Barcelo rings wedding bells in Toronto

Travel agents got a chance to learn more about Barcelo’s destination weddings – and even experience parts of a ceremony – at an event held in Toronto last night.

The Thursday night event, held at the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel, showcased the company’s wedding packages and services offered at its numerous resorts and hotels throughout the Caribbean and Central America. Barcelo representatives from the company’s Maya Beach Resort and Hualtulco Beach Hotel in Mexico, along with the Bavaro Beach Resort in the Dominican Republic, were also on hand that evening.

The Barcelo team even marked the occasion with a bouquet toss for all of the ‘single ladies’ in the room, while Beyonce’s hit song of the same name played in the background and a wedding cake was served for dessert.

“Tonight, we really wanted to focus on the wedding market and what our hotels offer both the agent and the client,” said Rick McCauley, Barcelo’s Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for Canada.

McCauley told PAX that with Barcelo seeing weddings of all traditions and sizes, the company is prepared for any nuptials imaginable, from traditional religious ceremonies of all faiths to the more exotic, such as the Mayan weddings which Barcelo offers.

“It’s all different sizes and multi-denominational,” said McCauley. “In the case of our Maya Beach resort, we’re focusing on Hindu weddings – that hotel is specializing in that. We like to pride ourselves on being able to handle any type of wedding. A lot of the hotels have Catholic churches right on the property, so we’re able to handle a Catholic wedding right there.”

Guests also received updates on several renovations and additions currently underway at some of Barcelo’s hotels. Renovations at the company’s Maya Caribe hotel (one of five hotels within Barcelo’s Maya Beach resort complex) are expected to conclude in December, while extensive room upgrades are currently taking place at the Huatulco Beach hotel.

Speaking about the company’s BPartner loyalty program, McCauley hinted at an upcoming booking promotion for agents, with possible prizes of TVs and computers up for grabs (details are yet to come).

McCauley also told attendees that the company will be expanding its Barcelo Specialist program, which allows agents to become accredited Barcelo experts through an online course.

“What we’re trying to do is really incentivize the travel agent to book Barcelo, to really get the message out that we’re here for them,” said McCauley. “We know they’re supporting us and we really appreciate the business they give us – we know it’s tough in this market, especially in Toronto, with a lot of competition.”

Photo: The Barcelo team - (from left) Hernan Artigas, Assistant Business Development Manager and Administration; Mabel Ocampo, Director of Sales and Marketing; Marlene Rejon, Weddings Manager, Maya Beach Resort; Rick McCauley, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for Canada; Daniela Gattas, Weddings Manager, Bavaro Beach Resort; Liliana Mancini, Sales Manager, Ontario; Miguel Narvaez, Groups and Convention Manager, Huatulco Beach.