Sandals way ahead in Canada

Monday, July 05, 2010

TRAVEL agents across Canada named Sandals and Beaches Resorts as their "favourites" at the 11th annual Agents' Choice Awards. With more agents voting this year than ever before, the Caribbean's leading hotel chain emerged as the top pick in three prominent categories.

Close to 4,000 Canadian travel agents from across the country, voting in 23 industry categories representing the largest sampling of Canadian travel agent opinions ever, chose Sandals as their 'Favourite All-Inclusive' for 11 years in a row; 'Favourite Hotel Chain' for the fourth consecutive year; and 'Favourite Environmentally Friendly Company' for the third year running.

"Winning these awards by such wide margins really shows that for the best vacation there can never be too much luxury, service and quality," said Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, founder and chairman of Caribbean-based Sandals Resorts International.

"Our philosophy of providing guests far more than is expected wins hands down every time, and we could not be more proud. This is an amazing honour," added Stewart, who never seems to tire of receiving some of the world's top tourism awards.

Sandals Resorts won the 'Favourite All-Inclusive' category with an overwhelming 7,563 points; 5,226 points ahead of its closest runners. In addition, Canadian agents confirmed that the Sandals chain is viewed not only as an all-inclusive company, but as one of the world's leading hotel brands by choosing Sandals as their 'Favourite Hotel Chain', with 5,721 points.

The nearest competitor, Fairmont Hotels, scored 1,770 points. Other contenders in the category for 'Favourite Hotel Chain' included the Four Seasons, Marriott and Hilton. Agents also selected Sandals for its environmental, educational and community outreach throughout the Caribbean region by choosing Sandals as 'Favourite Environmentally Friendly Company' for three years running with a total of 5,013 points.

The Agents' Choice Awards were launched in 2000 by leading travel trade publishers Toronto-based Baxter Travel Media and its flagship publications Canadian Travel Press and Travel Courier. Travel agents are asked to select their top three favourite travel suppliers in various categories with their votes weighted accordingly -- three points for a first place vote, two for second and one for third.

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Sandals way ahead in Canada