All-Inclusive Resorts—Made for Boomers of All Ages
By Lydia Gregory
The Boomer Generation— no matter where in the age range they fall—is brimming with energy, money and time. It sounds like a luxury all-inclusive is just what the doctor ordered.
AIC Hotel Group
“We are fortunate in that all properties under the AIC Hotel Group portfolio offer more than just a beach,” says Ash Tembe, v.p, of sales & marketing at AIC Hotel Group. “The All-Inclusive Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico and the Dominican Republic give guests the opportunity to tailor their vacation to their travel style. Whether it’s lounging at the poolside cabanas, enjoying a relaxing spa experience or dining their way through their vacation and reveling in world-class entertainment, these properties have it all.”
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The group’s UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya keeps the kids at bay with an adults-only luxury all-inclusive experience that Tembe says immerses guests into the local region through adventures to local sights and fine-dining restaurants on property. Are your clients looking for something more chill and sophisticated? Tembe recommends Nobu Hotel Los Cabos, which “provides a serene atmosphere paired with unmatched service that are sure to impress even the most seasoned luxury travelers.”
Goldwynn Resorts & Residences
New on Nassau’s famed Cable Beach, the barefoot-and-white-linen luxury of Goldwynn Resorts & Residences has a particular appeal for this age group. “Our model is to be anachronistic, with a vibe and culture reminiscent of the late-60s and early-70s,” explains COO Donald Adam. “To experience Goldwynn is like a step backward in time to when beachfront getaways were rarified, and hotel staff greeted you by name.
“For the Baby Boomer segment, we simply offer them the opportunity to decide how they would like their day to transpire. This is because of our unique location on the pristine turquoise waters of Cable Beach, where we are private and secluded yet in a prime location with easy access to all the exciting entertainment options Nassau has to offer.”
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With only 82 studios, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom suites—including the ultra-luxe Goldwynn Suite—and a slew of amenities on and off-property—think access to top-notch golf—this boutique resort is ideal for a couple’s getaway or a multi-gen reunion to get the grandkids started on the good life.
Hilton All-Inclusive Resorts
“Hilton is redefining the all-inclusive stay to meet the evolving needs of today’s travelers, delivering elevated offerings and accommodations for every age and interest,” says Matt Schuyler, chief brand officer of Hilton. “Gone are the days of long waits on buffet lines with mediocre food, watered-down drinks and lackluster entertainment—with Hilton All-Inclusive resorts, travelers get the quality they know and rely on with the Hilton name, plus a ton of flexibility with access to a variety of amenities such as world-class restaurants and spas in breathtaking destinations.”
Schuyler adds that guests at Hilton All-Inclusive resorts have access to various activities, entertainment, culinary adventures and authentic cultural experiences that bring the destination to life alongside upscale accommodations and exceptional service. “Booking an all-inclusive vacation is also the perfect solution for a younger baby boomer audience, as it simplifies planning. The Hilton All-Inclusive experience means we’ve thought of everything, so there’s no reason for guests to leave the resort, which means even more time for them to enjoy their stay. From family vacations and milestone birthdays to opportunities for couples to reconnect, there is something for every occasion in this season of life at a Hilton All-Inclusive resort.”
KARISMA HUTS
Karisma Hotels & Resorts
Boomer clients are well-traveled and crave a sense of place. Frank Maduro, president of Premier Worldwide Marketing, Karisma Hotels & Resorts’ sales and marketing provider, comments that their resort experiences easily cater to this group with its array of offerings with resort brands spanning Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
“From multi-generational family vacations, milestone anniversary celebrations and laid-back luxury, Karisma Hotels & Resorts has something to offer those young at heart. Through luxury accommodations, Gourmet Inclusive offerings, creative programming and unmatched hospitality, we aim to anticipate the needs of our guests and go above and beyond to create unforgettable experiences.
“Whether they’re seeking laid-back luxury at Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana by Karisma, diving into adventure at Margaritaville Beach Resort, Ambergris Caye—which opened in March—celebrating their inner child with grandkids at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana or Riviera Maya, or looking to rekindle romance at El Dorado Maroma or El Dorado Casitas Royale—adults-only oases—Karisma Hotels & Resorts has something to offer.”
Round Hill Hotel and Villas
Jeremy Zuber, resort manager of Jamaica’s Round Hill Hotel and Villas, knows Boomers are looking for more than just a good meal and a pretty place to lay their heads. At Round Hill, they’ll find what he calls “a more curated experiential environment that caters to their interests from cuisine to substantiality. This subgroup is interested in multi-generational travel, so the hotel offers that genuine human connection by anticipating and customizing each guest’s experience.
“The property prioritizes more green time over screen time and adventurous experiences creating local connections, not just through gastronomy via the on-property organic garden but through the carefully curated cultural entertainment experiences like our Friday night Jamaica night, Monday night Beach BBQ, and our twice weekly Farm to Table dining,” he adds.
The resort also promotes wellness, incorporating fitness and yoga classes, new tennis and pickleball clinics, snorkeling and other water activities.
“Round Hill is Jamaica in a nutshell—as it is a combination of natural beauty, history and personality—all in the most essential form,” adds Zuber. “[Guests] come for the experience and stay for the people. One of the biggest takeaways this key market segment will leave with is the moments they shared with the team at Round Hill. While these unique guests may enjoy a wide variety of communication methods, they are—at the core—very family- and people-centered and that sense of ‘home’ is what will really resonate with them.”
GRAND PALLADIUM
Palladium Hotel Group
“Our properties in Riviera Maya such as Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa, Grand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa, Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa and TRS Yucatan Hotel provide an all-inclusive, sophisticated stay for friends or couples,” says Pilar Arizmendi-Stewart, the hotel group’s v.p. of sales and marketing for the Americas. “Guests who fit in the Boomer segment are pleased to know that with Palladium Hotel Group’s all-inclusive, Infinite Indulgence service, they can let loose and not worry about anything throughout their stay. In addition, we have many onsite relaxing activities and amenities for them to enjoy such as mini-golf, our Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness, Chic Cabaret & Restaurant and more.”
Boomers are well known for their love of fine dining, and between these properties, they have 14 restaurants and 21 themed bars. Looking to book a special treat? Ask about a private dinner at the Gran Cenote Ixmucane on the Grand Palladium Resort & Spa grounds.
The more adventurous will love the aquatic activities and dive center on the beach in the Grand Palladium Colonial Resort. The center offers diving, snorkeling, sportfishing and luxury yacht and catamaran rentals (all activities are at an additional cost). All four properties are within the same complex, so all have access.
SANDALS POOSIDE
Sandals Resorts
“The younger Boomer segment has grown with our brand over the last 40 years,” says Gary Sadler, executive v.p. of sales and industry relations at Unique Vacations Inc. “These guests have been with us since the beginning, and their repeated returns—marked by a more than 40 percent return rate—show that the Sandals experience is one of evolution, following and leading our guests through the transitions between cycles of life.”
According to Sadler, many younger Boomers first engaged with Sandals to celebrate engagements, weddings and honeymoons, and they’re now returning for empty-nester getaways. “These guests joined us for our very first resort opening in Montego Bay in 1981 and continue to embark with us along the evolution of our brand, including this spring, where they’ll join us for the unveiling of a wholly reconceptualized Sandals Dunn’sRiver.”
And for Sadler, the role of the travel advisor in selling to this demographic is vital. “Romance is never a one-size-fits-all experience but we’re finding more and more that guests of this age range seek immersive opportunities to explore the destinations where we call home. For some guests it might mean hiking the Pitons and then relaxing over a cocktail at one of our three Saint Lucia properties. For others, it might mean a culinary adventure in Curaçao through our new Island Inclusive program, which offers suite-level guests the opportunity to visit a curated list of local restaurants. This is why advisors, regardless of the age of the guest, are key to the booking experience.”