TORONTO — There was camaraderie and plenty of good cheer yesterday with RIU Hotels & Resorts and Sunwing, as the two partners hosted their annual VIP Festive Lunch at The Arlington Estate in Vaughan.

The travel industry came out in droves for the popular event, back after a pandemic hiatus.

Here’s a look at some of the key takeaways from RIU Hotels & Resorts, offered exclusively in Canada with Sunwing, as the company looks ahead to a busy 2023 …

RIU PARTIES

The RIU Parties are back! These high-energy on-site events are a big draw for many RIU guests. After a break during the pandemic, the parties are now officially back, with fun themes ranging from neon to jungle to silent disco and more. With high-quality venues, sound and special effects, and DJs (even RIU CEO Luis Riu is known to spin his magic at the turntable, as outlined in his May 2022 blog entry), the RIU Parties have become a real differentiator for clients looking for a new take on all-inclusives. RIU says the parties are a big selling feature for RIU properties, and encourage agents to use them to their advantage.

SPLASH WATER WORLDS

Another big selling feature: RIU’s Splash Water Worlds. These water parks are available in Jamaica (Riu Ocho Rios), Costa Rica (Riu Guanacaste and Riu Palace Costa Rica), Mexico (Riu Santa Fe, Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas, Riu Dunamar, Riu Latino and Riu Emerald Bay) and the D.R. (Riu Palace Bavaro).

DESTINATION WEDDINGS

Destination weddings with RIU Hotels & Resorts are even more inclusive now, and couples can get free packages with up to 10 guests.

SOCIAL PACKAGES

RIU’s Social Packages have never been more popular as demand for group travel soars. Options include Birthday Bash, Romantic Getaways, Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties, and more. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate their important trip with a beach party complete with DJ? All of RIU’s Social Parties are designed specifically for celebrating special moments and making memories together.

RIU PLAZA HOTELS

RIU’s expansion into city properties continues at a quick pace, with Riu Plaza properties in New York, San Francisco, Miami Beach, Berlin, Dublin, Madrid, Guadalajara and Panama City. More are coming, in London, Chicago and, of course, Toronto. While all-inclusives remain the core of RIU’s product lineup, back in 2010 the company began diversifying with its urban Riu Plaza properties, and hasn’t looked back.

NEW & REOPENING RESORTS

Another new property for RIU is Riu Latino in Costa Mujeres. Riu Latino joins two other resorts in Costa Mujeres – Riu Palace Costa Mujeres and Riu Dunamar. As announced in October 2022, the five-star, all-inclusive Riu Latino, located 16 kilometres from Cancun and 33 kilometres from the international airport, offers guests the amenities and facilities of Riu Classic Hotels, but with the added value of exclusive services at adults-only resorts, which up until now was reserved only for Riu Palace hotels. Plus, Riu Santa Fe in Los Cabos is set to reopen Dec. 17.