Sandals Brings Largest Canadian Marketing Campaign to Antigua

Antigua’s tourism product will receive a considerable marketing boost this month when Sandals Resorts International hosts its 8th annual “Sandals Canadian Winter Sizzle” multi-station radio remotes from the grounds of Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa in Dickenson Bay.
The broadcasts, which begin on January 12 and runs through to January 30, 2014, continues to be the single largest radio promotion for Sandals Resorts in Canada as well as the largest radio promotion for the Canadian travel industry. General Manager of Sandals Grande Antigua, Gurav Sidhi says that the marketing initiative will result in millions worth of exposure for the island.
“Listeners in key US markets will have a chance to connect with the unique beauty of Antigua and the luxury offerings of Sandals Antigua via the airwaves. Antigua in many ways is very special to us as it’s the first island we have invested in outside of Jamaica,” Notes Sidhi.
Sidhi continues “Some of the people working with us now, started with us since our first day of operation. So our investment here has created strong bonds with many families and we have really fallen in love with Antigua as a destination and its people.”
A total of 30 radio stations from across Canada will broadcast live from the gardens of Sandals Grande Antigua and conduct on-air promotions during this key fall/winter period.
The daily broadcasts will highlight Sandals Grande Antigua’s stunning features, while showcasing the Luxury Included® amenities that Sandals Resorts have to offer.
DJs will share their unique experiences through on-air interviews with Sandals Resorts team members, as well as through Social Media efforts posting photos on their Twitter pages.
There will be ten radio stations broadcasting per week with broadcasts taking place from 5:30am to 2:00pm EST Monday through Friday.
In 2014 Antigua and Barbuda is said to have recorded an intake of some 249,000 stay over visitors.
Over 30,000 of these individuals were from the Canadian travel market, according to statistics from the Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association, with notable arrivals coming from provinces like Alberta British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, New Foundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
Overall there has been a 6.5 percent decline in tourist arrivals from the Canadian market in 2014 compared previous years according to the Association.