Riu holds its 3rd Annual Riu Awards in Mexico

Riu Hotels & Resorts awarded its top US and Canada travel agency partners at its 3rd Annual RIU Awards held at the Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas in Los Cabos, Mexico.

The selected agencies were rewarded with a trip for two to Mexico to attend the RIU Awards Ceremony.

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In addition to the awards program and to celebrate their achievement, they were treated to a VIP trip, inclusive special tour of the destination, leisure activities, and a local giveback experience at the local soup kitchen “El Cactus” where they painted the building as well as donated school supplies, toys and clothes for the children.

Strengthening Riu loyalty

The goal of the awards is to recognize the best travel agents in the United States and Canada in an effort to show the consolidation of the brand among travel agents in both countries. The awards also aim to strengthen RIU brand loyalty in the US and Canadian market and re-launch other programs such as Riu Partner Club, Riu Specialist; as well as Weddings and Groups (MICE).

Representing the RIU Hotels team were Hugo Aguilera, Director of Partner Marketing, Business Development, Groups and Romance; Gabriela Mata, Groups and Romance Manager; Flor Rodriguez, Manager - Business Development USA; Sandra Mallette, Manager - Business Development Canada; Christy King, BDM Western Canada; Valerie Ward, BDM Ontario - Canada; Alejandro Garcia, BDM Southeast - USA; Dai Jimenez, BDM Northeast - USA, Fatima Medina, BDM West - USA; Nova Lee Black, BDM Midwest – USA and Diana Jimenez, BDM Texas & Oklahoma – USA.

How to get involved next year

All members interested in participating in the 4th RIU Awards Ceremony in 2019 just need to keep booking for a chance to be recognized.

Only Riu Partner Club active accounts will participate in the contest and winners must be credited as Riu Specialist Agents. It’s important to highlight that the top sellers will be chosen by registered production in their account for all 2018 travel, and all bookings participate, including groups.

Riu Partner Club rewards travel agents for their loyalty, allowing them to quickly and easily earn points redeemable for vacations at any RIU hotel - Riu Plaza and all-inclusive 24 Hours resorts and without black out dates! Agents earn points by submitting their reservations through the Riu Partner Club. These points are based on hotel category, number of guests and room nights.

Riu gives back

During the trip, Riu organized a local giveback experience at the local soup kitchen “El Cactus”. Thirty-five people, including travel agents, EPIC TOURS DMC staff and RIU's business development team, participated in this event donating paint to fix the front of the building, school supplies, clothes, toys and money for "El Cactus" to use to buy first aid kits.

The Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas also donated food, drinks and even a piñata for the kids to really enjoy this special party.

Riu Hotels wants to promote corporate volunteering among its own employees and with the agents and partners they work with in destinations. The company expects to continue holding this type of events, not only in Mexico but in all of the countries where it operates.