Paradise Village Beach Resort & Spa: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Comprehensive Merchandising, Sales & Distribution Audit: This is one of the most amazing and undermarketed 'destination resorts' that we've worked with. General Manager Cesar Gonzalez called us to help introduce this 500 room resort to the US Market, increase occupancy, improve REVPAR and promote onsite revenue while reducing dependence on wholesalers and excessive commission payments. All of this had to be done while positioning for expansion of luxury condos, fractional sales, timeshares/vacation club and planned casino.

After our initial audit, Paradise Village contracted Caribbean Consulting to continue Destination Branding, Product Positioning, Market Segmentation, SEO, PPC, distribution strategy and a prototype for a new website.

The Pink Fancy Hotel: Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI

Don't Stop the Carnival Program: Cal and Joan Coolidge did what many people just dream of - they found a small Caribbean hotel for sale on the internet, sold their home, packed their bags and relocated to paradise.

They called Caribbean Consulting to give them a 'crash course' in how to position the property within target markets and quickly get them up and running in as many distribution channels as possible. 

Caribbean Consulting reviewed the property and the owners goals to help find the right balance between 'lifestyle' and business'. 

We then worked with the owners to define their product, tell the story of their historic inn and set guest expectations that could be met and exceeded.. We reviewed comparative properties and set rates that would satisfy both guests and the owner's financial objectives for the business.

Databases were created for online distribution systems (GDS), a prototype website was created to guide their local web developer and net rates were established to facilitate sales from wholesalers and local dive/adventure shop operators who we not booking customers at The Pink Fancy.

The owners now have a firm foundation to complete the action items in their 'Road Map to Success' which will continue to build on the foundation Caribbean Consulting laid during our one week onsite assignment.

Sibonné Beach Hotel: Grace Bay Beach, Turks & Caicos

Comprehensive Marketing Program: The owners of this beachfront property couldn't figure out why they had a newly renovated hotel, experienced managers, one of the best locations in the Caribbean - and an empty hotel!  With an average occupancy of 20% - they needed to know if there was potential for this 'boutique' property.

Caribbean Consulting conducted an intensive evaluation of the market,  management, property, facilities and potential as an ongoing business.

Within one season, the hotel was re-positioned, rates restructured, new website created, distribution contracts renegotiated, staff re-trained and occupancy rose to more than 80%.

The owners and managers have retained Caribbean Consulting on a monthly contract to manage yield management, wholesale/online distribution and manage customer service.  They were so impressed with the results, that they also retained Caribbean Consulting for a Jump-Start program for their sister hotel - Turtle Cove Inn.

Update: December 2006 - New room allocation strategy has increased direct website bookings and resulted in very few available room nights through March 2007 with the highest customer satisfaction rates in the hotel's history.

Coqui Inn: San Juan - Isla Verde, Puerto Rico

Comprehensive Marketing Program: The owner and manager of two budget hotels retained Caribbean Consulting to help market Green Isle Inn and Casa Mathiesen Guest House.  They had invested in substantial renovations and staff training, but could not enforce rack rates or attract the international market that would appreciate their improved rooms and facilities. 

Caribbean Consulting recommended re-branding the two properties as 'Coqui Inn' and re-position the property as an 'express-style' hotel.  A new website, online distribution contracts, directory listings, staff training and signage have 're-invented' this property.  Raising rates and setting realistic expectations have resulted in higher average nightly revenue and guest satisfaction.

The owner/manager has retained Caribbean Consulting on a monthly contract for yield management, general business consulting and customer satisfaction/image management as they continue to upgrade their property and reputation.

Update: December 2006 - New owners are now working with Caribbean Consulting to upgrade rooms and public areas to create a 'hip & fun' atmosphere and personality for the hotel including new poolside murals from well-known local graffiti artist 'SKE'. This is his first project using a hotel as artwork.   You can also see examples of his work around San Juan and in promotional artwork for some of Puerto Rico's most famous Raggaeton music stars such as Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderon and Don Omar.

Villa Montaña Beach Resort: Isabela, Puerto Rico

Online Marketing Services: Caribbean Consulting created a new website for this luxury villa resort and established high search engine positioning for their luxury villas and conference facilities.

As a part of our ongoing retainer, we constantly optimize the website to maintain 'first page positioning' for major keyword searches.

We work closely with the owner and managers as a part of our annual contract to develop new target markets and then establish high visibility in search engines and 'pay-per-click' online advertising. 

Caribbean Consulting is currently working on pre-construction branding issues for the owner's new five-star luxury spa condo-hotel.

Fort Recovery Beachfront Villas: Tortola, BVI & Bequia, The Grenadines

Online Marketing Services: The owner and manager at Fort Recovery have always done a great job running this well-known property on Tortola.

When they decided to expand across the Caribbean to Bequia - they called Caribbean Consulting to help them with branding, positioning, search engine strategy and marketing of their new 'sister hotel' - Bequia Beachfront Villas. 

Since the managers now split their time between two villa hotels on different islands - Fort Recovery uses our consulting services on an 'as needed' basis.

Whenever they need to help with online distribution, allotment management, online image management,  general marketing advice or just a 'second set of eyes' to look at a contract, proposal or opportunity - they call.

Update: September, 2006 - With the addition of 12 new luxury villas and an onsite restaurant at their Tortola property, Fort Recovery Beachfront Villas signed up for a 'Don't Stop the Carnival' program to help them reposition the resort, redesign their website and review facilities, room categories, rates and marketing efforts for the 2006/07 season.

Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association

Custom Consumer Marketing Program: Caribbean Consulting helped this association create an effective consumer marketing program for 'The Small Hotels of Puerto Rico' that could easily and inexpensively be updated based on annual membership participation.

By designing a website that effectively reaches target markets through search engine placement - the website presents an overview of the property and then links the user to the hotel's own website for direct bookings.

Caribbean Consulting is retained to constantly optimize the site to maintain high search engine listings, add links to appropriate directories, provide monthly usage statistics and update each hotels' listing based on their individual marketing objectives.

Update: December 2006 - New format implemented to feature larger photos, enhanced text and new target markets for participating small hotels.

US Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association

Custom Consumer Marketing Program: Building on the success of our Puerto Rico website - we established a Consumer Marketing Website for the U.S. Virgin Islands based on potential guests 'lifestyle and needs' to show how 'Its just easier... to plan a vacation on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.

Emphasizing large resorts along with small 'VirgINNS'  - the site effectively attracts potential guests through high search engine placement and links them directly to participating hotel's website to encourage direct bookings,

Caribbean Consulting has been retained to maintain this site and promote the destination through 'pay-per-click' advertising, banner ad programs on strategic websites, monthly usage statistics and conduct online sweepstakes to increase destination awareness.

Update: December 2006 - New design under development for January 2007 implementation.

Caribbean Consulting developed a full working prototype for the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board(left) which was used as their official website for the BVI while their advertising agency developed the final version (right) based on our destination merchandising project.

British Virgin Islands Tourist Board

Destination Merchandising Audit: Caribbean Consulting was retained by the BVI Tourist Board in order to propose an online marketing strategy for Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost van Dyke that would help identify each island as a tourist destination and avoid the 'generic Caribbean' image that existed on the previous website.

Working with hoteliers and tourism companies on each island, we proposed a prototype website design and marketing campaign with presented each island as a unique destination within the island group.

The marketing concepts were so well received, that the prototype was used as an interim website and served as a 'request for proposals' as web developers submitted bids for a permanent website and 'content management system'.