RIU Bundles a VIP Tier Into Palace Room Rates, No Surcharge
RIU has launched Elite Club at its RIU Palace properties across Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Aruba, and Costa Rica, folding VIP perks into the room rate rather than selling them as a paid upgrade. The tier includes priority check-in, a guaranteed 1pm late checkout, upgraded beachfront or high-floor rooms, and access to exclusive a la carte dining. For advisors, this is a concrete, cost-neutral add to pitch on honeymoon and wedding-party bookings; the value proposition improves without the client's budget moving. The catch is qualification: guests need to book the correct room category to unlock Elite Club, so advisors should confirm eligible categories before quoting and flag the tier explicitly when wedding parties are comparing RIU Palace against other all-inclusive brands. Given how many core wedding destinations this spans, it is worth building into standard RIU Palace pitch decks now rather than waiting for guests to ask.
- Included at RIU Palace properties in Mexico, DR, Jamaica, Aruba, and Costa Rica
- Perks: priority check-in, guaranteed 1pm late checkout, upgraded rooms, exclusive a la carte access
- No surcharge, but contingent on booking the qualifying room category
Frontier's Cancel-for-Any-Reason Fare Gives Wedding Groups Late Flexibility
Frontier has introduced a Cancel for Any Reason fare protection that allows refunds up to 24 hours before departure. For destination wedding parties, group air is a chronic pain point: multiple travelers on a shared itinerary, any of whom might need to drop out for reasons no standard policy or travel-insurance product covers cleanly. A near-departure, high-refund option on a budget carrier gives advisors booking cost-conscious groups to Mexico and the Caribbean an additional lever to offer alongside the trip insurance they typically sell for cancellation coverage. It is worth comparing the two side by side for clients: CFAR trades a fixed fee for simplicity and a later decision deadline, while insurance may cover a broader set of reasons at a different price point. Advisors should price both into wedding-party air quotes so couples and their guests can choose the flexibility that matches their budget and risk tolerance.