TORONTO — The fast-growing Sunwing Travel Group is branching out into the hotel business with Blue Diamond Resorts, a new wholly-owned subsidiary which will manage and develop its own portfolio of destination resorts.

Blue Diamond Resorts has been established to provide “unique and differentiated products specifically tailored to the needs of discerning North American vacationers,” said the company.

The new subsidiary will be headed by Fred Baker, who has over 30 years of experience of hotel management. Working with Baker will be Vice Presidents Jordi Pelfort, Antonio Gelabert and Antonio Herrera all of whom joined the company earlier this year from resort hotel companies.

“The launch of Blue Diamond Hotels and Resorts allows us to complete the vertical integration of the company,” said Stephen Hunter, President and CEO of Sunwing Travel Group. “Prior to launching Sunwing, our family has been part of pioneering hotel projects in the Caribbean and built such brands as Jack Tar Villages, Allegro Resorts and Reef Club Resorts, so in a way this is going full circle for us.

“We have ambitious growth plans for Blue Diamond Resorts with respect to quality, not quantity of hotels,” added Hunter. “Our focus is concentrated on adding differentiated products which provides a customer experience that is currently not offered and complements our existing hotel partners.”

Blue Diamond Hotels and Resorts, will have several consumer brands, each aimed at different segments of the market. The first such brand to be unveiled is Royalton Luxury Resorts. The Royalton brand will be marketed with an All-in Luxury concept as a 5-star brand, aimed at sophisticated travellers and their families.

The 5-star Royalton Panama Luxury Resort is the first property to be offered. This South Beach style hotel is located in the heart of the fast emerging Playa Blanca area on Panama’s Pacific Coast. The beachfront resort is made up of 230 Deluxe Rooms, one, two and three bedroom Suites, each with free WiFi, 32” flatscreen TV featuring premium channels, iPod docking stations, luxury amenities, a fully stocked mini-bar and tea and coffee making facilities. All of the 129 suites also feature a fully equipped modern kitchenette.

The Royalton Panama Luxury Resort is now open for guests. Sunwing vacation packages including Saturday flights from Toronto on Sunwing Airlines and roundtrip transfers are available from Nov. 5 onwards, with Montreal flights available starting Saturday Dec. 17.

For more information, visit www.BlueDiamondResorts.com or www.RoyaltonResorts.com.