Karisma Hotels

	Awards | Press
El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels by Karisma Honored with Three Gold Awards by the 2012 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards Riviera Maya’s Premier Collection of Gourmet Inclusive Resorts Acknowledged for its Family-Friendly Fun Hotels, Innovative Social Media Campaign, and Gourmet Inclusive Honeymoon & Anniversary Consultant Program & Packages

MIAMI (September 7, 2012) -- El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels by Karisma is pleased to announce it is the recipient of three gold awards by the 2012 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards.  Located along the Riviera Maya, Mexico, the collection of Gourmet Inclusive resorts won for its “Family-Friendly Fun Hotels,” “Like Riviera Maya, Mexico” social media campaign, and Gourmet Inclusive Honeymoon & Anniversary Consultant (GIHAC) program.  With entries from across the U.S. and around the world, the coveted Travel Weekly Magellan Awards honor the best in the travel industry.

“We are thrilled that El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels by Karisma have been recognized for multiple years with gold awards by the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for our commitments in excellence to our agents and guests,” said Mandy Chomat, vice president of sales and marketing for Premier Worldwide Marketing, the exclusive worldwide representatives for El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels by Karisma.  “We strive to be the best in everything we do, delivering an exceptional and authentic Gourmet Inclusive experience for couples, families, and agents, and we are extremely grateful to be honored in this regard.”

El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels was honored with three 2012 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards in the following categories:

• Family-Friendly Fun, Overall Family Resort/Hotel – Azul Hotels, honored as the best family-friendly fun hotel, boasts a robust program that focuses not only on entertainment but also education.  Catering to families, Azul Hotels provides something for everyone including Fisher-Price® toys and programs, a Mini Mayans educational program during which children learn about the Mayan culture, My Gym Children’s Fitness Center activities, splash parks, teen’s club, movie nights with popcorn, adults-only swimming and lounging areas, and nightly entertainment.  As a part of the Gourmet Inclusive luxury vacation experience, families enjoy gourmet a la carte dining and Gourmet Gerber baby food, premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, full-service concierge, king size beach beds and beach butlers who provide tanning supplies, reading materials, and Gourmet Bites. Azul Hotels are also delighted to have recently launched Perfectly Pink Spas – a menu of treatments and experiences designed exclusively for, tweens and youngsters ages five and up.
  
  
• Like Riviera Maya, Mexico, Social Media – On the heels of being named a runner-up in the first annual Travel + Leisure Social Media in Travel & Tourism Awards (SMITTYS), El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels were again honored for its ‘Like Riviera Maya, Mexico’ campaign, intended to gain awareness of the beautiful, safe region of Riviera Maya. Using Facebook, Twitter and a dedicated website landing page, the campaign aimed to promote the region in a positive light, share positive traveler stories and educate people on where exactly the violence is taking place  through videos, a map, a vacation sweepstakes and a discussion board asking guests to share their positive experiences and why they ‘like Riviera Maya’.
  
  
• GIHAC Program & Packages, Travel Services – El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels’ traditional business model of consumer to agent and agent to wholesaler is intended to support agents through our award-winning Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant (GIVC) program. To further enhance this program, we created the Gourmet Inclusive Honeymoon & Anniversary Consultant (GIHAC) program. This program offers agents exclusive added value amenities that consumers would not otherwise receive through online travel agencies, including a special gourmet honeymoon and anniversary package for qualified clients. These packages include couples spa massages, discount on spa services, a one night anniversary return stay voucher, and more – all complimentary when booking a minimum five night stay. To further incentivize agents, El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels offer a “Book 10 Get 1” promotion to earn a free vacation to use or sell upon booking 10 client reservations through the program. With this promotion, their agency is also featured on a dedicated website landing page for the GIHAC program, along with a special heart shape logo differentiation on our website searches.

With the Gourmet Inclusive experience, El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels, comprised of El Dorado Royale, A Spa Resort; El Dorado Casitas Royale; El Dorado Seaside Suites; El Dorado Maroma, A Beachfront Resort; El Dorado Generations Maroma; Azul Beach Hotel; Azul Sensatori Hotel; Azul Fives Hotel, Azul Villa Carola, and Azul Villa Esmeralda, offer the best in food and service.  The collection boasts indulgent pampering with unparalleled personal services such as champagne and smoothie check-ins, full-service concierge, 24-hour room service, world-class chefs, gourmet cuisine served a la carte and sommeliers who suggest perfect pairings from private label wine selections.

Rates at El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels by Karisma begin at $188 per person, per night including the Gourmet Inclusive experience (all gourmet meals served a la carte, premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, 24-hour room service, full service concierge, king size beach beds).  Hotel reservations can be booked through a GI Vacation Consultant, or by calling 1-866-527-4762, or by visiting www.karismahotels.com.

About the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards

The Travel Weekly Magellan Awards are the premier awards for the travel industry.  From design to marketing to services, the Magellan Awards honor the best in travel and salutes the outstanding travel professionals behind it all.  Honoring a broad range of industry segments including Hotels and Resorts, Travel Destinations, Cruise Lines, Online travel Services, Airlines and Airports, Travel Agents and Agencies, Tour Operators and Car Rental Companies, the Magellan is the award to win for those in the travel business.  The Magellan Awards are judged and overseen by a one-of-a-kind panel of top travel professionals representing the best names and most accomplished leaders from the industry.  In determining winners, entries do not compete with one another, instead they are judged against a standard of excellence based on the long experience of Travel Weekly.  To uphold this high standard of excellence, a category may have multiple winners, or may have no winners at all.  Please visit www.travelweeklyawards.com for more information.

About El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels by Karisma

El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels by Karisma are a premier hotel collection operating properties throughout the Riviera Maya, Mexico, where guests savor a Gourmet Inclusive experience that fosters togetherness.  Karisma’s growing portfolio is comprised of El Dorado Royale, A Spa Resort by Karisma; El Dorado Casitas Royale by Karisma; El Dorado Seaside Suites by Karisma; El Dorado Maroma, A Beachfront Resort, by Karisma; El Dorado Generations Maroma by Karisma; Azul Beach Hotel by Karisma; Azul Fives Hotel by Karisma; Azul Sensatori Hotel by Karisma; Azul Villa Carola by Karisma; and Azul Villa Esmeralda by Karisma.  Properties have been honored with the industry's top accolades including, Conde Nast Traveler’s “Top 100 Hotels in the World,” Conde Nast Traveler’s “Gold List,” Forbes’ “Top 10 Most Romantic Hotels,” Travel + Leisure’s “SMITTY Awards,” Travel Weekly’s “Readers Choice Awards” and “Magellan Awards,” TUI Travel PLC’s “Hotel of the Year,” “Gold Medal,” and “Green Globe”, TripAdvisor® Traveler’s Choice “Best Hotels for Romance,” AAA’s “Four Diamond Award,” and Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence.”  Karisma has received worldwide recognition for its creative approach to hospitality management and product innovations including resorts with swim-up suites, Infinity balcony pools, beach butlers and cash-free transactions. Premier Worldwide Marketing is the exclusive worldwide sales and marketing representative for Karisma Hotels & Resorts.  For reservations, please call 1-866-527-4762 or visit http://www.karismahotels.com.

Media Contacts
Jenn Wade, Alexandra McClure, Courtney Finley, Leah Goldstein or Danielle Mayer at Glodow Nead Communications, 415.394.6500, jenn@glodownead.com.