Innovative Turks & Caicos Collection Program Launches Today

BOSTON – July 14, 2005 – Untangling the wealth of information available to plan a vacation to the Caribbean can be overwhelming, but The Turks & Caicos Collection (TCC), a group of carefully selected non-competitive hotels and travel partners, provides consumers and industry professionals the information they need to plan a trip, take a vacation or even invest in real estate. The MAAC Group, a Boston-based sales and marketing company specializing in travel and tourism, produces TCC and also works closely with the Turks & Caicos Tourism Board.

“These services have something unique to offer. Individually, it’s very difficult to generate interest, form a message, and afford U.S.-based marketing and sales. Collectively, this group combines the best services available to visitors, tourists and investors,” says Melanie Alexander, president of The MAAC Group. “Our program includes hotel nights, a private island retreat, villa and home rentals, excursions to other islands, dive and eco-adventure packages and even the opportunity to invest in a beachfront condominium. There isn’t any other place to go to conduct business with such diverse companies in the Turks & Caicos,” she adds.

Members of TCC include:
• The Alexandra Resort & Spa and The Pavilions at the Alexandra Resort & Spa – the only property on Grace Bay Beach in which all units in two buildings have full ocean views;
• The Meridian Club – an 800-acre private island vacation retreat with miles of secluded beach;
• Prestigious Properties – a local real estate company specializing in villa and private home rentals;
• Big Blue – a dive and eco-adventure operator specializing in small groups and private adventures on land … and at sea;
• Island Resort Tours – a NYC-based American Airlines wholesaler offering complete TCC packages.

Summer specials can be found at www.turksandcaicoscollection.com. To qualify for TCC membership, companies must meet high levels of service and offer something unique. For example, The Alexandra Resort & Spa is owned by local authority Washington Misick, previously Minister of Finance and Chief Minister of the Turks & Caicos Islands. In a destination where many properties are owned and operated by Canadians,

Americans and British, the resort’s local island hospitality ultimately enhances a visitors’ experience, so it’s a true Turks and Caicos vacation. While the islands are widely known for relaxing on the beach, the Turks & Caicos Collection can introduce consumers and industry professionals to The Pavilions – luxury condominium residences at The Alexandra Resort & Spa. As one of the best investment opportunities available, the property offers double digit returns for the past nine years and a tax friendly jurisdiction with no income, property, capital gains or inheritance tax. Many visitors to the islands are part-time residents and have come to see the islands almost as a second home, a home that is an exceptional investment as well. If sitting in the sun or investing wisely doesn’t suit, there are exciting excursions offered by Big Blue, including dive and eco-adventure tours for small groups.

The Turks & Caicos Collection will be promoted to travel agents in the Northeast, wholesaler’s nationwide, and targeted consumers at appropriate events. Unlike most programs, which either focus entirely on old or new distribution methods, this program integrates both traditional approaches and modern technology to increase awareness of its’ members. “We are very pleased,” says Director of Marketing for The Alexandra, The Pavilions, and Prestigious Properties, Amy Thiel. “Bookings have already come in and our group has had cost-effective promotional opportunities we never had before.”

The Turks & Caicos Collection (www.turksandcaicoscollection.com) is managed by The MAAC Group, a Boston-based sales and marketing company specializing in travel, tourism, sports and entertainment and can be reached at www.maacg.com or 781-648-1583.

The Meridian Club