

PALLADIUM HOTEL GROUP

The Palladium Connect program arms agents with sales and marketing tools, and offers such members-only rewards as bonuses for special bookings, gifts, and complimentary hotel stays in Spain, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Brazil. Among Palladium Connect’s highlights is the e-Learning Program, through which retailers can become Palladium Pro Specialists.

RIU HOTELS & RESORTS

The company’s Specialist Program is designed to provide agents with tools and resources to successfully sell RIU’s properties in Mexico, North and Central America, and the Caribbean.

Course information is provided in a simple and fun manner, and allows agents to complete certification at their own pace. They will learn about RIU’s three brands—Riu Classic, Riu Palace and Riu Plaza—each of which is designed for different clientele. The program is part of the RIU PartnerClub, RIU’s agent loyalty program.

SANDALS RESORTS INTERNATIONAL

Sandals’ training programs are highlighted by Certified Sandals Specialists (CSS) workshops. Agents with CSS certification receive exclusive educational opportunities and a portfolio of marketing and sales materials. To become a CSS, agents must complete a four-hour streamlined CSS workshop featuring detailed information on Sandals’ resorts. CSS-certified agents receive customized services, sales and educational support, and free resort stays through Sandals’ Sell & Go program.

SUPERCLUBS

Breezes Resorts’ Breezes SuperAgent Specialist course enables agents to participate in a web training program, as well through the Breezes SuperAgent mobile sales companion app, which is compatible with IOS and Android systems. The SuperAgent app for iPad and Android tablets offers timely property information, sales and marketing tools, booking capabilities and access to local sales managers.