If we were playing the TV game show Jeopardy!, and the clue to the ‘question’ is…‘sun and fun vacation at a resort with miles of sandy beaches, gentle trade winds blowing and a smorgasbord of fine food and seemingly limitless activities and entertainment’, then most contestants (and travel affiliates) would offer “what is an all-inclusive” as the answer.  While TravelDividends isn’t suggesting that Jeopardy! represents a travel affiliate play, we do believe that the all-inclusive vacation concept delivers exceptional value to the vacation traveler, and represents a great revenue opportunity for travel affiliates.

Earlier this summer, we published two blog posts about how travel affiliates can profit from the deep discounts being offered in the Caribbean by many resorts and tour operators (see How Travel Affiliates Can Capitalize on the Rebound in Caribbean Travel – Part 1 and Part 2). In response to those posts, several of our readers suggesting we add two notable all-inclusive players who also support the travel affiliate channel – Occidental Hotels and RIU Hotels & Resorts – to our list of hotel and resort companies that offer all-inclusive package vacations in the Caribbean and Mexico.

So, with a ‘tip of the hat’ to our readers, here’s a quick overview of the travel affiliate programs for these two outstanding hotel and resort brands.

Occidental Hotels and Resorts, which is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, markets resort properties under three brands: Royal Hideaway, Grand, and Allegro. Offering a mixture of hotels and resorts at beach and city locations (80 hotels in 58 destinations in 13 countries), the chain has 11 properties in the Caribbean (Aruba, the Dominican Republic and Cuba), Mexico and Costa Rica.  Each of these properties is a beachside resort, and each operates under the all-inclusive model (meaning that they include unlimited meals and snacks, drinks and sports), a model which coincidentally, Occidental Hotels helped to pioneer.

The Royal Hideaway brand is targeted at upscale, sophisticated travelers (this resort is limited to adults-only), and is infused with elegance not only in its ambiance, but with fine dining, luxurious spas and a variety of beach activities as well.   The Allegro resorts offer similar features to those of the Royal Hideaway, but are geared more to family vacations. The Occidental Grand line represents the Group’s flagship brand, and travelers staying at these resorts can expect to experience truly deluxe service and amenities, including “…unlimited access to a variety of award-winning restaurants, water sports, spa services, beach activities, the exclusive Royal Club, and more, all while enjoying pristine surroundings that deliver an authentic cultural experience that highlights the very best of the area.”

Although general information about Occidental Hotels and Resorts’ travel affiliate program is readily available, detailed information is reserved for post-acceptance, after Occidental has pre-screened the affiliate candidate.  Travel affiliates wishing to apply for Occidental’s travel affiliate program can access the sign-up page here.

RIU Hotels & Resorts, also a Spanish hotel chain but based out of the beautiful island of Majorca, numbers more than 100 hotels in 16 countries in its portfolio.  Given its Spanish heritage, it is unsurprising that Mexico and the Caribbean are two areas with considerable concentration of RIU properties: there are currently15 resorts throughout Mexico; five in Punta Cana and three in Punta Plata, DR; four resorts in Jamaica-one in Montego Bay, one in Ocho Rios and two in Negril; one each in Aruba, the Bahamas and soon, one in Costa Rica.

Unlike Occidental Resorts & Hotels’ portfolio, which includes all upscale hotels and resorts, RIU’s properties are a mixture of 3 – 5 star rated properties, though most of their resorts tend to be in the higher category.  Additionally, all of their Mexican and Caribbean properties are all-inclusive, and each offers an impressive array of amenities such a-la-carte dining and top-shelf drinks at fine and casual dining on-property restaurants, luxurious spa services and a multitude of water sports and beach activities.

Long a favorite within the travel trade (for example, RUI Hotels & Resorts won the coveted UK’s Travel and Tour Gazette (TTG) award as the ‘Best Leisure Hotel Chain of the Year 2006′), RIU Hotels & Resorts is no less admired in the travel affiliate world.  Their travel affiliate program is quite generous, paying 5% commission on bookings.  More details about RIU Hotels & Resorts’ travel affiliate program can be found at Affiliate Future, RIU’s preferred affiliate network.

TravelDividends again wishes to thank its readers for their comments and suggestions about all-inclusive resorts – and welcomes others to do the same on any aspect of the travel and travel affiliate industries.  If you have any suggestions, recommendations or experiences you’d like to share with us and the rest of the TravelDividends’ community, drop us an email…Thanks!