Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) Launches New “Ocean Line” Specialty Segment (United States)
Prestige Cruise Holdings’ 7 Luxurious “Floating Resorts” Now Part of ALHI’s Worldwide Portfolio for Meetings & Incentives |
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Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) Launches New “Ocean Line” Specialty Segment (United States)
Prestige Cruise Holdings’ 7 Luxurious “Floating Resorts” Now Part of ALHI’s Worldwide Portfolio for Meetings & Incentives |
Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - United States - Events -
Communication/Marketing
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2013-06-07
In recent years Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) has expanded its portfolio worldwide, and now adds a new dimension for meetings and incentives globally with the addition of seven luxurious ships (i.e., “Floating Resorts”) that can accommodate groups nearly anywhere around the world. The Prestige Cruise Holdings ships, consisting of three exceptional luxury-level Regent Seven Seas ships and four upper-premium Oceania Cruise Lines ships, are each available for programs from USA Gateways and Global Ports worldwide for complete and private Charter “Custom Voyages,” and for integrated meeting and incentive programs of all types on established itineraries. Together the 7 ships create a new “Ocean Line” specialty segment within the exclusive ALHI portfolio, to complement ALHI’s existing 10 specialty segments planners so favor.
The ALHI Global Sales Organization (GSO) sales force throughout North America, which has an impressive portfolio of Four - and Five - Diamond quality hotels and resorts worldwide, will now also provide authorized and dedicated GSO services and sales support to organizations interested in conducting meetings and/or incentive/recognition programs on the sea. The magnificent ships, which are very group friendly, have ample meeting and function spaces and are available for a full buyout (a charter), or are ideal for groups of 10 or more. Groups that charter a ship for a “Custom Voyage” well in advance (18-20 months) may even have the ability to choose their port of departure, duration, and desired destinations, making options around the world and domestically virtually unlimited.
“These premier ships are exceptional, essentially like Four- & Five-Star quality floating resorts, located around the world, which widely expands the global ‘destinations’ from which ALHI can serve accounts’ needs and desires. They provide very attentive and proactive Five-Star quality levels of personalized services, outstanding cuisine, exquisite art, truly luxurious state-of-the-art facilities, and imaginative itineraries,” said David Gabri, president and CEO of ALHI.
“We’re adding this new ‘Ocean Line’ specialty segment,” said Gabri, “to respond to demand by the accounts we serve and to provide yet greater global options to accommodate planners’ inquiries and needs. This new specialty segment can best be described as ‘Luxury Meetings & Incentives with Distinctive Ports of Call.’”
Gabri added, “To describe these ships I think of the Regent brand, and Oceania’s Regatta and Nautica ships, like the Five-Diamond Bellagio, Grand Del Mar, The Lodge at Sea Island quality, with the ships being more traditional in character. Oceania’s Marina and Riviera ships could be compared to the renowned The Peninsula in Chicago, Las Vegas’ ARIA Resort, and The Fontainebleau in Miami Beach, as the ships are somewhat more contemporary in style. Each line is nothing short of amazing!”
The three luxury, all-suite, all-inclusive Regent Seven Seas ships consist of: the Voyager, featuring 349 balcony suites, and able to accommodate up to 698 guests; the Mariner, also offering 349 balcony suites and able to hold up to 698 passengers; and the Navigator, featuring 248 ocean-view suites and able to accommodate 496 guests. Among the many appealing aspects of these ships are that their theaters can accommodate all of the guests at once, so it is great for group meetings and awards ceremonies, and the restaurants can be reserved for groups and private functions. While the site of departure and destination vary and can even be customized to suit a group’s needs and objectives when a group charters one of the ships, the Regent Seven Seas ships’ most popular cruises for groups are in Alaska and Europe.
The four self-described upper-premium Oceania Cruise Lines ships consist of: the award- winning Regatta and Nautica ships, which each feature 335 suites and staterooms, and can accommodate up to 670 guests; and the acclaimed new Marina and Riviera ships, which each feature 625 suites and staterooms, and can accommodate up to 1,250 guests. These ships are a great price-value in the luxury category, with outstanding décor, service and food quality, size of the rooms, AV, and inclusions such as no surcharges for specialty restaurants or soft drinks. As with the Regent ships, the site of departure and destination for the Oceania Cruise Lines ships can be customized to suit a group’s needs with a complete buyout, but the most popular cruises for groups are: the seven-night Mediterranean Cruise because it visits a different port each day; their Alaskan Cruise; and the Northern European Cruise. Popular program options on the Riviera and Marina ships include: a demo/cooking class that can hold up to 24, and services at the onboard Canyon Ranch Spa, with 12 treatment rooms and a large fitness center.
ALHI suggests groups interested in doing a full buyout of a ship for a “Custom Voyage” should contact ALHI as soon as possible to discuss and then book at least 18-20 months in advance, essentially before the annual cruise brochures are printed and distributed, for special itinerary considerations. This can also be the best way to secure a 5-night itinerary. Cruises can be “country club casual” or more formal, depending upon the group’s preference and objectives.
“There are so many options that can be a big ‘Wow’ for your meeting and incentive program (M&I),” said Gabri. “You can select one destination, such as in Italy, and start in Venice and end the cruise outside of Rome; after visiting other international ports for an exciting itinerary and memories of a lifetime. Even ‘Dockside Charters’ are yet another option, if the group wishes the ship to start in one venue and then stay in luxury at a port such as Barcelona, New York City, San Francisco or elsewhere for special celebrations and program objectives. The ALHI GSO professionals are eager to discuss your future program on land and on sea. Together we can explore how this might best serve your objectives.”
Gabri added, “With our new ‘Floating Five-Star Resorts,’ ranging from 248 to 625 cabins, there are many options for groups both large and small within our global portfolio. Meeting spaces are inviting, and can range from a theater, to a specialty restaurant, to a lounge, to the pool deck. These ships really are a very appealing and unique way for organizations and companies to recognize their best employees or valued members, or as a nice way to celebrate a special anniversary or milestone. Guests can experience multiple destinations or countries and only have to unpack once, and the ships provide excellent networking opportunities. Add to that the high-quality consistency of the Prestige Cruise Holdings ships’ accommodations and cuisine, the first-class service, and the ease of budgeting for a group; these ships are very appealing options for group programs.”
With the launch of the new “Ocean Line” specialty segment with 7 options, ALHI now features 11 specialty segments within its exclusive portfolio to make it easy for planners to identify properties, destinations, venues, and/or ships that will best suit their programs’ objectives, unique desires and specific needs. The ALHI Specialty Segments include:· the “ALHI Big Box Solutions Collection,” featuring ALHI’s 25 member hotels and resorts that offer more than 500 rooms, feature over 50,000 square feet of meeting space, and have at least one 20,000-square-foot ballroom;
· the “ALHI Level 5 Collection,” consisting of ALHI’s 29 hotels, resorts and ships that have earned the highest and most distinctive recognitions including the prestigious AAA Five-Diamond rating, and/or the esteemed Forbes (Mobil) Five-Star rating;
· the “ALHI City Solutions Collection,” featuring ALHI’s 49 Four- and Five-Diamond quality city center hotels which are specifically designed to serve meetings and programs;
· the “ALHI Historic Collection,” consisting of 35 legendary hotels and resorts with more than 50 years of heritage;
· the “ALHI Mountain Collection,” with 26 options with inspiring mountain views;
· the “ALHI U-200 Gems Collection,” consisting of over 14 ALHI member hotels with 200 rooms or under, which specialize in serving meeting and incentive programs;
· the “ALHI Golf Collection,” consisting of ALHI’s 50 Four- and Five-Diamond golf resorts that cater to the meetings and incentive marketplaces;
· the “ALHI Beach & Island Collection,” featuring 36 Four- and Five-Diamond beach and/or island resorts and hotels with distinction which are designed to serve meetings and programs;
· the “ALHI Entertainment & Gaming Solutions Collection,” consisting of 27 Four- and Five-Diamond resorts and hotels in the U.S. and abroad that provide hallmark entertainment and/or gaming;
· and the “ALHI Passport Collection,” featuring ALHI’s 25 member resorts and hotels outside of the U.S. which provide unique opportunities and beautiful backdrops for meetings.
Meeting professionals have chosen ALHI (www.alhi.com) for nearly 30 years, for reliable one-call professional sales assistance and access to their distinctive hotels and resorts for meetings and incentive/recognition programs. There is no cost to planners’ organizations to utilize the ALHI GSO services, expertise, and account advocacy, as its members’ dues fund the Global Sales Organization to best serve planners with local professionals.
ALHI’s 140+ Member hotels and resorts include extraordinary Four- and Five-Diamond quality meeting, convention, and incentive resorts on land and sea, incomparable city hotels, exclusive smaller hotels, golf resorts, historic and landmark properties, island destinations, resorts with spas, properties in international destinations, and hotels with world-class gaming and entertainment.
With a worldwide portfolio of over 100,000 rooms and suites and more than 10 million square feet of meeting space, ALHI provides planners and their organizations experienced Global Sales services with diverse options among its outstanding worldwide member hotels and resorts which specialize in meetings and incentive programs. ALHI provides reliable one-call professional sales assistance and access to their distinctive hotels, resorts, and venues for programs ranging from 10 to more than 6,500.
For a list of ALHI’s entire portfolio, visit ALHI’s website www.alhi.com, and preview details of ALHI’s membership, including easily useful information on the 11 defined specialty segments within the ALHI portfolio. On the website, planners can quickly see details of the properties’ meeting, accommodation, recreational and dining offerings, as well as destination information and “Luxury on Sale” value opportunities. A photo gallery, meeting floor plans and specs, and a location map for each property are also easily available.
About ALHIALHI has 17 professionally-staffed Global Sales Offices to serve, with locations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, Louisville, New York City, Northern California, Orlando, Philadelphia, Richmond, Savannah, Southern California, Toronto, Washington, D.C., and Washington (state).
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