ALG Vacations hosts first 'mega fam' in Cancun Lindley Diecks, an advisor with Greater Pittsburgh Travel, holds up a piñata that her advisor team crafted during the ALGV Pros on the Go give-back activity. Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo Team-building exercises and educational workshops made up the bulk of programming during ALG Vacations' inaugural "mega fam" held last week. About 150 travel advisors gathered at the Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa for the four-day ALGV Pros on the Go event, which is a fam trip consisting of one day of training and educational sessions, plus site visits to a number of resorts in Hyatt's Inclusive Collection (Hyatt owns ALG Vacations) and give-back activities aimed at helping local communities. ALG Vacations announced the mega fams earlier this year. The goal is to bring large groups of travel advisors together for sales and product training fewer times per year. Prior to this new [...]

FAO’s agricultural support for tourism growth in Pedernales The Dominican Republic, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is spearheading efforts to bolster production capacities and introduce cutting-edge technologies through the Enriquillo Norte Agroindustrial Center program in Pedernales. The overarching goal is to alleviate poverty in an area brimming with agricultural potential. Máximo Torero, the FAO’s chief economist currently visiting the Dominican Republic, elucidated that, given the burgeoning tourist developments in Pedernales, the objective is to equip local producers to meet a significant portion of the food demand expected from upcoming hotel complexes. This strategic endeavor aligns with FAO’s Hand in Hand initiative, operational in 68 nations, which aims to uplift agriculture as a means to combat poverty. Torero emphasized the region’s poverty, substantial immigrant population, and vast agricultural prospects, coupled with accessible water reserves conducive to irrigation. The proposal entails crafting an investment blueprint [...]

The first Marriott-branded all-inclusive resort opens in Cancun An aerial view of the Marriott Cancun, which is now an all-inclusive resort. Photo Credit: Marriott International After closing for renovations last year, the Marriott Cancun has officially reopened as the Marriott Cancun, An All-Inclusive Resort. The resort is the first Marriott-branded all-inclusive. The 450-room Marriott Cancun is located within the destination's Hotel Zone, adjacent to the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa. The resort is anchored by a centralized social hub known as The Greatroom, where arriving guests are greeted with a signature craft soda. In addition to nine restaurants, the Marriott Cancun offers "pop-up experiences" like Alice's Tamale Ritual in the afternoons. Guests have access to multiple pools and other water features, nightly entertainment and family activities. Another Marriott-flagged all-inclusive is expected to open in the Dominican Republic early next year. Source: Travel Weekly