If you’re looking to travel to the Caribbean or host an event in the UK, Sandals Resorts has it all, from its Luxury Event Space in Chelsea to its many exotic spaces abroad. Paul Tidy, groups & MICE manager at Sandals and Beaches Resorts, shares details on Sandals’ range of premium corporate services, as well as its new Complete Events Solution programme.
How does the Sandals brand aim to tap into the PA market?
By providing exclusive corporate offers, employee benefits and rewards and recognition programmes (including individual and group incentives) to PAs and their businesses, as well as assisting with meetings and event requests at our Luxury Event Space in Chelsea, London.
What can the resorts offer assistants in terms of corporate facilities?
Sandals Resorts is proud to offer a wide range of meeting spaces to suit groups based in the UK or the Caribbean, as well as an exciting ‘wow factor’ incentive programmes. Sandals Royal Barbados is our newest and most exciting Sandals Resort (opened in December 2017), which can accept rewards and recognition programmes perfectly due to its ample events space and luxurious rooftop terrace.
Why should assistants consider travelling abroad for conferences and incentives?
Sandals Resorts offers a fantastic luxury-included (all-inclusive) programme within the Caribbean which is presented in a convenient and accessible way for our corporate guests. As part of this exclusive offering, each Sandals resort can provide a range of premium corporate services and facilities such as group catering, meeting spaces and private group activities – for example, luxurious catamaran cruises, which can be arranged in advance and tailored to groups of various size (charged at an extra cost). This adds another advantage for those travelling abroad for business functions.
Sandals Resorts’ all-new complete events solution offering and bespoke UK-based service means that we can tailor for the whole programme, taking care of everything before you depart. Our friendly and experienced events team can arrange everything from private luxury airport transfers,exclusive use of No.1 Traveller Lounges at a range of UK airports and a variety of flight booking services through to a full DMC offering and unique experiences on-island, designed to create a memorable programme tailored specifically for you.
For those who aren’t looking to travel outside of the UK, our Luxury Events Space on Fulham Road in Chelsea is an ideal alternative and offers a sophisticated space for corporate entertaining, meetings and training sessions.
What types of team-building activities can the resort offer?
As part of Sandals Resorts’ Luxury-Included programme, each individual Sandals resort and the different Caribbean islands in which we operate offers a wide range of unique experiences that can all be arranged and pre-booked in advance through our UK events team.
Whether it’s climbing Dunn’s River Falls or enjoying a Ghostly Gala Dinner in Jamaica, playing championship golf (available at selected Sandals Resorts only) or getting involved with local projects on-island as part of our Sandals Foundation Programme, we can work with PAs to offer exclusive experiences which can be tailored to every group.
The Sandals Foundation helps guests to make a difference to the lives of the local people within Caribbean communities and experience rewarding activities such as our Reading Road Trips with the local schools, which is a great way for groups to get involved.
When is the best time to travel to the resort during the year?
The Caribbean is a popular year-round destination due to its naturally tropical climate and beautiful island scenery, plus of course, each destination offers something unique to the next. Though it is a great choice of destination to visit at any time, peak season in the Caribbean traditionally runs from November through to March.
Are there any corporate offers or discounts assistants should look out for?
Yes, we work directly with corporate clients to provide rewards and recognition programmes as well as a range of additional employee benefits. Find out more by contacting our dedicated groups and events team for details (via email on groups@sandals.co.uk). Alternatively, we can also arrange a tour of our new Luxury Events Space in London where you can meet the team in person.
Is there any help on-site when hosting events?
Each Sandals Resort has its own events team in place to assist with the arrangements for event programmes, so there are always trained professionals on hand to help with planning bespoke group functions. Our UK groups team also works very closely with each of the individual events teams in resort, to ensure that everything is completely taken care of from start to finish.
What can the Sandals brand offer that others can’t?
Sandals’ resorts are the true definition of all-inclusive and offer more quality inclusions than any other resort company on the planet. As successful brand innovators, Sandals has won the World’s Leading All-Inclusive accolade at the World Travel Awards for the past 22 years running and earlier this year, Sandals Royal Bahamian also won the M&IT Gold Award – presented for Best Overseas Hotel. In addition, we offer a new Complete Events Solution programme, which means we can fully tailor every corporate experience under one umbrella.
