Published On:Thursday, October 15, 2009

THE Sandals resort chain is aiming to boost tourism to the Bahamas by bringing 1,500 travel agents to this nation over a six-week period lasting until mid-November, all spending one night at its Royal Bahamian Resort & Spa.

The travel agents are visiting the Bahamas as part of the resort chain's MEGA FAM initiative, launched earlier this year and designed to familiarise that sector with what Sandals and this nation have to offer their clients.

There are 10 different opportunities for agents to visit the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort. As an added bonus for agents participating in one of the 10 scheduled trips this autumn, they will have an opportunity to tour Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa, spending one night in Turks & Caicos and one night in the Bahamas.

The trips will originate from the US east coast and midwest, and feature a two-night, three-day MEGA FAM trip that includes accommodations in one of the resort's luxurious rooms and an exclusive Junkanoo dinner party at Sandals Royal Bahamian's private island, Sandals Cay.

Travel agents will also have the opportunity to earn Certified Sandals Specialist (CSS) certification when they attend a four-hour training course. The certification provides meaningful benefits, including marketing tips and techniques; bonus commissions; and business tools such as co-branded collateral, websites and advertising opportunities.

All workshops feature an in-depth look at the latest developments across the Sandals Resorts International portfolio, including its latest addition, Sandals Emerald Bay, and Sandals Resorts' new partnership with Martha Stewart Weddings.

Dates for the new MEGA FAM trip to Sandals Royal Bahamian include:

October 5 - 7, 2009

Airfare from Chicago

October 8 - 10, 2009

Airfare from Milwaukee

October 19 - 21, 2009

Airfare from Detroit

October 22 - 24, 2009

Airfare from New York

October 26 - 28, 2009

Airfare from Atlanta

October 29 - 31, 2009

Airfare from Pittsburgh

November 2 - 4, 2009

Airfare from Baltimore

November 6 - 9, 2009

Airfare from Phoenix

November 10 - 12, 2009

Airfare from Miami

November 13 - 16, 2009

Airfare from Los Angeles

In April, May and June 2009, nine chartered flights from major US and Canadian gateways brought more than 1,500 travel agents to Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort.