Caribbean Escapes Cooperative Marketing (CECM), the newest concept in marketing luxury travel to the Caribbean, has announced a venture with leading online travel company Opodo to expand its services in Europe. In an agreement signed this week, Caribbean Escapes will use Opodo’s white label product to provide air travel and car rental to European consumers wishing to holiday at one of the 100 luxury properties that are part of the Caribbean Escapes Collection, recognised worldwide for catering to the discerning traveller. “Opodo is a brand recognised throughout Europe for expertise in travel and has maintained a superior market share position in providing air and lodging to consumers.  As online travel booking in Europe continues to expand, this agreement with Opodo allows us to capitalise on this growth, said Glenn Harris, Principal, Caribbean Escapes.

“Providing air service from Europe through Opodo allows Caribbean Escapes to meet the needs of the affluent European traveller who seeks an upscale vacation experience.”

Initially consumers will be able to book their resort stay and airfare on line at www.CaribbeanEscapes.com as well as www.CaribbeanEscapes.co.uk with the lodging component functionality being provided by International Lifestyles, Caribbean Escapes’ US travel partner.

Travel agents can also take advantage of this feature and book travel online as well for consumers in the US and Europe. Consumers and travel agents will be able to begin booking air and resorts from Europe by June 15.

“The Caribbean Escapes Collection resort partners are in line with what our consumers have asked for - properties recognised for providing an unforgettable travel experience in an ideal setting,” remarked Karen Stephens, Business Development Director-Hotels, the Americas for Opodo. “This is a significant first step for Opodo in expanding our offering in the Caribbean.”

In addition to a state-of-the-art website that provides interactive maps, destination video clips, and virtual tours for its resorts, Caribbean Escapes has implemented a new approach to marketing upscale travel.

The luxury travel television series Caribbean Escapes is currently airing in more than 100 million homes in the US, Europe, and the Caribbean. The series is comprised of 15 shows covering the 100 fabulous resorts in the Caribbean Escapes Collection and the 25 featured destinations. The show has been airing on Sky Television in Europe since January as well as on numerous networks in the US and the Caribbean.

Consumers will learn about the various destinations and resorts featured in the Caribbean Escapes luxury travel television series.  With this information, they can book their air inclusive vacation online. The Caribbean Escapes commercial can be viewed at http://www.explosiveshorts.tv/CECommercial1.wmv.

In addition, Caribbean Escapes recently produced a high-end coffee table publication, Caribbean Escapes, on luxury travel. The book is distributed worldwide and is also available on the website.

“We educate our target market - affluent travellers - on the options available in the Caribbean, and give them the tools to get there,” Harris added while on location in Belize filming the television series from Francis Ford Coppola’s Blancaneaux Lodge, a Caribbean Escapes Collection member.

——-