How popular are Sun Siyam Resorts with Sunlounger Travel’s clientele?
Sun Siyam Resorts are great all-rounders, suiting a range of clients from families to couples. I believe we always have a resort from their portfolio that fits our customers’ needs perfectly. We also know we can really trust that the resorts will deliver memorable experiences from start to finish, which is proven by the large volume of repeat enquiries and bookings we receive from customers wanting to return year after year. Siyam World is particularly popular with our customers – it’s the most consistently requested resort, and we have bookings coming through most weeks. When new offers or free upgrades are released, we are often making a large volume of bookings during that promotional period too.
What makes Sun Siyam Resorts such a good option for clients headed to the Maldives?
I think Sun Siyam Resorts are the perfect choice for a Maldives trip due to the facilities and inclusions as well as a variety of unique features at each resort. From the 24-hour, all-inclusive packages to a range of room categories, the possibilities are endless. The value for money at these resorts is great, and they offer a luxury getaway without the high price tag. With a range of room options, we can really tailor the trip to people’s requirements and budget. The speedboat or seaplane transfers also make the resorts appealing to guests as they often prefer these to a domestic flight, while the activities and entertainment on offer stand out to clients wanting a little more than sun, sea and sand.
What’s been the biggest booking Sunlounger Travel has made to Sun Siyam Resorts?
Our largest booking to date was made by me, a £56k package that included Emirates business class flights for four passengers staying at Siyam World for 14 nights. We have also secured other high-value sales in the £20-£35k range, again these often include upgraded flights or higher room categories such as the two-bedroom options. We often find we are booking families of four to six members to the resorts, so this has allowed us to put through some substantial value bookings.
Sian Freestone is assistant manager at Sunlounger Travel in Kings's Lynn
How different are the individual resorts, and which ones suit your various client types?
Sun Siyam Resorts cover every type of holiday, in my opinion. At one end you have Iru Veli, which suits couples looking for a more intimate experience, at the other end you have Siyam World with the largest floating waterpark in the Maldives and an array of things to do for the whole family. Each resort has its own unique appeal. I always find Vilu Reef a great option for customers seeking snorkelling opportunities and the shorter seaplane journey appeals too. Iru Fushi and Olhuveli work really well for foodies, with lots of dining options – they are similar, but Olhuveli has a little bit more going on activity-wise, whereas I’d say Iru Fushi is a more relaxing island. I’ve booked many clients on a split stay at two of the resorts so they can experience the best of both worlds. Siyam World and Iru Fushi are always a great option for this as they are so close together.
How does Sunlounger Travel use Facebook to pick up more Sun Siyam bookings?
At Sunlounger, we actively use Facebook and social media marketing to engage with new clients. We are part of several Facebook groups for the resorts, allowing me to answer questions and build rapport with potential customers. Many of our existing clients are in these groups too, and they often share their positive experiences from past trips, which generates more enquiries for us. We can also share our Facebook deals within the groups, highlighting any limited time deals and upgrade offers, which provides us with more enquiries.
How else do you promote the resorts among your customer base?
As soon as offers are released for the resorts we will immediately get Facebook and Instagram deals posted, and also send emails to previous Maldives clients on our database to make them aware of the offers, all of which generates more enquiries. We are always searching for the best packages so I will often price up multi-centre Dubai/Maldives trips, flight upgrade options when airlines have sales on, and family prices to push out a variety of different options for our customers. Sun Siyam is a popular chain and many agents post offers, so we try to mix up the dates, durations and packages we promote.
Do Sun Siyam Resorts’ celebrity fans help you sell the resorts?
I am aware that a couple of celebrities, including Aston Merrygold and Marvin Humes of pop band JLS have stayed at Sun Siyam Resorts, which is really exciting to see! Having influential people with a large social media presence share their experience has such a positive impact on enquiries – it spreads the word quickly and shows how beautiful the destinations is. When potential clients see celebrities visiting and returning to the resorts, it really does show their amazing quality.
JLS star Marvin Humes
Which is your personal favourite of the resorts, and why?
It’s difficult to choose a favourite resort, as each Sun Siyam property has its own unique features. However, Siyam World stands out the most to me, as I think it offers a new and exciting experience and changes the perception of the Maldives of just being a holiday where all you do is sunbathe. The waterpark is a huge standout feature, while the offers that are often available – such as the free seaplane transfers and complimentary upgrades on rooms – make it really great value for money too. I love the idea of having a waterslide that goes right from the villa into the sea, and the all-inclusive plan adds that extra touch of luxury. However, I would love to visit two of resorts in one trip to see the differences between them – and enjoy the best of both worlds.
