Sunwing and RIU celebrated their partnership Tuesday afternoon with their annual VIP Holiday luncheon in Vaughan.

It’s been 12 years since Eric Rodriguez, EVP Sunwing, first met with Luis Riu Güell and his sister Carmen, to cement the partnership. He told attendees how he was a bit shocked at his first meeting with them in Spain with Sunwing founder Colin Hunter; Carmen greeted them at the door and even served them coffee, making no mention of who she was.

“The reason I’m telling this story is because they were so humble,” Rodriguez says of the family. “That's the way they are, they don't pretend to be something that they're not. They deliver with the promise they are consistent.”

RIU recently opened their 22nd resort in Mexico, their 5th in Cancun with the adults-only, 24 hour all-inclusive 428-room Riu Palace Kukulkan. In October, they opened The Riu Latino, a five-star establishment with 24-hour all-inclusive services, offering all guests the amenities and facilities of Riu Hotels. The company is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Mexico this year.

“They're always upping the ante and changing. You'll notice that they're the one hotel chain that's always willing to reinvent themselves, not within different brands, but within growth brands,” says Rodriguez.

“Anytime that there's a Riu that opens, we fill it easily because it's just word of mouth, it’s very easy to open. The brand gives a lot of confidence for travellers.”

Riu has a series of add-on packages for travellers making special memories, including weddings, bachelor/bachelorette parties and family gatherings.

“Everybody's looking to travel and celebrate occasions they couldn't celebrate during the COVID,” said Valerie Ward, BDM Canada for Riu. “They're looking for family get togethers, reunions, etcetera and we offer packages that are quite economical for such a memorable and very inclusive experience.”

Sunwing’s returned to gates across the country, most recently from London with three weekly flights to Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Their 12 Days of Getaways is on now.