Apple Leisure Group (ALG) continues to break records and advance its global expansion strategy through the launch of two resort brands and the acquisition of new companies. ALG also reported today that it added 12 projects (new construction and re-brandings) to its portfolio in the first half of the year, in seven locations across Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. The number of rooms added to its development pipeline is equivalent to 50 percent of its existing inventory.
ALG is growing at record speed, as the popularity of all-inclusive travel continues to grow globally. Through strategic partnerships, the unparalleled reach of its distribution channels, and its expanding resort presence, the company now serves approximately 3.2 million passengers annually.
Global All-Inclusive Resort Expansion
In May 2018, ALG announced that it will bring AMResorts’ award-winning brands, Secrets Resorts & Spas and Dreams Resorts & Spas, to Europe. The company also announced the creation of Amigo Hotels & Resorts, a new three-star all-inclusive resort brand catering to families and couples, emphasizing a high caliber of service and quality-driven F&B program. The company plans to launch the new brand in markets across Europe.
To further support its growth in the market, the company also announced the appointment of Jordi de las Moras as Managing Director of Apple Leisure Group, Europe. In this newly created position, de las Moras will lead the company’s European expansion efforts. Among other things, Jordi will develop and launch a marketing, sales and strategic partnerships to position ALG and AMResorts in the B2B and B2C segments.
“ALG is making waves on a global scale – expanding our development pipeline to include new markets in Europe, while maintaining our strong foothold in destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean,” said Javier Coll, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Apple Leisure Group. “As we continue to grow, our hotel owners and investors have unprecedented access to the largest distribution network in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean, offering additional opportunities to yield higher return on investment on their properties.”
In June 2018, AMResorts and Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe, one of Mexico’s hotel industry leaders, announced the signing of a strategic alliance where AMResorts’ new brand, Reflect® Resorts &
Spas, and Krystal Grand® will partner with resorts in Punta Cancun, Los Cabos and Nuevo Vallarta. The strategic alliance began on July 1, 2018.
In July 2018, ALG also announced its entry into St. Martin with the signing of a new resort brand management deal to bring its Secrets Resorts & Spas brand to the island. ALG still boasts the largest pipeline of all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean with more than 6,000 rooms in development.
Strategic Acquisitions
ALG is also actively growing its distribution companies so they can support the development of its other business units as a collective power. Earlier this year, ALG and The Mark Travel Corporation signed a definitive agreement to join forces to create an integrated leisure travel and technology solutions company. Mark Travel is a recognized leader of owned and managed vacation brands, and together ALG now counts 12 award-winning companies under its umbrella.
The acquisition also significantly increased ALG’s powerful distribution network and led to the renaming of ALG Distribution department to ALG Vacations. ALG Vacations will better reflect ALG’s product and purpose following the Mark Travel merger. To support the newly named business group, ALG also recently announced that Lynn Torrent joined the company as Executive Vice President and President of ALG Vacations. Torrent is responsible for all aspects of the company’s tour and destination management businesses.
To learn more about the Apple Leisure Group advantage, visit www.algdevelopment.com.
About Apple Leisure Group
Apple Leisure Group® (ALG) is the leading North American travel, hospitality and leisure management group with the only vertically-integrated business model, serving travelers and destinations worldwide. ALG consistently delivers exceptional value to travelers and strong performance to resort owners and partners by strategically leveraging the power of its portfolio of businesses across five segments, comprising: the largest seller of vacation packages in the U.S. for travel to Mexico and the Caribbean, moving approximately 3.2 million passengers annually through the well-established vacation brands Apple Vacations ®, Mark International®, Travel Impressions®, CheapCaribbean.com®,, Blue Sky Tours®, Southwest Vacations®, Funjet Vacations®, and United Vacations®; brand management of 5-star and 4-star luxury resorts through AMResorts® award-winning brand portfolio including Zoëtry® Wellness & Spas Resorts, Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Now Resorts & Spas®, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas; best-in-class destination management services provided by Amstar DMC and Worldstar®, the exclusive travel club Unlimited Vacation Club®; and the innovative technology solutions provider Trisept Solutions®, connecting over 88,000 travel agents with leading travel suppliers.
