Apple Leisure Group CEO Zozaya: ‘Haiti Provides A Great Opportunity’

Photo and video courtesy of Fox Business Network

Apple Leisure Group CEO Alex Zozaya speaks with FOX Business Network (FBN) about the vacation industry and emerging trends in the marketplace. Zozaya says that Americans are starting to return to the destination market, but that “Americans are traveling shorter length of stay,” and “trying to stay closer to home.” He goes on to state that Haiti is the growth sector, saying, “I think Haiti provides a great opportunity,” and that the company is “putting a master plan together” with the focus of “trying to develop a destination within the destination, kind of like with Bali.”

On the trend that Americans are returning to the destination vacation marketplace:

“Well, I do think that the trend is changing. I think Americans are traveling shorter length of stay and they are trying to stay closer to home. And with that regard we don’t see any lack of travelers this summer as in comparison to previous years.”

On the business of the all-inclusive vacations:

“Well our business model is very different, we don’t even use the wristband that you mentioned here, but it is high end. It is a luxury product within in our hotel brands and within Apple Leisure Group, and it is the high end passenger that is now not looking for price, but for convenience and value for money, and that is a passenger we are getting. We are getting the passenger that used to go to all types of vacations, not just staying closer to home but with a strong value proposition but not necessarily prices.”

On Haiti being the next growth opportunity:

“When they asked me about what is the next opportunity, the next place I see that is really going to explode in terms of a great destination, closer to home for the American market, I think Haiti provides a great opportunity. It is a beautiful place, has an excellent location. We are trying to develop a destination within the destination, kind of like with Bali, people go Bali not to Indonesia.”

On whether or not Apple Leisure Group is building in Haiti:

“No, we are putting a master plan together. Inviting several investors. We are the asset-light type of business where we have the management and the branding of the hotels. We are trying to bring other players to have a multi-brand destination, building its own airport and golf course, etcetera to develop this destination which is safe, great value for money and a beautiful place.”

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SOURCE: Apple Leisure Group press release