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DestinationPick Newsletter: January Edition
From the CEO's Desk: The Forecast for 2025 Reads "Opportunity"!
"Normalization" was the word of the year for the travel industry at large in 2024, and for the TMC community, it was no different.
Though the frenzied years in the immediate aftermath of the Covid-induced travel boom have calmed, most travel management companies are reporting strong bookings for 2025. With consumer demand for advisors still high, it's shaping up to be another robust year. Regardless of when disruptive events occur, people still tend to travel, even if it's delayed or they opt for a new destination. For those in the TMC industry, this is good news.
In 2025, the appeal of Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe remains strong, with Italy once again set to be a top destination. However, we are seeing growing interest among leisure clients in more far-flung destinations like Japan, South Africa, and Antarctica. Eastern Europe is also trending, indicating that clients are looking for less-touristed destinations.
While the travel agency channel is enjoying much-deserved health following the bleak times after the pandemic began, there's always room to improve the way things are done. My advice for the new year: embrace emerging technology, consider new products, and stay consistently engaged in this ever-changing business.
The focus should be working "on" your business, as opposed to "in" your business.
– Stanley Alexander
Luxury Is Closer Than You Think
Around the globe, we are witnessing a positive trend: more everyday couples are realizing that it's possible, and that they DESERVE to experience life's grandeur!
With realistic goal setting around time and budget, couples can have the most paradisiacal weddings and vacations. Everybody's timeline is different, which is why being well versed in the scope of lodging options that cater to each couple's parameters of "what they want" by "when they want it" is essential. This month, we'll look at why this buzzing destination, the Dominican Republic, offers the range of options to satisfy your couple's interests.
Destination: Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic boasts the highest number of hotel rooms in the Caribbean region, totaling over 83,934. Ranging from all-inclusive hotels to boutique hotels, eco-lodges located in beach towns and mountainside areas, and history-rich colonial hotels in Santo Domingo, the DR can host the perfect accommodations for any occasion.
Punta Cana
In the easternmost portion of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana is easily recognized as one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean. This resort town contains 100+ resorts, of which 50+ are all-inclusive.
Bavaro Beach is one of its 7 neighborhoods, and it hosts the majority of Punta Cana's resorts on its coveted, beautiful, white-sand-covered beach.
Images presented strive to be the most up-to-date; however, they may not accurately reflect the current state.
Royalton Punta Cana
Located on Bavaro Beach, this moderately priced, all-inclusive resort has entered 2025 with enriched amenities and remodeled spaces, including its 317 hotel rooms and suites, the lobby, and the Diamond Club Lounge and Convention Center.
The resort offers a 2-for-1 value, as guests also have access to amenities at the neighboring family-friendly resort, Royalton Splash Punta Cana. Amenities include a pickleball court, as well as one of the largest on-site water parks in the Caribbean, offering adrenaline-pumping fun for the whole family.
Couples seeking a blissful escape from responsibilities can book their stay at Hideaway at Royalton Punta Cana, which offers an entirely different, adult-only experience, with certain amenities reserved exclusively for those guests.
Resort guests enjoy the utmost convenience and comfort from the moment they arrive, as they are whisked away by a complimentary shuttle from the airport to the resort. They can choose from 11 elegant restaurants featuring cuisines such as Mexican, Italian, and Asian, or wind down their evening with a cocktail from one of 13 bars.
Wedding Services: 5 ceremony locations, with the largest accommodating up to 100 guests. After a gorgeous beachside ceremony, couples can choose from a variety of locations for a private or semi-private reception.
St. Regis Cap Cana
This marks luxury brand St. Regis' first emergence into the Dominican Republic.
The resort presents 200 stunning rooms, spa services, and a highly acclaimed on-site restaurant, Nina, which features nine culinary cuisines.
Wedding Services: 5 event spaces. The spacious Hibiscus Terrace offers the perfect sun-drenched backdrop for an outdoor affair for up to 500 guests.
Eden Roc Cap Cana
Award-winning Eden Roc Cap Cana is recognized by Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards as the #1 resort in the Caribbean. In addition, the resort is the only Relais & Châteaux member hotel in the DR.
The resort offers 26 luxury pool and beachfront suites, as well as private villas and bungalows. Guests can enjoy their own swim-out pools or relax indoors with an In-Suite Spa Experience.
In December 2024, Eden unveiled its newest amenity geared toward pampering and self-care: a new Bridal Suite and Salon.
Environmental Sustainability Practices: Eden cares not only for the health and wellness of its guests but also for the environment, implementing sustainable practices into its daily functions.
Wedding Services: Eden offers several venues for weddings—from indoor options at one of its on-site luxury restaurants, to beachside on the golf course without commingling with sand, to diving right in on the beach itself. Eden can accommodate intimate gatherings as well as grand-scale, open-air cocktail parties for up to 250 guests.
Beyond Your Beachfront Escape
Resort guests can plan a variety of excursions: swimming with and hugging dolphins, enjoying the steady rhythm of the ocean near the coral reef on a catamaran tour, horseback tours, or an exhilarating dune buggy experience, to name a few.
For the adventurous taste-testers, a stop at the Jellyfish Restaurant to try the jellyfish delicacy is a must.
Save on Your Stay
Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit Beach Sale – Up to 57% off plus resort coupons. 3 nights all-inclusive plus round-trip flights from many U.S. cities, starting from $669.*
Aruba Beach Sale – Up to 55% off plus resort coupons. 3 nights with breakfast and round-trip flights from many U.S. cities, starting from $1,035.* All-inclusive packages also available.
We are very excited for the launch of this newsletter! Anticipate next month's edition, and let's stay connected on social media.
Until next time!
– Stan
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DestinationPick (SJ Group), 1039 I-35E, Suite 304, Carrollton, TX 75006, United States